O'Driscoll urges team to move on from Murrayfield

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll has urged his team-mates not to bask in the glory of their Murrayfield victory for too long.

The Irish broke an 18-year jinx by defeating Scotland 36-6 in Edinburgh last Sunday to open their RBS 6 Nations campaign in style, but the Lions centre is only too aware of how dangerous complacency can be.

With a tricky assignment up next against an Italy side buoyant after their 30-22 win over Wales, O’Driscoll said: “Obviously you have to say it is a big monkey off our backs to have won there. It was a long time coming but, having said that, it was a win we felt we deserved.

“But we’re not patting ourselves on the back and telling each other we’re great.

“It’s more a case of move on and move upwards if we want to go on and compete in this competition.

“Last Sunday would be pointless if we went and lost this Saturday, so you must take each game at a time and put the last one behind you.

“We’ll take the confidence from winning that game but there’s no point in dwelling on it.”

Playing the Azzurri just seven days after being put through their paces at Murrayfield does not help the Irish either and the Ireland skipper admitted: “I do feel very tired.

“Internationals are very tough affairs no matter who you are playing and the turnaround is going to be tough enough, but it was a very physical game against Scotland last Sunday.”

O’Driscoll said he was very impressed with the way the Italians beat Wales in Rome last Saturday, adding: “They seem to be much better drilled defensively, a lot stronger and they seem to know what they want out of their defence.

“The back row have all had their plaudits and rightly so. They’re very strong around the tackle area and being able to stick (Mauro) Bergamasco on the wing instead of the back row shows they’ve been developing as a side and their squad is getting stronger and stronger.

“One thing’s for sure about the Italians - if you run into them you know all about them.

“It’s about getting them on soft shoulders and perhaps getting around them rather than through them.”