All hail BOD as star bids farewell to home turf

The ovation that greeted Brian O’Driscoll at the Aviva Stadium yesterday came in jest from teammates, but the iconic rugby star is sure to receive a more heartfelt reception as he steps out on the same turf this afternoon for the last time in an Ireland jersey.

Yesterday’s round of ironic applause greeted O’Driscoll’s late arrival for a team photo, the veteran centre emerging last onto the pitch as Ireland wrapped up their preparations for the last home game of the Six Nations campaign against Italy. That will see a sold-out Aviva Stadium acknowledge the 35-year-old’s stellar career for Ireland over 15 years, in which he captained the side to four Triple Crowns and the 2009 Grand Slam.

It was a 20-year-old O’Driscoll who first represented his country on Irish soil at the old Lansdowne Road against Argentina on Aug 28, 1999.