O'Driscoll must bide his time

Rugby:Patience will be the most important virtue for Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll as he awaits his competitive return to the national team.

Although he is happy with his fitness, he will probably have to wait until Saturday week when France are the visitors to the Aviva stadium to make his competitive bow in Ireland’s test schedule ahead of their departure for the World Cup in New Zealand.

O’Driscoll didn’t play in the 10-6 weekend defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield and is not expected to be named in the Ireland team to take on the French in Bordeaux this weekend. Irish team manager Paul McNaughton intimated last week that O’Driscoll would play in the return game against the French.

Ireland’s leading try scorer and attacking fulcrum is recovering from a neck injury but he’ll be ready to go when required. “It’s rare enough as an older generation player that you’re 100% fit; there’s always something niggling. But I’m feeling pretty fit at the moment. I’ve enjoyed the training camp.

“When I get onto the pitch I’ll be ready for it. I’m in as much need of match practice as any other player. Until I get to play a few games I won’t really be at full speed.”

O’Driscoll insists that the squad will take the positives out of the defeat to Scotland. “The guys did extremely well. We were a bit disappointed with our attacking options but defensively, other than the score at the end, we were very solid.

“There were some huge positives to take out of the game and some guys put their hands up and caused some serious headaches for (coach) Declan Kidney. It’s tough to sit out an international, whether that’s because you’ve been injured or you haven’t been selected. You want to be out there while there’s someone else on the pitch in your number jersey hoping to impress the coaches.”

Ireland have two more matches – away and at home to France before Kidney must confirm his World Cup squad on Monday, August 22nd – and will then face matches against Connacht on the Thursday of that week and England at the Aviva stadium two days later before departing for New Zealand.

The3 lessons of four years ago have been absorbed as O’Driscoll explained: “These games are very important. It was well documented that we weren’t match-hardened four years ago. As a result of that we stumbled in the first few games. We want to make sure we are raring to go when we take on the USA in the first game.

“Everyone in the 30 will need some pitch time so that they’re ready to be called up if need be.”