James Lowe like a duck to water on Ireland debut

James Lowe celebrates scoring Ireland's second try with Will Connors and Chris Farrell. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Not everyone gets to sign off a test career in the manner managed by Brian O'Driscoll six years ago when Ireland claimed a last-gasp Six Nations title in Paris. Sport rarely accommodates scripts that seamlessly and O'Driscoll's first experience as an Irish senior player attests to that.

Only 20 and yet to play a game for Leinster, the youngster's dream introduction to this rarified atmosphere was punctured with a 46-10 crushing at the hands of the Wallabies in Ballymore in 1999. Welcome to the real world, mate.