O'Driscoll: We need to be physical against Boks

Brian O’Driscoll is relishing pulling on a green jersey and leading his country against the Springboks on Saturday.

The current World Champions endured a torrid Tri Nations campaign, finishing bottom of the standings, but O’Driscoll thinks South Africa were unlucky in the tournament.

“I think if you look at the latter matches, they (South Africa) were missing out by one score at the death so there’s a very fine line between what would have been an OK Tri Nations and a disappointing one,” he said.

The visitors have had a long season and have 13 frontline players missing through injury but the Ireland captain does not expect a reduced threat come Saturday evening.

“They obviously have a huge number of injury issues but they have such strength in depth that I don’t envisage a poor side travelling. I don’t know too many South African teams that have brought over poor sides,” he stated.

The new IRB diktat on law interpretations at the breakdown have encouraged a faster flowing game which was evident in the Super 14 and Tri Nations this summer and O’Driscoll expects more of the same from South Africa.

“I’m sure they’ll bring the attacking brand they played this year and hopefully we can match that and be nice and physical with them,” said O’Driscoll.

The South Africans are infamous for their level of physicality on the rugby and O’Driscoll insists that his side must match the Boks, but he is confident his team-mates have what it takes.

“We have an element of flexibility to our game and we like to be able to vary it,” he said.

“Definitely from a physicality point of view, if you can get the better of them or certainly parity in the contact area then you’re off to a good start.”