O’Brien adapts and survives

SEAN O’BRIEN put an end to any doubts he couldn’t be moulded into an effective openside flanker about the same time as he was busy knocking Australia out of shape last Saturday in Auckland.

A colossus in defence and a wrecking ball in attack for Ireland in their famous World Cup win over the Wallabies at Eden Park, O’Brien was not even playing in his favourite position, preferring the ball-carrying blindside flanker’s role or number eight to the shovelling and scavenging work required of a seven.

Yet he managed to produce a multi-faceted display that highlighted all that was good in any back-row position, perfectly in tandem with Stephen Ferris at six and Jamie Heaslip at eight.