Irish hope for luck with O'Driscoll

Brian O'Driscoll's seven-month absence from international rugby coincided with a sharp drop in form for Ireland.

O'Driscoll has been out of top-level rugby since June when his shoulder was dislocated in the opening moments of the British Lions test series against New Zealand. Now, the star center is ready to lead Ireland in the Six Nations on Saturday against visiting Italy, hoping to lift his team from its slump.

Ireland needs him to be at his best if it is to finally win its first championship title in 21 years.

With O'Driscoll and injured vice captain Paul O'Connell missing, Ireland was crushed by the All Blacks in November as expected, and unconvincing in a loss to a poor Australia and a win over lowly Romania. Coach Eddie O'Sullivan's experiment of trying to attack through the backs met limited success, but he says he will persist.

"The autumn was a transitional period for us," he said. "What we need to do is give players their head and play the style we need to win games in the Six Nations.

"This is a benchmark for the year. It's the biggest competition of the season and it's our bread and butter. You don't muck around with it."

Ireland went into last season's Six Nations as favorite but finished third behind Grand Slam winner Wales and France. It is a 16-1 shot this year, behind France, England and Wales. O'Driscoll is confident of improvement, providing his team stays free of injury.

"I would like to think expectation was not our undoing last time," O'Driscoll said. "We did not perform brilliantly in any game other than against England. We did not perform to the level we set ourselves.

"We also suffered with injury. Losing Shane Horgan, who was playing so well, was a massive blow. I and Gordon D'Arcy also missed games, and to have so much disruption to the midfield throughout the competition unsettled us.''

Despite the added disappointment in the autumn, Ireland is feeling positive with the return of O'Driscoll and O'Connell, and the impressive results of Munster and Leinster.

There was little hand-wringing when the initial 22-man squad was named last week without experienced backs Denis Hickie and Girvan Dempsey, and 62-cap No. 8 Anthony Foley, but they were among eight recalled this week beside forwards Reggie Corrigan, Mick O'Driscoll and Neil Best, and backs John Kelly and Barry Murphy.

Rob Kearney was unable to rejoin the squad because of a slight back strain, and Lions hooker Shane Byrne was still in poor form.

Byrne's decline might allow O'Sullivan to promote hooker Jerry Flannery, who has one cap. Andrew Trimble, who scored two tries against Romania in his second cap, could be the only change in the backs.

For O'Driscoll, it will be a relief just to be playing for Ireland again, no matter who he is alongside.

Back to impressive form with Leinster, one of rugby's most influential and inspirational players says his confidence is high ahead of the Six Nations.

"I am looking forward to pulling the green jersey on again," O'Driscoll said. "I am a positive person by nature and I saw coming back as a challenge more than anything else. That is what got me through the tougher times over the last six months."

ENGLAND

Charlie Hodgson once admitted he felt the pressure build if he missed his first goalkick in a match.

Some doubts remain about Hodgson's ordinary defense, but few question his mental fortitude after 12 months of big games have helped to mature England's best flyhalf.