O'Driscoll rises in Munster packing order

John O'Sullivan on how the lock returned to the Munster fold the better for his French sojourn

It's reasonable to assume that Mick O'Driscoll likes a challenge. A little over two years ago he left the "comfort zone" of Munster to broaden his education on and off the pitch, choosing Perpignan above several other offers. It wasn't an unqualified success as misfortune with injury pockmarked his time there.

Leaving Munster wasn't on a whim or attributable to the fact that he encountered fierce competition for a second row place with Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell. Before that Mick Galwey and John Langford had barred the 27-year-old Corkman's path so he knew the essence of being patient.

"Micko" has never shirked a challenge, a statement backed up by his impact since returning from France last summer.

At the time he moved to France, O'Driscoll felt that to develop as a player he had to experience new horizons. He enjoyed his time in Perpignan, the lifestyle and the rugby, and still retains a link, having bought and retained a house there.

When he elected to come home last summer he knew that the competition in the second row hadn't diminished. He is now one of four internationals, alongside O'Connell, O'Callaghan and Trevor Hogan (capped on Ireland's tour of Japan) vying for a place in the match-day 22.

O'Connell's injury in a Celtic League game in September offered O'Driscoll an opportunity, one he grasped with both hands. It's a measure of his performances that O'Connell's absence wasn't as keenly felt as many anticipated. O'Driscoll won his third cap when coming on against Romania in November and has been an important figure in Munster's run to the cusp of the Heineken European Cup play-offs.

One statistic to support that assertion is he is leading the tournament's lineout statistics with 29 catches to his name. It's likely he'll start from the bench tomorrow at Thomond Park, O'Connell having been restored to the team post Christmas.

O'Driscoll is hoping he won't get the "dreaded phone call", coach Declan Kidney's way of telling those named in the squad they haven't made the starting line-up. He doesn't regret his decision to return one iota. "I wouldn't have come back to Munster if I didn't think I could contribute or make a go of it.

"I've done relatively well but that's for others to judge, maybe. I have certainly benefited as a player from my time in Perpignan."

He has noticed the change in the Munster set-up after his French sabbatical, the increased professionalism, the expansion of the backroom staff and a squad where his underage contemporaries at national level now fill the senior positions.

A by-product of his time in Perpignan is he played about one third of the matches by his estimation in the backrow, principally at number eight.

His presence there for Munster during a recent Celtic League match underlines his versatility.

"French rugby taught me a great deal and I have many good friends from my time there. Coming back, it was always going to be about taking whatever chances were presented. I suppose I have to be reasonably happy and certainly being included in the extended Ireland squad for the Six Nations was a great boost.

"I have tried to put pressure on Paul (O'Connell) and Donncha (O'Callaghan) and when you look at it there's Trevor Hogan who's also an international; so there's plenty of competition."

Conversation inevitably strays towards the Sale match.

"When we met over there they forced the turnovers in terms of the tries. We certainly don't fear them or have them on a pedestal but they are a very good side with some outstanding players; not unbeatable. We are certainly not going to be cowed. They have a strong pack with very good backs. Ever since we lost over there we have had half an eye on this match.

"We have a healthy respect for them but it seems inconceivable at this stage that we are going to lose and not qualify. The European Cup has become the Holy Grail and we don't want to let go. There won't be a stone left unturned to try and guarantee a win."