If this is Drico's curtain call, it will be an underwhelming end

Fourth in the table, one victory from four games and safety from the wooden spoon is not yet guaranteed. It has hardly been a Six Nations to savour for Declan Kidney’s men but tomorrow’s meeting with fifth place Italy is far from a dead rubber, not least because it could be the last time we see Ireland’s greatest ever player take to the field in a green jersey.

If this Six Nations campaign does signal the curtain call for Brian O’Driscoll’s international career it will be a somewhat underwhelming end to his extraordinary tenure in the Irish midfield. His brilliance deserved more.