Complete package.

Ireland international Peter O’Mahony says provincial teammate Tadhg Beirne is the “complete package” and is looking forward to lining out alongside him against Wales this weekend.

Beirne has been named in Ireland’s starting line-up after Iain Henderson was forced to pull out with injury and will make his Six Nations debut at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

O’Mahony says Beirne getting his chance this weekend is “utterly deserved”.

“I think Tadhg has set his own standards over the last two and a half, three years,” said O’Mahony.

“Obviously, he’s spent a long time in Scarlets and with us and he’s been incredibly impressive for both the Scarlets and us over the last two or three years. 

“He gets his shot in the Six Nations and it’s utterly deserved. He’s put a lot of hard work in. He got a couple of knocks here and there but he’s worked hard over the last few weeks and guys know what he brings and how important he’ll be to us this weekend.

“The other side of it is a lot of these guys have played alongside him and know what he’s about so I suppose there’s two angles to it. As I said, we’re all hugely confident in these guys.”

Beirne has become renowned for his incredible work in defence and is regarded as one of the best poachers in world rugby right now. But O’Mahony says the second-row has a lot more to his game.

“His ability going forward, to pick a line, his ball handling skills,” said O’Mahony.

“He’s a footballer, you know? He could probably play across the back row as well, even though I’d certainly rather he didn’t!

“So he’s the complete package and I’m delighted to have him alongside us this weekend.”

[The42.ie]