Genius is a much overused word in the sporting lexicon, but it is entirely appropriate when applied to Brian O’Driscoll, who will join the ranks of rugby’s centurions tomorrow when Ireland attempt to halt Australia’s grand-slam bandwagon at Croke Park.
It will be O’Driscoll’s 100th international appearance, which includes 94 for Ireland and six for the Lions. While the statistic that really matters is a “ton” for your country — which should happen in next year’s RBS Six Nations Championship — this is a landmark that should not be overlooked, not least because it was against the Wallabies where it all began for him in 1999.
Much has changed for the better in the interim, with Ireland’s emergence on to the centre stage of the world game, but one thing remains constant for the 30-year-old centre.
“I was really looking forward to my first cap and didn’t start feeling nervous until the fireworks went off when Australia came on to the pitch,” O’Driscoll said. “I still have those nerves — if you don’t, the mind isn’t sharp. The butterflies focus the mind and get you ready for combat.”
It has been a wonderful year for O’Driscoll, who made the critics — some wondered whether he still had the appetite for the game — eat their words. The grand slam was achieved after so many near-misses and the accolade of player of the tournament was followed swiftly by the Heineken Cup triumph with Leinster, which for him was the crowning glory. The only blot was the Lions’ series defeat in South Africa, when he was forced home early with concussion.
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“I have great hunger for the game and hopefully we’ll pick up where we left off in March,” O’Driscoll said. “Australia are a very smart team, the smartest in world rugby. They think about how to break down defences and have the personnel to do that.”
That momentous Heineken Cup victory at Murrayfield was achieved alongside Rocky Elsom, who returns to Dublin tomorrow as O’Driscoll’s counterpart with Australia. They have lost twice on their past three visits to Ireland, but began their grand-slam quest with an 18-9 win at Twickenham over England that flattered Martin Johnson’s side.
“It is funny how it works out,” said Elsom, who has replaced the injured Stirling Mortlock as Australia captain. “I had a great time at Leinster. I can’t think how I could possibly have had a better time. But what made it an easy decision to leave was that I thought I would regret not going back to Australia because of international rugby.”
Australia are being subtly remodelled by Robbie Deans, the coach, with some outstanding talent being nurtured, among them Will Genia, the scrum half, and Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane in midfield.
They have also shed their image as scrummaging “pansies”, although there is a weakness at the lineout that Ireland will look to exploit through the twin pillars of Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan.
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While Australia are rebuilding, Ireland are pretty much set in stone, the most experienced side in the world game in terms of caps.
Declan Kidney has 13 of his grand-slam heroes in the starting XV, with Gordon D’Arcy losing out to Paddy Wallace and only Marcus Horan missing because of injury. They are a team full of leaders and not solely reliant on O’Driscoll, one with the ability to play any type of game, even if it is their first match for six months.
Mark Souster