Ireland sweat on O’Driscoll

IRELAND coach Declan Kidney is bracing himself for a possible second major injury blow in as many days with skipper Brian O’Driscoll another injury concern for tomorrow’s Six Nations opener against Italy at Croke Park.

Munster second row Donncha O’Callaghan cried off yesterday with a knee injury, and it has emerged that O’Driscoll is still being closely monitored after sustaining a quad muscle injury in training this week.

With stiffer tests looming for the defending Grand Slam champions – notably a trip to Paris tomorrow week to play France – Ireland’s management team must decide whether to leave O’Driscoll out of the side if he’s not 100% fit for tomorrow’s game against the tournament outsiders.