O’Driscoll likely to make final but coach not counting chickens

ALL the signs are that Brian O’Driscoll’s name will be on the Leinster teamsheet when it is revealed at noon today, although Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has stressed the Irish captain will need to be fully fit for that to happen.

The outside-centre trained with the rest of the squad at three-quarter pace yesterday morning and came through the session without incident and Schmidt is “pretty confident” that he will be able to operate at full tilt today and, more importantly, tomorrow.

O’Driscoll will be put through another run out this morning before the team departs for Cardiff this afternoon, although Leinster will still bring an extra back to Wales as cover just in case their talismanic number 13 has to bow out before kick-off.