O'Driscoll used to playing through pain barrier

Rugby:Brian O'Driscoll insists the physical toll of the Six Nations is greater than ever and expects adrenaline to numb the more painful moments. Playing in his 12th-successive championship the Ireland captain's hunger is stronger than ever.

O’Driscoll insists all teams are suffering amid the demands of the game. “The Six Nations has definitely got harder over the years. The game has become harder, more physical, more demanding,” said the 32-year-old at today’s championship launch in London.

“If you asked 100 players in the Six Nations how many of them were 100 per cent fit, 99 would say they had some niggle and the other person would be a liar. It’s impossible to go out 100 per cent fit these days because of the physicality, both at provincial and international level.

“But adrenaline is brilliant at getting you through those small ailments that you have. The feeling you get in a winning dressing room makes you forget the sore muscles and bones for a couple of hours. It’s definitely a feeling I enjoy.”

O’Driscoll believes he still has plenty to offer at the top level and sees no reason to put a time frame on his international retirement, and instead enjoy what time he has left.

“I’ve stopped putting time constraints on myself as to when I have to give up,” he added. “As long as the body is still feeling good and the mind is backing that up, I don’t see any reason to give up.

“I’m really looking forward to the Six Nations because I love this competition. My interest hasn’t waned in any way shape of form over the last decade or so. If anything I probably have more of a hunger for it now in the knowledge that I don’t know how many more years I will have left.

“You treat each Six Nations like it could be your last. In doing so you thoroughly enjoy each moment, whether it be playing or on the bus journey to and from games. The small things give me as much of a buzz now as they did 10 years ago.”

Ireland open their Six Nations against Italy on Saturday week and O’Driscoll admits trips to the Italian capital are welcomed by his team-mates.

“More often than not we’ve been fortunate to have good conditions in Italy. The players thrive on the sun shining and there’s usually a freshness to playing in February or March.

“Players do enjoy it there - it’s a good atmosphere in the stadium. But if you slip behind like we did two years ago it can be a difficult place to fight your way back. There are worse places to play rugby internationals than Rome.”

Italy face an uphill struggle in the Six Nations once again but coach Nick Mallett takes heart from the lack of clear favourites in the tournament.

“Our aims are always the same. We must attempt to win every game but we’re not arrogant enough to think we can,” said Mallett. “There’s no one team that we think is much stronger than the rest. This year the Six Nations will be as close as it’s ever been.

“There are no easy games and we’ll have to be at our best to compete.”