O’Sullivan faces up to the loss of O’Driscoll

IRELAND and Lions coach Eddie O’Sullivan believes Brian O’Driscoll will be fit in time to face rugby superpowers Australia and New Zealand this autumn.

O'Sullivan this week kept alive the controversy over his captain's injury and the manner in which it was sustained, by criticising All Blacks captain Tana Umaga for not apologising to his opposite number, despite playing a part in the incident which led to O'Driscoll's dislocated shoulder.

Leaving his anger to one side though, O'Sullivan later explained how the gifted centre was coping with his new role on the sidelines and when he would return to action.