Ireland seek perfect send-off for O’Driscoll as championship goes down to wire
Much depends on winning margins in three-way tug-of-war between Joe Schmidt’s side, England and France
One of the recurring touchstones of this season’s Six Nations tournament has been the imminent retirement of Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll. But rather than give way to nostalgia, the 35-year-old’s farewell tour has turned out to be far more purposeful as the Irish travel to Paris on Saturday tied at the top of the standings with both France and England.
Sealing the Six Nations title with only their second win over France in Paris in 42 years would be a fitting send-off indeed for O’Driscoll. The Irish have a far superior points difference to the other two, although the English have a chance of eating into that as they play Italy, who are bottom, in Rome, in the earlier game.
O’Driscoll, who will bow out with a world record 141 caps (including eight for the British & Irish Lions), will have struck fear into the French after his scintillating display in the crushing 46-7 win over Italy last Saturday, creating three tries.
We realise the size of the challenge, but we feel when we go well we’re difficult to contain, so we have to get up for one massive performance
The centre, who has scored 47 Test tries, believes it is unlikely he can repeat the feat he achieved as a 21-year-old at the same Stade de France ground in 2000 and score a hat-trick in Ireland’s only win in Paris since 1972. However, he is confident he and his team-mates can end a run of two successive draws between the two teams and triumph.
“I feel we have the capabilities now of winning in Paris of course, more so now than other times we’ve gone over there,” said O’Driscoll.
“But I realise how tough a challenge it is – we’ve won once there in 42 years, it’s one win and one draw. We realise the size of the challenge, but we feel when we go well we’re difficult to contain, so we have to get ourselves up for one massive performance.”
Coach Joe Schmidt, whose side have conceded just two tries, is worried by the toll the campaign has taken on some of his players, especially the centre pairing of O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy. As a result, he has drafted utility back Ian Madigan onto the replacements bench and left out fly-half Paddy Jackson.