O’Brien: We can beat anyone on earth

Listening to Sean O’Brien talk yesterday was good for the soul.

Not only for the fact he is so upbeat about his return from injury next season but in the confidence he exuded over Ireland’s attempt to win the Six Nations championship this Saturday by claiming victory in Paris for just the second time since 1972.

Forget that record. Forget the talk about French unpredictability – which O’Brien also mentioned – and all those bookie odds that can’t separate Ireland’s odds of topping the table from those of England.