O'Driscoll challenges next generation to break his record

Brian O’Driscoll has challenged Ireland’s stars of tomorrow to break his all-time Test appearances record.

The talismanic centre will take his final Dublin turn in an Ireland shirt in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy.

The 35-year-old will bow out of international rugby altogether in Paris when Ireland close their Six Nations against France on Saturday, March 15.

“I’m sure in time it will be broken, yes, there’s always scope for guys to break records,” said O’Driscoll.

“All going well, hopefully I’ll get the record this weekend I’m sure it will be broken another time. Lots of guys now are over the 100-cap mark and still playing, and still playing well.

“If guys look after themselves and maintain their fitness for 15 years I think you will see the 150-cap mark broken.

“I can’t see it being a bad thing, someone being consistently good, enough to stay in the competition environment, for 14 or 15 years. So I would definitely say I encourage it.”

O'Driscoll says he isn't going to let emotion surrounding his last home game in an Ireland shirt affect his preparation for it.

The former captain equalled George Gregan's international caps record two weeks ago in Twickenham.

Brian trained yesterday at Carton House, squashing rumours that he may not be fit in time for the game, he picked up a calf injury during that game against England but is fine now.

The centre says he's lucky he caught the injury so early.

"Any time something happens in an international, you don't have much time to get over it so there was a little bit of apprehension," he said.

"I know my body pretty well and I know different levels of strain, I know when to stop training sessions and carry on when there is a bit of soreness so it comes with having been in that situation before but thankfully I caught it in time and returning to full training."

O'Driscoll stands now in wait to make his 132nd international cap breaking Gregan's record but admits that all the emotion around the day won't distract his mind as says his focus is getting Ireland's Six Nations campaign back on track.

"This doesn't feel any different, yes I'm excited about it being the last home game for sure and it will be one to remember but more importantly it's an opportunity to put us in a situation where we can win the Six Nations."

"I really won't be thinking about final games until the Championship is done and dusted and there will be plenty of time to reflect on it afterwards." O Driscoll said.

It was widely expected that last year's home game against France, in which Ireland drew 13-13 during an awful campaign, would be O'Driscoll's last.

However some encouraging Leinster fans at the RDS convinced Brian otherwise by asking of their hero to stick it out for 'one more year'.

Had Ireland got the win that day in the Aviva, it would have been a spectacular way for him to bow out of international rugby, against the team that started him.

Even better now is that he can now finish his career in the very place it all started, the Stade de France and better once more, there could be a Six Nations title up for grabs.

"There was emotion last year against France, I did at the time think that at the time it was going to be it but a couple of different factors convinced me to stay on for another season."

"I'm not really that emotional a person so I won't allow the build-up to it."

"Whatever emotions I have after that will happen organically, you can't force emotion yourself you just have to go with the flow and yes, aspects will be difficult and there will be sadness but I'll wait

for Saturday afternoon." O Driscoll said.