O'Driscoll excited by Croke Park move

Ireland's move to Croke Park for this year's Six Nations will enhance home advantage against France and England, according to captain Brian O'Driscoll.

"It's still in Dublin, it's still home and if anything I think it will heighten the public's excitement," said O'Driscoll.
   
With Lansdowne Road being redeveloped, Ireland will play at GAA Headquarters where the capacity of 82,500 is considerably more than 49,000 previously at Lansdowne Road for rugby internationals.

Since the GAA agreed to allow other sports - rugby and soocer - at their national stadium everyone involved in Irish rugby is excited at the prospect of playing at the new venue.
   
"The passion and the history behind it, it might not be so well known by the countries who come and play but there is so much of it at Croke Park," said O'Driscoll.
   
"A lot of the boys will have gone there and seen the fanaticism of the hurling and Gaelic football for sure. There is an aura about the place and we just feel we are incredibly fortunate to be allowed to play there.

"It's an honour and we just feel, hopefully, it will give us that little extra element and we don't want to let the GAA down for granting us the opportunity to play in one of the best stadiums in the world."
   
O'Driscoll said he had been a regular visitor to the iconic Dublin venue and loved its special atmosphere.
   
"I've seen a lot of games there," he said. "All-Ireland finals, the compromise rules (International Rules), and hurling.
   
"I'm not the biggest Gaelic fan but when you see those guys playing to the standard they do then you realise what Croke Park and GAA is all about.
   
"Most of the guys in the squad grew up playing Gaelic football, including me - around the age of six and seven it was what I played most."
   
Ireland host France during the second week of fixtures on Sunday, February 11th and then welcome England on Saturday, February 24th.
   
O'Driscoll said he expected the new ground to be just as much of an advantage as Lansdowne Road.
   
"We did all our emotional goodbyes after the last game against the Pacific Islands in November but what you can say is we are not downgrading," he added.
   
"There are going to be an extra 35-40,000 fans there."