In BOD we trust...

The World Cup is the biggest stage in any sport, the pinnacle of a players’ career, the birthplace of legends. You don’t have to win the World Cup to acquire legendary status, but you must leave your mark. Players of the calibre of Lomu, Campese, Gregan and Piennar have all engraved their legacy into the minds of even the most naive of rugby supporters. But what about the players that don’t carry a World Cup legacy? Does this deduct from their reputation or even put into question their greatness?

Brian O’ Driscoll is one of these players. Seen by many as the greatest outside centre of his generation, but yet to eclipse the World Cup in the way that others previously have, but why?

The main reason for his lack of dominance on rugby’s biggest stage is probably down to the mass underachievement of Ireland as a rugby nation. A weakness at World Cups has been characterised by a phobia of the southern hemisphere; up until their recent win over Australia, Ireland had failed to beat a southern hemisphere side on home soil for a number of years.

The Emerald Isle’s lack of success at World Cups has bamboozled many, especially after so many mercurial Six Nations’ campaigns. O’ Driscoll has nothing more to prove in the Six Nations. He holds the record for the most tries in the competition with 26 and with at least one more campaign left in him, no one would bet against him extending his tally.

But he may not play another World Cup. In fact, the 2011 competition is very likely to be his last crack at the Webb Ellis trophy. And while Ireland aren’t expected to win it, their potential amounts to much greater than their three consecutive quarter final exits. This is BOD’s last shot at cracking rugby’s biggest challenge and he’ll be looking to push the boundaries, especially with a quarter final against Wales pencilled in.

So has O’ Driscoll’s nationality held him back from becoming one of the games’ all-time greats? What if he’d been born in New Zealand? Plying his trade alongside the likes of Carter and Spencer, running lines off of Umaga and feeding Doug Howlett; his name would be unforgettable.

The All Black’s recent WC record suggests that he may still be without a winner’s medal, but his reputation would be perched on top of Mount Cook.

BOD has oozed class for all 113 of his international caps; proving to be an inspirational leader as well as the complete number 13. His impact on the 2001 Lions’ Tour of Australia made it clear that a star had been born; his mazy run through the Wallaby defence to score under the posts was certainly a message to the world and he has continued to build upon that.

Unfortunately, the stage fright of one nation is preventing the boy from Clontarf from entering an elite group. In thirty years’ time, will people be talking about BOD as one of the greatest players of all time? I don’t think they will. As disappointing as it is, the Leinster man is probably only one dominant World Cup away from carving his own rugby legacy.

But there’s still time, a favourable draw has put Ireland in a great position to make their first semi-final for some time, and, who knows, Brian O’Driscoll could yet get his hands on the Webb Ellis trophy.

After all, it would be just the luck of the Irish.