O'Driscoll eyes win on Lansdowne return

Brian O’Driscoll is eager to help Ireland mark their Aviva Stadium debut in triumphant fashion after being passed fit for Saturday’s clash with South Africa.

The Lions centre is on course to win his 104th cap after recovering from the hamstring problem sustained on Heineken Cup duty for Leinster three weeks ago.

Having missed Ireland’s opening match at Croke Park in 2007 with a similar injury, he was determined to participate in another landmark occasion as team returns to the redeveloped Lansdowne Road.

“There were no issues today – I trained fully with the squad. Fingers crossed it stays that way,” said O’Driscoll.

“The hamstring’s good and I’m looking forward to coming back home, essentially.

“We’ve enjoyed our time away in Croke Park but it’s fantastic to be back at the Aviva Stadium.

“Now I’m looking forward to getting the green jersey on and hopefully making some new memories at this stadium.

“It would have been very disappointing to have missed the first match at the Aviva and I’m thankful that the team are feeling good.

“I really wanted to play our first at Croke Park but sometimes it’s in the lap of the gods when it comes to injuries.

“On that occasion I was ruled out on the Tuesday but it’s been successful this time so hopefully it stays that way.”

O’Driscoll continues as captain but will urge a reluctant Gordon D’Arcy – the Leinster centre is keen to escape the attention – to lead the team out against the Springboks.

D’Arcy will be making his 50th Test appearance as part of an all-Leinster backline apart from Osprey Tommy Bowe on the right wing and O’Driscoll insists he deserves his time in the spotlight.

“Gordon has got tremendous character. He broke onto the scene very young as an 18-year-old,” he said.

“He was capped quite young but then it took him four years to win a second cap.

“Since then he’s been a regular within the 22. I enjoy playing with him and we know each other’s game very well.

“There’s an element of telepathy about what one another is doing. It’s great to have that familiarity.

“I look forward to helping him remember his 50th cap for all the right reasons.”

Winger Luke Fitzgerald will make his first Test appearance in almost a year after making a full recovery from the knee ligament damage sustained against Australia last autumn.

Jonathan Sexton has been preferred ahead of Ronan O’Gara at fly-half while in the pack veteran openside David Wallace keeps Sean O’Brien out of the 22 with Denis Leamy offering cover from the bench.

Though inevitable, one of the biggest omissions came on the bench where the versatility of Ulster prop Tom Court meant there was no place for John Hayes.

Tony Buckley is the preferred choice as starting tighthead, ensuring Hayes has been overlooked for a squad on selection alone for the first time in a decade.

However, head coach Declan Kidney refuses to write the 102-cap Munster front row’s obituary.

“Not at all is it the end for John, definitely not,” said Kidney.

“It hasn’t been easy to leave guys out but that’s my job. There are guys who will continue to give Ireland great service over the next 12 months.

“Tom Court has been playing 80 minutes recently and the advantage for him is that he’s the one prop who has had time on both sides of the scrum.

“In a 22-man squad you have to look at that tactically.

“Tony took his break during last summer’s tour very well and has backed that up with a few good performances since.

“John was unfortunate because he fell ill at the start of the tour and didn’t get his energy back, so didn’t get a go at it.

“Now it’s Tony’s opportunity and that’s the progress he’s made in his career.”