O’Driscoll career in jeopardy

IT’S not something he wants to contemplate but Brian O’Driscoll admits he would have to consider retirement if next week’s operation to free a trapped nerve in his shoulder does not allow him to return to rugby and play free from pain.

The best-case scenario for the Ireland captain is that he misses the next six months, a time frame that automatically rules him out of the next Six Nations and all but the tail end of Leinster’s Rabodirect PR12 and Heineken Cup campaigns. The absolute worst-case is that he has to call time on a glittering career long before the 2013 summer tour to Australia with the British and Irish Lions which he pinpointed recently as his preferred stage from which to say goodbye to the professional playing ranks.

The player himself talked about the need to be both optimistic and realistic when briefing the media of the news at Leinster’s training base yesterday having played through the injury for eight months now with Leinster and Ireland.

The Ireland captain has seen a number of specialists post-World Cup and has been presented with a similar prognosis on each occasion.

Ashley Poynton, consultant spinal surgeon at Dublin’s Mater Hospital, will perform the operation.

O’Driscoll was reticent when asked to assess the probability of a successful procedure and would only go so far as to say that it was a “good percentage. Over 50,” but the centre does at least know what it is like to be out of the picture for half a year.

It is six years since that infamous spear tackle in New Zealand but this latest challenge is more daunting given his advanced age as an athlete and the punishment his body has taken in the years since.

This latest problem has been apparent for some time, most notably during the recent World Cup when he appeared to favour his other shoulder in the tackle but he has been encouraged by his dealings with his surgeon.

“He’s given me a likelihood, percentage wise, of what my chances are of getting back.

“I do have the rest of my life to think about as well and if there was any chance of playing through discomfort again then probably the smart move would be to call it a day. But that’s thinking very far ahead and we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. As far as I’m concerned, there’s huge positivity to be taken from the results that have been seen on this injury before and I’ve seen plenty of guys come back from it so there’s no reason why not.”

The injury first manifested itself during this year’s Six Nations and the problem has caused significant discomfort, occasional loss of movement and a lack of power but he stressed it never posed a significant health danger while on the pitch.

“I’ve done six months (before) so I know how to deal with it. It’s not something new to me. It’s hard sitting out any game, provincial or international, but the big thing for me — and I’ve said it plenty of times before — is that when you are not involved and the team is going well they are not missing you and if they’re going badly you feel you can give them a dig out. That’s the hard part, it’s a no-win situation.”

The loss of O’Driscoll comes less than a week before Leinster open the defence of the Heineken Cup with a trip to Montpellier and comes on top of the long-term loss of Shane Horgan who is bracing himself for four months rehab after knee surgery in Sweden.

O’Driscoll acted as waterboy for last Friday’s Rabodirect PRO12 derby against Munster at the Aviva Stadium and will travel to France with the team but coach Joe Schmidt is confident that the injury can be overcome and his talisman can eventually return to duty.

“I know there are a number of young NFL and AFL players who have had the procedure and have come back and have played unobstructed. I’m not sure how similar it is to what Rory Best had done because I’m not sure of their medical background. I’ve said it before, I’m a pretty positive person by nature and Brian has been reasonably positive throughout the testing and visits to specialists so we are keeping it positive but trying to be realistic as the same time.”