Kiss: O’Driscoll is still tops

Brian O’Driscoll will embark on his final season of Test rugby this evening having been told he is still the best outside centre in the world.

O’Driscoll, 34, is set to win his 126th cap today, when Ireland face Samoa in the first of three Guinness Series Tests this month at the Aviva Stadium and with the Grand Slam-winning captain set to retire from rugby at the end of the season, tonight’s clash is one of only six chances to see him in the green jersey on home soil.

A calf injury may have kept O’Driscoll sidelined for five weeks and restricted him to just 73 minutes of rugby so far this season, against Cardiff Blues on September 27, but Ireland assistant coach Les Kiss believes O’Driscoll is still on top of his game and deserving of status as the best No.13 in world rugby.