O Driscoll ready for Ireland in Six Nations Rugby 2011
O Driscoll ready for Ireland in Six Nations Rugby 2011
Mick O'Driscoll is unfazed by the challenge of containing the most feared second row partnership in Test rugby at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
O'Driscoll has been rewarded for his success in retaining his place in Ireland's starting line up with a duel against Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
"We have to perform to the best of our ability and hope that will be good enough because they're a great combination," he said.
Matfield is viewed as the game's outstanding player in the position and Saturday will join Percy Montgomery and John Smit as the most capped Springbok with 102 Test appearances.
O'Driscoll continues to profit from the absence of Paul O'Connell, who has not played since the final match of the Six Nations because of a groin injury that became infected.
Ireland V France Hospitality
Just four weeks ago, however, it appeared as though his grip on his Test place was loosening after managing to secure only a place on Munster's bench for key games against Leinster and London Irish.
Donnacha Ryan was the preferred choice to partner O'Callaghan, but O'Driscoll's fortunes changed when he was picked ahead of his younger rival against Toulon and produced an impressive performance.
"Looking back six or eight weeks ago, if someone said then I'd be starting against South Africa I might have been a little bit bemused," he said.
"I've spoke to the others about it. Because there are four international locks, and the young guys coming through, you have a good chance of being involved with Ireland if you're starting at Munster. It's all or nothing."
Ireland head coach Declan Kidney pointed out this week that O'Driscoll's contribution to Munster's Heineken Cup and Magners League campaigns in recent seasons has been equal to or greater than O'Connell's.
"I'm not too bothered about perception. I'm in rugby for me and my team-mates, not for what people think of me, either the media or the man in the street," he said.
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