O’Driscoll knows he has few more yards to run along warpath

The Leinster team filed slowly on its arrival from the gates of the Sportsground along the back of the Clan Terrace and towards the sanctuary of the away dressing room when Brian O’Driscoll’s path was about to be blocked by a local fan.

Jersey and black marker in hand, the man in question was poised to mumble his request when O’Driscoll, cans covering his ears and eyes screwed to the tarmac underneath his feet, made it clear that there would be no autograph. Not just then.

“On the warpath,” he said baldly. And on he strode.