Ryder Cup: Rugby legend Paul O'Connell gives 'inspirational' address to Europe
Thursday 29 September 2016 08:23, UK
Darren Clarke described his players as "thoroughly inspired" after rugby legend Paul O'Connell gave a motivational address in the European team room.
O'Connell, who won a record 107 international caps for Ireland and also captained the British and Irish Lions, was invited by Europe's captain to deliver a rousing speech which apparently left the team "unbelievably impressed".
"Paul most definitely was exceptional in the team room," Clarke said. "Any man that leads the British Lions who are playing overseas all the time... as the people from Europe that know rugby, they are the traveling side. So to get his input and his vision on what it took to make a successful traveling side was very impressive.
"The caddies, the players, everybody in that room - you could have heard a pin drop whenever Paul was addressing them. And it was quite interesting, because Paul is a very large man and he's big in stature.
"But whenever Paul addressed the team, he sat down. He didn't stand up. He didn't feel the need to stand up and intimidate anybody. He brought himself down on the same level as everybody else.
"The team and the caddies were unbelievably impressed with the words that he gave us last night, so I was very, very thankful for him to come along and do that. The guys were thoroughly inspired."
Clarke also revealed that his players were able to relax and enjoy themselves while being amazed by the talents of renowned magician Dynamo.
"After that, going into the team room and having Dynamo there, Paul was in there, as well, with Dynamo and to see the guys switch off a little bit and chill and enjoy themselves was also very beneficial," Clarke added. "All in all, it was a very productive evening.
"We're talking about two different sports in rugby and golf. Rugby is obviously a team game all the time, and golf, we get together for this once every two years.
"But Paul made a lot of very pertinent points about how you're playing for the jersey and different ways about that. There was a lot of common ground found there.
"And when you have the likes of Henrik and Sergio and Rafa and those guys, Thomas Pieters, those guys are not quite as familiar with the game of rugby as I would be, to have those guys listening to every word he said, obviously everything he did say resonated with them."
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