O’Driscoll gearing up to lead NZ tour

Brian O’Driscoll has declared himself fit for Ireland’s three-Test tour to New Zealand next month.

The Irish captain played Saturday’s Heineken Cup final with his right knee heavily strapped after undergoing keyhole surgery eight days earlier and was limping heavily towards the end of the game at Twickenham.

O’Driscoll trained just once in the week leading up to the decider but has confirmed that he will be available for Sunday’s RaboDirect PRO12 decider against Ospreys at the RDS and, after that, the daunting task of facing the world champion All Blacks.