I must learn from World Cup mistake, says positive Sean O’Brien

It is almost four months since Sean O’Brien was ruled out of Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final against Argentina, a retaliatory swing at Pascal Papé of France leading to his suspension for a knockout game in which Ireland were furthered hampered by injuries.

Sunday’s visit to Dublin of Wales on the opening weekend of the 2016 Six Nations will therefore provide O’Brien with the first opportunity to wear a green shirt since then, but he isn’t framing the occasion according to what happened last October.

“I don’t know if I’m more revved up, but I certainly learned from that match to take those situations out of my game and, you know, not react the way I did,” said O’Brien yesterday.