Cautious O’Driscoll concentrating on Italian challenge

HAND in hand with his 97th Irish cap at Croke Park on Saturday is Brian O’Driscoll’s utter refusal to take anything for granted.

Most would regard Italy as a bit of a pushover, especially when playing away to the reigning Grand Slam champions. It’s a reasonable premise. O’Driscoll accepts the reality of the situation without sounding in any way complacent. Surely, though, last year’s achievements mean there’s a monkey off the backs of the current Irish squad.

“There was an element of that but it has come and gone,” he reasons. “You just forget that now and look to another campaign and put the same pressure on yourself to perform. There’s still that same expectation and the level of performance that we demand of each other.