O’Driscoll glad to put tough year behind him
Though one of the few Irish players to play somewhere close to his true potential at last year’s World Cup in France, the Leinster centre suffered a dip in form later in the season before picking up a hamstring injury in the Six Nations match against Wales.
O’Driscoll only returned to action for Leinster’s trip to Murrayfield two weeks ago and, though he looked somewhat sluggish that night, his fitness and sharpness had improved immeasurably for Saturday’s Magners League title winning tie against the Dragons.
“I’m feeling sharper, I’ve lost a few pounds. I probably needed to. On the whole, it’s great. I’ve got the hunger for it again. I needed the six-week break. It’s been a long season and a little frustrating at times.
“The long lay-off got the head sorted along with the body. I’ve been excited going to training the last couple of weeks, which is nice. I want to finish (the season) on a high, playing the last few games well and hopefully going down and touring well.”
The extent of O’Driscoll’s struggles is best illustrated by the fact that he failed to score a single try for his club this season but that statistic also serves to highlight the inroads Leinster have made as a group this past 12 months.
In the previous two years, the province has seen the Magners title slip through their fingers on the last day of the campaign and Felipe Contepomi believes that their progression has been a slow and methodical procedure.
“Good teams don’t build overnight or from one day to another,” said the Puma.
“I would like to think that this team is building in the right way. Winning a Magners League has been good. We have won games away too.”
Silverware isn’t the only stick Leinster are using to measure themselves with right now. Saturday’s match programme contained a poster collage of action shots from their two victories over Munster.
Leinster would reject the suggestion but that is indicative of the fact that their southern cousins, and their European achievements, continue to overshadow their own efforts even if O’Driscoll is staunch in his defence of the Magners’ worth.
“The thing about the Magners is that it has picked up a bit of kudos from people, not only from spectators but from players over the last few years. It’s now a worthwhile competition to win.”
That said, O’Driscoll wouldn’t dispute the fact that it is European success which they crave the most.
He admitted as much immediately after Saturday’s game, describing the league win as a stepping stone to Heineken success.
“Here in Ireland they are all obsessed with European Cups,” said a slightly irritated Contepomi. “The important thing is winning games. When you speak of a cup, you have to remember that teams like Stade Francais have never won it and think why.
“A league shows if you are consistent week in, week out. With a cup, you can be out after just one bad game or one unlucky game. Hopefully this is a stepping stone for European silverware but it is a huge responsibility to perform as good or better in the Magners League next year and a European Cup would be the icing on the cake.”
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