Print

Mail

wiki links

Irish hope for luck with O'Driscoll

Ireland's rugby union captain Brian O'Driscoll, left, holds the Six Nations trophy with Italy's captain Marco Bortolami at the official launch of this year's tournament in London, Wednesday. England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales will battle for the championship at the annual event. PHOTO: AP

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.

Ireland * Backs: Tommy Bowe, Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Horgan, David Humphreys, Geordan Murphy, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan, Peter Stringer, Andrew Trimble * Forwards: Rory Best, Simon Best, Simon Easterby, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Marcus Horan, Denis Leamy, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Johnny O'Connor, Malcolm O'Kelly, David Wallace

"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.

Injuries and unfavorable comparisons to Jonny Wilkinson punctured the confidence of Hodgson, who even drew hate mail after his missed kicks compounded England's misery in last year's Six Nations.

But with no return in sight for the injury-plagued Wilkinson -- not seen in an England jersey since 2003 -- reality meant his shadow no longer loomed over Hodgson, whose deft hands and eye for the gap have made former France captain Philippe Saint-Andre believe he was ready to become a Six Nations star.

"Wilkinson is a fantastic player but Charlie is better," said Saint-Andre, the director of rugby at Hodgson's Sale Sharks club.

"To say Charlie is the best flyhalf in the world at the moment is really difficult because [New Zealand's] Daniel Carter is such a wonderful flyhalf.

Hodgson's kicking ability and vision with the ball in his hands could transform England from a team heavily dependent on its powerful pack to a side that makes the best use of all 15 players.

In Mark Cueto, Josh Lewsey and Ben Cohen, England has backs capable of racing through defenses, and Hodgson has the ability to set them up.

"Now everyone knows that Charlie will start with the No. 10 jersey for England which will be a big boost for him," Saint-Andre said.

"It will give him confidence and he will manage the team.

"The players around him are full of confidence for Charlie, and I think he will be the key man for England in this Six Nations and will be their matchwinner."

Coach Andy Robinson has recalled vastly experienced former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio to the squad. The backrow star broke his ankle during the British Lions tour but has returned to top form with Wasps, and his ability as a dominating force in the rucks and mauls will give England even more power and stability.

Steve Thompson remains one of the best hookers in the game and the 1.93m, 121kg Andrew Sheridan is emerging as a huge force at loosehead prop.

If the heaviest pack in world rugby can maintain its consistency and Hodgson uses possession creatively, England has a strong chance of regaining the title.

Their first test is on Saturday when defending champion Wales visit.

"We will have a highly charged [Wales] side that will be full of confidence coming to Twickenham," Robinson said. "Because of the way they have played over the last year, they've grown some belief. What is important to us is that Twickenham is a fortress, and it is now time to re-establish that. It is important for us to match whatever Wales have got."
This story has been viewed 1840 times.