O’Driscoll: Adrenaline helps players get through pain barrier

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL insists the physical toll of the RBS 6 Nations is greater than ever and expects adrenaline to numb the more painful moments.

The 32-year-old may be playing in the tournament for a 12th-successive year but his determination to lead Ireland to success is fiercer than ever.

While his love affair with the 6 Nations continues to grow, however, O’Driscoll insists all teams are suffering amid the demands of the game.

“The 6 Nations has definitely got harder over the years. The game has become harder, more physical, more demanding,” he said.

“If you asked 100 players in the 6 Nations how many of them were 100% fit, 99 would say they had some niggle and the other person would be a liar.

“It’s impossible to go out 100% fit these days because of the physicality, both at provincial and international level. But adrenaline is brilliant at getting you through those small ailments that you have.

“The feeling you get in a winning dressing room makes you forget the sore muscles and bones for a couple of hours. It’s definitely a feeling I enjoy.”

O’Driscoll continues to excel in the Test arena yet how much longer the Lions centre will continue operating at the highest level is a subject that generates plenty of debate.

Seeing no reason to place a time frame on his international retirement, O’Driscoll is happy to take a pragmatic approach that will enable him to enjoy what time he has left.

“I’ve stopped putting time constraints on myself as to when I have to give up,” he said.

“As long as the body is still feeling good and the mind is backing that up, I don’t see any reason to give up.

“I’m really looking forward to the 6 Nations because I love this competition.

“My interest hasn’t waned in any way shape of form over the last decade or so.

“If anything I probably have more of a hunger for it now in the knowledge that I don’t know how many more years I will have left. You treat each Six Nations like it could be your last.”

Ireland open their Six Nations against Italy on Saturday week and O’Driscoll admits trips to the Italian capital are welcomed by his team-mates.

“More often than not we’ve been fortunate to have good conditions in Italy,” he said.

“The players thrive on the sun shining and there’s usually a freshness to playing in February or March. Players do enjoy it there — it’s a good atmosphere in the stadium.

“But if you slip behind like we did two years ago it can be a difficult place to fight your way back. There are worse places to play rugby internationals than Rome.”