Maggs takes centre stage for 50th cap

IRISH centres Kevin Maggs and Brian O’Driscoll swapped roles yesterday, with the no-nonsense Bath man buried under a sea of eulogies from his captain.

Maggs becomes the third Irishman in as many matches to win his 50th cap, after David Humphreys and Malcolm O’Kelly, and will lead the side out to an ear-shattering roar from 49,500 fans crammed into Lansdowne Road on Sunday.

“Maggsy is in the best form of his life,” said O’Driscoll. “Now that he has become a senior player in the Irish side, I think he has come out of himself and started leading from the front which is exactly what we needed from him. I’m not sure how many people have won 50 caps for Ireland but it’s a huge milestone for him and I think it’s very apt that he should lead the team out.