O’Driscoll hoping for extended home run
“He’s over 30, they should be looking at younger guys,” one supporter declared.
O’Driscoll is just 26, and ready to prove it at Thomond Park this evening (6.30) when Munster meet Northampton in a pre-season friendly.
He has packed a lot into his rugby career since making his senior debut for Munster seven years ago against Morocco, played for the Irish U19s, U21s and won two Irish caps, as well as making around 70 appearances for his province.
Then came his move to France, prompted by a desire to gain experience and to nail down a place in a quality side.
O’Driscoll served Munster well but found himself third choice behind Mick Galwey and John Langford, and then under pressure from the up-and-coming Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan.
There was no animosity when he left, no feeling he had got a raw deal.
“I was always in the frame but I have to admit I maybe didn’t take my chances as well as some of the others,” O’Driscoll said.
“The move to Perpignan was an opportunity to experience something new and I was glad to take it. There is no harm in trying something different. I got a good offer from Perpignan, who were going well in Europe, and I don’t regret moving there.”
If he rues anything it is not quite fulfilling the promise he made to himself, mainly because of injury.
“I damaged the medial ligaments in my knee, cracked an ankle, hurt my back, and then had to have a shoulder operation, which kept me out for several months.
“Perpignan, after losing a Heineken Cup final to Toulouse, didn’t qualify for the knockout stages in either of my two seasons. That, and the injuries, were frustrating but they looked after me very well when I was out of action. You hear horror stories about such problems in France but the club gave me the support I needed.
“When you play in Ireland you know you’re going to be paid at the end of every month. Sometimes in France, you don’t know that.”
While O’Driscoll never had a run of more than eight weeks injury-free in France, he believes he has put the bad times behind him.
“In an ironic sort of way, the injuries were a blessing because they allowed me the opportunity to build on my physique and I’m a lot stronger than when I left for France. Because I was injured so much, I spent a lot more time in the gym.
“When you get an upper body injury, the only option is to work on leg weights, it’s the other way around when you get a leg injury. I went through the whole range so I have got stronger. That’s the benefit of injuries.” ”
O’Driscoll felt the option of a third year in Perpignan was not a runner.
“I felt it was time to come back. You wonder whether you’re doing the right thing by moving away. It’s nice to know Munster retained an interest in me returning. I had my couple of years away, enjoyed it, learnt from it, but I’m glad to be home.”
His aim was to return a better player and he hopes to prove it.
“If nothing else, I’ve gained from the experience. There were different outlooks in France, I’ve taken things on board from the coaching staff but also from the experience of playing regularly against different types of opposition. It’s a question of picking up tips on the way.
“Rugby keeps evolving, players and coaches have to keep adapting to change and that’s exciting. I’d like to think I can bring new ideas to Munster and I know there will already be ideas from when I played here. It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to, and there are exciting times ahead.”
At UCC, O’Driscoll won a Universities European Cup medal and had the opportunity to add Heineken Cup medals with Munster.
Their misses are well documented but can they bury the ghosts of two unsuccessful final appearances?
“You’ve got to believe,” O’Driscoll said.
“Some teams have more money but you can’t always buy success. There is quality right through the squad and a very good work ethic. That should eventually pay dividends.”
Northampton director of rugby Budge Pountney and head coach Paul Grayson give a debut tonight to All Black star Carlos Spencer as well as new signings Sean Lamont and ex-Leinster centre David Quinlan.
: B Martin; P Devlin, M Mullins, R Henderson, M Lawlor; P Burke, M Prendergast; F Roche, J Flannery, T Buckley, D Ryan; M O’Driscoll, J O’Sullivan, S Keogh, J O’Connor.
: E McGovern, D Fogarty, R McGrath, F Cogan, A Foley, F Murphy, I Dowling, B Murphy.
: B Reihana (capt); S Lamont, J Clarke, D Quinlan, B Cohen; C Spencer, M Robinson; T Smith, D Hartley, B Sturgess; D Browne, J Percival, M Easter, D Fox, D Browne.
: D Richmond, C Budgen, M Lord, M Soden, B Jones, S Mallon, J Rudd, R Davies, A Vilk, A Rae.
: A. Lewis.
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