BOD is, in my opinion, the best player to ever walk the planet. He was absolutely amazing and my hero, such a sad day when he retired. Great video, very enjoyable.
I can see why you say that. I personally don't think so but definitely understand why you do. Must always be in contention when talking about the greatest ever though
I am French and have to say he was the best all round centre I have ever seen. He could do everything. Usually players have some really excessively good traits, and lack in others but he had the complete package which you rarely see. Leadership, kicking, passing, speed, tackling, winning collisions, stealing the ball back off opponents on the ground, up and unders, offensive masterclasses and defensive masterclasses.. you just knew when he was playing you had a 100% solid player who can change a game in a heartbeat.
Best 13 ever . He is known for in offense in the SH but up north he known for being exceptional in both offense , defense and leadership. One player that i think the English, Scottish and Welsh all had the utmost respect for
@@newspaper9949 He was a winner for sure, but a more manufactured player....limited attacking skills...nowhere near the all around talent of BOD. He also shone on two exceptional squads (England and Toulon)....wouldn't have had the same impact playing on some of those Irish teams BOD played on.
Aliestwill I actually disagree. Personally I think Johnny just had that natural winning ability that ROG didn’t possess, meaning that he easily would’ve walked into that Irish side. The presence of Johnny would’ve massively boosted that teams ability (if he was playing in that era) and therefore they would’ve done much better in tournaments like the 2007 and 2011 WC and other six nations fixtures. However if BOD was playing in 2003, there was so much depth in the centre position at the time (with Tindall, Catt and Greenwood all going for it) that I doubt BOD would’ve got a chance. However I respect your opinon.👍
@@newspaper9949 Dont think england could have won the world cup w/o Jonny, thats how important a player he was. He even dragged a very underwhelming England side to the Final of 2007 as well.
Those pickups.... Thanks for posting. I think that 2001 Lions one was my favourite. Still remember the pub I was in to watch that. And still gutted that brilliant Lions team didn't win that series.
Makes you think how many 6 nations and possible WCs we could have won if we had a more consistent front row...Bod, Darcy, O'Gara, Kearney were all the best in the world at one point in their respective positions.
I highly rate BOD but I feel like from 2012 - 2015, the partnership of Nonu/Smith was the best centre partnership in the world. Conrad Smith had 2 RWC gold medals and a higher win rate that Richie McCaw. It felt like Ireland struggled to find BODs centre partner in his later career. Full disclosure, I got into the game late (2011) so I missed BODs work during the 2000s.
@@katana723 agree but BOD was like 33 in 2012 most of his incredible physical abilities had left him by then but he had a well enough rounded game to outplay most of the NH centres in their prime at that point but a 33 or 34 YO BOD is not as good as a prime Nonu or Smith but when he was 23 or 24 he was untouchable for a couple of years from 2001 to 2009.
So many of his tries he just waltzed through with not a had layn on him. I'd say a large part of the modern defence meta-game was created in response to the man himself.
The try against France at 2:45 is almost a carbon copy of the try against France at 2:20, years earlier. Lineout - scrum half - fly half - BOD - outside break fending off the 10, cuts back inside final defender for try under the posts.
The best all round player the game has ever seen. Great defensively in terms of tackling and jackaling, and offensively had the ultimate skill package. Pace, great hands and kicking game. And mentally, great awareness and leadership. I watched the game against France in 1999 with my Grandad who sadly passed away not long after, and he said that he was going to be a great player. My Grandad was never wrong when it came to Rugby. Some call him BOD. But he's much better than that.....
When you're putting together your greatest ever rugby 15, you could make cases for endless numbers of just about any position, but Brian O'Driscoll is an instant selection at outside centre. Was priveliged to watch him live at the 03 World Cup in Australia. Scored a great try that night.
Probably the best centre of the professional era. Lots of good ones in the amateur era that would give him competition though. I rate him the second best Irish centre ever after Mike Gibson and a ways behind Danie Gerber and Philippe Sella who I feel were the best centres I ever saw. I rate him in the top five of all time after those two , Tim Horan and Gibson.
@@AndrewDavidForde Was just about to write that bro, their closeness with Ireland didn't help ROG in that case! It's not even the catch of it for me.. More the bravery of taking the chance of being taken out of the game if he missed it/read it wrong. As the commentator here on a different try "fortune favours the brave".. Great video man, what do you think of our chances at the RWC, will we balls it up again? (I think/hope/pray that we have that little bit of an x-factor in this team..its not one dimensional it seems we can score from anywhere)
@@damotheman4196 watch him after he’s made the interception as well, it’s not just head down and sprint for the line. At full tilt he’s checking his left shoulder, right shoulder and staying fully aware of the picture behind him
@@newspaper9949 really?! Don't you watch much Rugby? Those two may get into the top 10 or 20. But nowhere near the top 5 NH players. Not in terms of overall quality. Wilkinson was England's Dan Bigger, world class GK that will put a shift in on Defense, but not much of a creator. Pretty sure most of the 70s Welsh side would come next after the five I mentioned. That's without mentioning the likes of Jonathan Davies, Shane Williams, Sam Warburton, Finn Russell,...Hell, in terms of Quality - Owen Farrell is a far better player than Johnny Wilkinson ever was.
The first try against Australia was replayed 4 times! You cant claim one try as being 4 of the best out of 10? Seriously though....aren't those tries BOD scored his ONLY tries?
Well he's the Six nations top try scorer of all time so no. You do know it's just showing the same try from different angles. This video has left out some gems like Argentina 07 Toulouse 06 and England and Wales 09.
Drico was one of the best. Gorden D'Arcy was a big part of his try count for Ireland and lenster just worth saying D'Arcy was very selfless did a lot of the donkey work..
You Northern hemisphere lot get carried away with yourselves. Almost no great British players would make any southern hemisphere teams. I notice alot ours get in yours though lol. Our C grade players
A claim to be 'best ever' anything can always be challenged. It is hard to see what more O' Driscoll could have achieved in the game. As an attacking centre he was unstoppable; tactically astute, supremely athletic and blessed with a game-winning mentality. Added to that was a defensive skill set that has rarely been matched in a 13 jersey since, at any level. Moreover, look at where Irish rugby was when he came into the picture - perennial wooden spoon candidates. Along with a few talented team mates - but with O' Driscoll as the key scoring threat - he transformed Irish rugby in a way that few, if any players since can be said to have done for a national side. He consistently performed for Leinster, Ireland and the Lions throughout his professional career, and countless players benefitted from playing alongside him. There is also the fact that he is one of those players whose influence and popularity transcended the game itself - he is a household name across the northern hemisphere, and synonymous with rugby globally. You're entitled to your opinion for sure, but I would respectfully disagree with it. The suggestion that O' Driscoll is one of the greatest players in rugby history is well founded.
Theres a reason he's not very well rated down in new zealand. He never really turned up against them and Gatland was right to drop him in the last lions test v australia. To be fair he played behind a forward pack that often struggled and even with that managed to produce moments of magic. He's definately a once in a generation player and im glad i got to see him play but he's definately far far away from being the "best ever"
@@zephanish if i may, we all might have had a greater chance to see him produce some goods within '05 if a hooker & a centre hadn't dealt those blushes.. What i'm trying to say is I hold no vigor for the 'spear' maybe I did in it's aftermath, but however shocked people were up in NH the only scar that hasn't gone away from that incident is the barbarism and cowardice folks thought of them, upon witnessing it & that's what will take longer to go away. For me, it was really just the question of it's necessity. Were people really worried he'd do damage on that tour?
This is one of the most underrated rugby channels
Agreed. But it was criminal to not include BOD's try vs Bourgoin
And it’s not even that badly rated! That’s how good it is!
Glad you included the last one agains the All Blacks, that one-handed pick up at top speed was a fantastic piece of skill.
BOD is, in my opinion, the best player to ever walk the planet. He was absolutely amazing and my hero, such a sad day when he retired. Great video, very enjoyable.
I can see why you say that. I personally don't think so but definitely understand why you do. Must always be in contention when talking about the greatest ever though
Good choice but mine would be 1 Lomu 2 habana 3 bod (boK fan btw)
Dan Carter
I've always had the highest regard for Drico. i think i've come to realise he may well be the very best
Nah I think carter, Lomu, Wilkinson and mcaw are joint first and BOD is second.
What a legend! Much respect from an ardent Springbok supporter.
I am French and have to say he was the best all round centre I have ever seen. He could do everything. Usually players have some really excessively good traits, and lack in others but he had the complete package which you rarely see. Leadership, kicking, passing, speed, tackling, winning collisions, stealing the ball back off opponents on the ground, up and unders, offensive masterclasses and defensive masterclasses.. you just knew when he was playing you had a 100% solid player who can change a game in a heartbeat.
Best 13 ever .
He is known for in offense in the SH but up north he known for being exceptional in both offense , defense and leadership.
One player that i think the English, Scottish and Welsh all had the utmost respect for
And the French !
My favourite player to ever touch the ball. Managed to meet him last December, a dream come true. Brilliant video once again!
Best NH player of the professional era, and certainly one of the greatest centres of all time. Just wished he was Welsh
You can't put him above Wilkinson, equal yes but above no.
Great player but Johnny is the best NH player.
@@newspaper9949 He was a winner for sure, but a more manufactured player....limited attacking skills...nowhere near the all around talent of BOD. He also shone on two exceptional squads (England and Toulon)....wouldn't have had the same impact playing on some of those Irish teams BOD played on.
Aliestwill I actually disagree. Personally I think Johnny just had that natural winning ability that ROG didn’t possess, meaning that he easily would’ve walked into that Irish side. The presence of Johnny would’ve massively boosted that teams ability (if he was playing in that era) and therefore they would’ve done much better in tournaments like the 2007 and 2011 WC and other six nations fixtures. However if BOD was playing in 2003, there was so much depth in the centre position at the time (with Tindall, Catt and Greenwood all going for it) that I doubt BOD would’ve got a chance. However I respect your opinon.👍
@@newspaper9949 Dont think england could have won the world cup w/o Jonny, thats how important a player he was. He even dragged a very underwhelming England side to the Final of 2007 as well.
No matter how many times I see the try v the wasps, I will always be amazed by it
Those pickups.... Thanks for posting. I think that 2001 Lions one was my favourite. Still remember the pub I was in to watch that. And still gutted that brilliant Lions team didn't win that series.
Great player. A legend of the game. Definitely one of the best centres ever to play the game.
The best hands down
Makes you think how many 6 nations and possible WCs we could have won if we had a more consistent front row...Bod, Darcy, O'Gara, Kearney were all the best in the world at one point in their respective positions.
As a French fella, I can say that we suffered a lot against BOD.
Nothing compared to George North 😥
As an Irish man I am just grateful that Vincent Clerc retired I couldn’t t take any more Hatricks or heartbreak 😂😂
It was a pleasure to watch him play for our national team. One of the best centres in the world, pure class
i can't believe he was never named best player of the world, it's just nonsense, he was the best 13 in the game for at least 10 years
He still is the best 13 to ever grace the sport
Jonathan davies was better in the end guys
Can you explain why? I didn’t watch him play much only seen the highlights and they aren’t “that” incredible. What did he do so well?
I highly rate BOD but I feel like from 2012 - 2015, the partnership of Nonu/Smith was the best centre partnership in the world. Conrad Smith had 2 RWC gold medals and a higher win rate that Richie McCaw. It felt like Ireland struggled to find BODs centre partner in his later career. Full disclosure, I got into the game late (2011) so I missed BODs work during the 2000s.
@@katana723 agree but BOD was like 33 in 2012 most of his incredible physical abilities had left him by then but he had a well enough rounded game to outplay most of the NH centres in their prime at that point but a 33 or 34 YO BOD is not as good as a prime Nonu or Smith but when he was 23 or 24 he was untouchable for a couple of years from 2001 to 2009.
So many of his tries he just waltzed through with not a had layn on him. I'd say a large part of the modern defence meta-game was created in response to the man himself.
3:38 O'Connell for O'Leary then O'Gara AND O'DRISCOLL. O'I love the Irish commentary. 🍀
O'Driscoll at pace
BoD was the boy. He used to piss in our chips on a regular basis, but somehow you didn't mind, 'cos it was BoD!
The try against France at 2:45 is almost a carbon copy of the try against France at 2:20, years earlier.
Lineout - scrum half - fly half - BOD - outside break fending off the 10, cuts back inside final defender for try under the posts.
Really enjoyed that. He is one of the best players to have played centre for sure.
Lost for words really. The clips do the talking. Stellar compilation Andrew - I'll buy you a pint if I ever meet you 👍.
Can't forget his 3 trys in Paris, in 2000.......His rugby date of birth: He was a bit unknown before this match. After, he was a rugby superstar.
O'DRISCOLL IS A GREEN MAGICIAN,A GREAT AND A POWERFULL PLAYER!!!! I remember when i saw him the first time in the tournament....
Congratulations from France for this uncredible player
A great man to pick up a loose ball at pace and hold on to it, on top of all his other talents.
I am so happy that you did this video - I have been waiting for it for ages!
Was at his last Irish game in the Aviva and honestly even at that time in his career made an already bad Italy back line look like u12s
Was at that game too!
Same, what a legend
Never noticed how similar 05 and 09 vs France was before
The best all round player the game has ever seen. Great defensively in terms of tackling and jackaling, and offensively had the ultimate skill package. Pace, great hands and kicking game. And mentally, great awareness and leadership. I watched the game against France in 1999 with my Grandad who sadly passed away not long after, and he said that he was going to be a great player. My Grandad was never wrong when it came to Rugby. Some call him BOD. But he's much better than that.....
Professional era maybe. Not all time. Still behind Gareth Edwards in that regards.
well he can't be behind both Edwards & Jonah..
And if you show Horgans top 10 tries that would basically be 10 of the best O'Driscoll assists
It is to the ever lasting shame of Irish rugby, from top to bottom, that this man never won the Rugby World Cup.
He never got to beat nz either
zephanish oof
@@zephanish Would of had a chance with the lions is Umaga didnt dump him on his head
if
BOD one of the best players on the planet and to grace the Irish jersey . But please a moment for Bill McLaren the voice of rugby.. RIP
Oh, you beauty!!!
people ask me why i think BOD is the best all-round players to ever play the game i point them to this 0:47
On rugby 08 he was absolutely unstoppable
On rugby 06 it felt like cheating having him on my team.
Does BOD even stop moving when he picks the ball up? Crazy skills, never seen a player scoop up the ball so seamlessly
After Jonah Lomu, the best rugby player in history
now that's a fair statement
And Wilkinson.
Lomu was a unique athlete, but not one of the greatest players of all time.
Altogether now...
🎵Waltzing O’Driscoll, Waltzing O’Driscoll🎶
Need to do a Tommy Bowe one
Never clicked on a video so quick
Every now and then an unstoppable orce of nature comes along, Jonah Lomu then BOD, their unplayable , cant be stopped
Best 13 to play the game? Evidence would suggest so.
Only if you've never watched phillipe sella play
When you're putting together your greatest ever rugby 15, you could make cases for endless numbers of just about any position, but Brian O'Driscoll is an instant selection at outside centre.
Was priveliged to watch him live at the 03 World Cup in Australia. Scored a great try that night.
If I was asked to name a rugby dream team, odriscoll would be the 1st name at inside/centre/outside. One of the best of all time centre players
My favourite squad would be ma’a nonu at 12 and BOD at 13
The try against Australia?
Being an O’Driscoll in 2024:😀
Being an O’Driscoll in 1899: 😳
Wonderfull player and best video.
I remember his combination with Gordon D'Arcy 🙌🙌
3:37 O’my days
If rugby has a GOAT 🐐 it’s BOD
Dan Howley nah mate I’m Irish but it has to be Lomé
Dan Howley nah mate I’m Irish but it has to be Lomu
I was there for 1,2,5,6,7,8.. What a man
BOD!!!!!! Oh and first
Probably the best centre of the professional era. Lots of good ones in the amateur era that would give him competition though. I rate him the second best Irish centre ever after Mike Gibson and a ways behind Danie Gerber and Philippe Sella who I feel were the best centres I ever saw. I rate him in the top five of all time after those two , Tim Horan and Gibson.
Brian O Driscoll makes me proud to be Irish
2:38 where the fuck did he come from?? He was running for that ball before it even left O'Garas hands!
Said in his autobiography that O’Gara had a tell when he was going to wind up a long pass, so read it perfectly. Sums up how good a player Bod was
@@AndrewDavidForde Was just about to write that bro, their closeness with Ireland didn't help ROG in that case! It's not even the catch of it for me.. More the bravery of taking the chance of being taken out of the game if he missed it/read it wrong. As the commentator here on a different try "fortune favours the brave".. Great video man, what do you think of our chances at the RWC, will we balls it up again? (I think/hope/pray that we have that little bit of an x-factor in this team..its not one dimensional it seems we can score from anywhere)
@@damotheman4196 watch him after he’s made the interception as well, it’s not just head down and sprint for the line. At full tilt he’s checking his left shoulder, right shoulder and staying fully aware of the picture behind him
The lions try was outstanding
Great video about a great player
Damn O’Driscoll.
I had almost forgotten about those fucking gloves!! 😬
🐐
Irish genie
Second to only Gareth Edwards as the greatest NH player! Then would come Barry John, Paul O'Connell, and Alun Wyn Jones.
That’s true if you’re leaving out any of the great English players. Would take Wilkinson and Johnson over any of those tbh.
@@newspaper9949 really?! Don't you watch much Rugby? Those two may get into the top 10 or 20. But nowhere near the top 5 NH players. Not in terms of overall quality.
Wilkinson was England's Dan Bigger, world class GK that will put a shift in on Defense, but not much of a creator.
Pretty sure most of the 70s Welsh side would come next after the five I mentioned. That's without mentioning the likes of Jonathan Davies, Shane Williams, Sam Warburton, Finn Russell,...Hell, in terms of Quality - Owen Farrell is a far better player than Johnny Wilkinson ever was.
TRAB 👑🔵⚪️🔵⚪️
He couldn't have done without all the lucozade
Bosh
👍👍👍
Bar the Lions try these scores really don't showcase BODs brilliance. He scored better ones than these.
No better center who played game
I think he was the best centre ever, tactically and technically, but doubt if he was a good captain.
Best Northern player ever after Wilkinson.
Not really a fair comparison, an out half against a centre but probably best in their respective positions
The first try against Australia was replayed 4 times! You cant claim one try as being 4 of the best out of 10?
Seriously though....aren't those tries BOD scored his ONLY tries?
Well he's the Six nations top try scorer of all time so no. You do know it's just showing the same try from different angles. This video has left out some gems like Argentina 07 Toulouse 06 and England and Wales 09.
he's scored 45 tries at international level, never mind club, soooo nah
Drico was one of the best. Gorden D'Arcy was a big part of his try count for Ireland and lenster just worth saying D'Arcy was very selfless did a lot of the donkey work..
最高😃⤴️⤴️
Not great selection; he’s plenty of better tries...
OMG IM FIRST AGAIN YAY
Who? Never heard of him.
You Northern hemisphere lot get carried away with yourselves. Almost no great British players would make any southern hemisphere teams. I notice alot ours get in yours though lol. Our C grade players
IRELAND AINT BRITISH YOU NUMB SKULL
Fuck off your telling me you wouldnt take this guy, he won player of the year for a reason
Best centre but lost a bit of respect for him after what he’s been saying about Wales lately
Overrated player. A great centre. But way far from being "the best ever" as i read in comments.
A claim to be 'best ever' anything can always be challenged. It is hard to see what more O' Driscoll could have achieved in the game. As an attacking centre he was unstoppable; tactically astute, supremely athletic and blessed with a game-winning mentality. Added to that was a defensive skill set that has rarely been matched in a 13 jersey since, at any level. Moreover, look at where Irish rugby was when he came into the picture - perennial wooden spoon candidates. Along with a few talented team mates - but with O' Driscoll as the key scoring threat - he transformed Irish rugby in a way that few, if any players since can be said to have done for a national side. He consistently performed for Leinster, Ireland and the Lions throughout his professional career, and countless players benefitted from playing alongside him. There is also the fact that he is one of those players whose influence and popularity transcended the game itself - he is a household name across the northern hemisphere, and synonymous with rugby globally. You're entitled to your opinion for sure, but I would respectfully disagree with it. The suggestion that O' Driscoll is one of the greatest players in rugby history is well founded.
Theres a reason he's not very well rated down in new zealand. He never really turned up against them and Gatland was right to drop him in the last lions test v australia. To be fair he played behind a forward pack that often struggled and even with that managed to produce moments of magic. He's definately a once in a generation player and im glad i got to see him play but he's definately far far away from being the "best ever"
@@zephanish if i may, we all might have had a greater chance to see him produce some goods within '05 if a hooker & a centre hadn't dealt those blushes.. What i'm trying to say is I hold no vigor for the 'spear' maybe I did in it's aftermath, but however shocked people were up in NH the only scar that hasn't gone away from that incident is the barbarism and cowardice folks thought of them, upon witnessing it & that's what will take longer to go away.
For me, it was really just the question of it's necessity. Were people really worried he'd do damage on that tour?
@@karlosdeevs We dont speak of the 05 tour here... It never happened haha
@@zephanish to be fair though i think it was mostly because BOD was 33 at that stage in 2013 Lions so he'd lost a lot of pace by that point.
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