BOD: No retirement date
Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll insists he is not thinking about retirement despite recently saying the 2013 Six Nations could be his last
The 34-year-old centre produced a superlative display in a 30-22 victory over Wales in Cardiff, setting up one try, scoring another and starring in defence.
O'Driscoll's Leinster contract expires at the end of the season and this has led to speculation that, if selected, the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in June could mark the end of his career.
Fitness, rather than any lessening desire to extend his 14-year Test career, appears to be the biggest issue confronting O'Driscoll, who missed Ireland's November internationals with an ankle injury.
O'Driscoll, speaking ahead of Sunday's match against England in Dublin, insisted he'd only spoken about retirement ahead of the Wales match because he'd been asked about the issue.
"I said it because I was asked the question. I hadn't intended causing a stir, I was just being honest in answering a question," he said.
"I haven't really allowed myself to think about it. If you start thinking about retirement in six months time you're already there.
"It will all evolve. The situation will unfold. I'll have to listen to my body," he added.
Unusually, for a man who has spent the bulk of his career as Ireland captain, O'Driscoll finds himself in the ranks after coach Declan Kidney opted to entrust leadership duties to Jamie Heaslip, his skipper in November.
O'Driscoll said while he was saddened to lose the captaincy, he understood Kidney's thinking and insisted the decision had made no great difference to his game, a point he proved against Wales.
"I've read a little bit of stuff over the last while that taking the burden of captaincy away from me has allowed me to think about my game," he said.
"I'd like to think that in the 10 years I was captain I played a few all right games as well.
"It hasn't changed the way I go about my business or the way I carry on around camp.
"I suppose I thought at some point the captaincy would be passed on, but looking forwards I'm not going to be around for the 2015 World Cup, so it's a good opportunity to give Jamie a run in it.
"Jamie's going to be around for a considerable amount of time, albeit that didn't make the decision any easier or lessen the disappointment when I was told," O'Driscoll added.
With England having beaten Scotland 38-18 at Twickenham last weekend, Sunday's match is already being billed as a title-decider.
"They're great occasions, largely because invariably England are one of the best sides in the world," O'Driscoll said.
"You have to bring your 'A' game. It's England in Dublin and that's an exciting prospect no matter how many times you've had it."
Comments
kennyisgay says...
Now now Norman Nomates no need to get nasty cos you can't handle the truth. You know England's pretty safe this weekend cos you played your one off good game last week and your precious bod won't have another good game ever seeing he'll be long gone before the next 25 tests
Posted 22:59 07th February 2013
kennyisgay says...
papachinzo says... " Indeed O'Driscoll has played in many more games, but the majority of those games we're played against top opposition." - Like Italy & Scotland every year huh?
"Whilst Nonu and Fouire have played on top teams against lower ranking / poor opposition" - Yes like Australia, SA & NZ twice a year
Good one buddy next you'll be saying sux nations is the toughest competition in the world and that Kidney's the best coach ever
Posted 22:18 07th February 2013
Norm says...
kenny stick to baiting pubescent teenagers, this is a grown up site. Sitting spewing bile from your crepulent little hovel of a life. Always amuses me the bravely anonymous posts you make torpedoing everything you see, never anything positive to say. Actually feel sorry for you.
At least tthe Fish idiot makes a vaguely rugby related comment. It is complete tripe but at least its an attempt.
Seek help you crepulent little idiot
Posted 20:21 07th February 2013
kennyisgay says...
Most overrated player of all time. Much like the irish team he plays one decent game every ten. Actually that was in his prime so it's one in every 25 since 2001
Posted 19:34 07th February 2013
papachinzo says...
@FISH Indeed O'Driscoll has played in many more games, but the majority of those games we're played against top opposition. Whilst Nonu and Fouire have played on top teams against lower ranking / poor opposition... and if you look at your stats, BOD actually has a better ppg than Nonu. Let also not forget, BOD's career took a hit for about three seasons after a certain incident during a Lions tour.
Posted 17:52 07th February 2013
papachinzo says...
@FISH Indeed O'Driscoll has played in many more games, but the majority of those games we're played against top opposition. Whilst Nonu and Fouire have played on top teams against lower ranking / poor opposition... and if you look at your stats, BOD actually has a better ppg than Nonu. Let also not forget, BOD's career took a hit for about three seasons after a certain incident during a Lions tour.
Posted 17:52 07th February 2013
DrDeath says...
@FISH
Exposed for what you are-irritating little SH troll looking to pick a fight with everyone-you need to leave the Stella alone!!
Posted 16:15 07th February 2013
FISH says...
hmmm i'd pick nonu over brian o' driscoll any day and for that matter i would pick jaque fourie too, BOD has played 127 internationals and scored 47 tries , whilst fourie has played 69 tests scoring 32, far better game to point ratio and and nono has 79 tests and 25 tries, the poor irish team has kept BOD around forever and it hardly seems worth it, both nonu and fourie face better oposition on a yearly basis, namely thier respective teams whilst BOD played against useless NH teams, particularly england and scotland further more nonu and fourie are far better and stronger runners....so yeah BOD is great.....he's been around FOREVER cause the drab irish team have no one else, but for my money i'd pick fourie or nonu any day of the week
Posted 15:12 07th February 2013
campesebaba says...
fortunately the likes of Fish dont know what theyre talking about Bod best 13 of all time ceratinly according to Timi horan double world cup winner he shud know a thing or two abt it ......
Posted 15:12 07th February 2013
jmehrtens says...
@fish I don't believe bad team mates make you look good rather the opposite. Horgan looked like an international while playing outside of BOD, some even believe he was. And Has D'arcy played a good game without BOD?
Posted 13:56 07th February 2013
Derrynane says...
Absolute bollox FISH - perhaps you could enlighten us as to who you think were better centres in world rugby during the last 14 years? The sign of a good player is one who can shine in a poor team. He has definitely had to do that on more than one occasion in the last 14 years!
Posted 13:33 07th February 2013
connaughtabu says...
I guess the reason Kidney took the captaincy from BoD and gave it to Heaslip was to give him (Decco) the possibility of dropping BoD, when the time came. You can't drop the captain now can you?
And what does O'Driscoll do - he plays out of his skin again Wales!!
Posted 11:14 07th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Kidney: just give him it back!!! He's won it back so give it to him! If not I hope Heaslip overrules your selection and passes it to him.
Posted 09:23 07th February 2013
FISH says...
he knows the end is nigh....he just would rather concentrate on the little time he has left........i expect alot of people to kiss his ass as usual, insisting on how good he is....while i admit he was a great player....i sincerely dont think he was as legendary as people make out , he just stood out in a drab irish outfit and an even drabber northern hemisphere set up, i doubt he'd have made much of an impact in the southern hemisphere, look at the stats....ireland have a dreadful record against the southern hemisphere, just shows how easy it is too stand out in that outfit hahahaha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcGyWqQNPBs & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTVhckB3juk why does he wear gloves is his hands soft?
Posted 07:37 07th February 2013