‘I have a point to prove now’

SEÁN O’BRIEN makes his first Six Nations start in Rome tomorrow confident he can learn from his international experience of last autumn.

Given his rampaging form with Leinster, it seems difficult to imagine a point in the season when the back row, who will start at number eight against Italy at Stadio Flaminio, was not the flavour of the month.

Yet, if there was one, it came during November when the rising star was brought down to earth in the national team set-up. Overlooked for the Guinness Series opener against South Africa, the 23-year-old was handed his first start for Ireland the following week against Samoa.