There was a stage in 2006 when I was playing poorly, my body kept breaking down on me,

and just things were going a little round for me.

And Joe Schmitz pulled me aside before the All Blacks game in Chicago.

And he said, you need a big one today.

But I knew from the way that he was looking at me and I knew from the vibes that

I was getting off during the week that I was very close to not being picked on that game.

I've known enough of Joe at the time to know that he very much says what he's thinking.

And if you're walking a tight rope, he's going to tell you.

You know, in terms of these really amazing coaches

who understand which buttons to press in particular individuals, he probably knew that that

might rile me up in some way and that by putting me under that sort of severe pressure that he

might get the best out of me.

Rob Carney's fearless skills under the highball and relentless attacking abilities

may have made him one of the most dangerous fullbacks in world rugby,

but it was his consistency year in year out, commitment to improve, work and deliver that earned him more accolades

than any Irish rugby player in history. Even if you read only half of the list of stuff this man

has won, it is ridiculous. A four-time winner of the Sixth Nations, two grand slams,

four Heineken Cups, one challenge cup, six pro-14s and two Lions Tour selections. I mean,

all that doesn't happen accidentally or without bumps in the road. Well, the book he released last

year with David Walsh

is like Rob himself, head and shoulders above most sports biographies. That's where we start

our chat today, but this thing goes all sorts of different directions in the second half,

...