O’Driscoll winning fitness battle

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL should be fit to play for Ireland against South Africa on Saturday after taking a limited part in training yesterday, according to team manager Paul McNaughton who described himself as “optimistic” regarding the captain.

Keith Earls is also expected to be available after coming through a full session as Declan Kidney trimmed his squad to 30 ahead of this afternoon’s team announcement, with scrum-half Isaac Boss, winger Shane Horgan and props Brett Wilkinson and Mike Ross all cut from the initial group.

And with O’Driscoll set to take a full part in this morning’s training session at Donnybrook, McNaughton remains positive he will come through unscathed.