O’Driscoll: we must reach targets we set ourselves

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL equals an Irish record of which he had little knowledge when he leads his country in Saturday’s World Cup game against Georgia in the Stade Chaban Delmas.

It will be his 11th appearance in the World Cup which ties the previous mark set by another Blackrock centre, Brendan Mullin. Asked if such an achievement stirred his blood, we saw the first smile from the skipper since Sunday’s debacle against Namibia when he quipped: “It’s just the motivation I need.”

However, it was quickly back to business for Ireland’s star man who was possibly more upset than anyone by the 39 turnovers conceded against the Namibians and the general disastrously poor quality of the team’s performance. As skipper and thetalisman of the side, he recognises the major role he has to adopt in restoring morale and self belief into a shell shocked panel of rugby players.