Kidney pays tribute to O’Driscoll for reaching milestone

IMMEDIATELY after announcing his 22 players to face the All Blacks at Croke Park on Saturday, Declan Kidney drew attention to the fact that Brian O’Driscoll would be captaining his country for the 50th time and paid him a glowing tribute.

“Can I just congratulate Brian and his family who can be very proud of him and I wish him well,” said the coach.

O’Driscoll, who has relinquished the Leinster leadership and was believed to be under pressure at national level as well, spoke quietly but proudly of his satisfaction at having reached such a significant milestone. And where Saturday’s game is concerned, he muses that New Zealand and not Ireland are the team under pressure.