O’Connell happy to get back to basics

He’s frustrated at the imminent prospect of watching Mr O’Driscoll walk off the stage. No point saying otherwise. For one thing, it will leave Paul O’Connell as the elder statesman on Joe Schmidt’s Ireland team.

Time is a-ticking for the Munster lock but he spoke in certainties yesterday. Time is limited, but he has his pathway mapped out this next few years. As he said before, the 2015 World Cup is within his compass. Maybe even more.

With his extra years comes a gravitas. When he dissects what Ireland could have done better at Twickenham two weeks ago and what they will need to do tomorrow against Italy at the Aviva, you listen.