Calan blog

O'Driscoll warns Ireland over Italy complacency

ROME (AFP) – Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll insists his injury-hit side will be taking nothing for granted when they play Italy at the Stadio Flaminio in the Six Nations hosted in Rome.

The Azzurri are the competition's weakest side having won just seven out of 55 matches in the Six Nations and collected the wooden spoon in eight out of 11 seasons.

But O'Driscoll believes there have been enough surprises in international rugby in recent years to ensure that no opposition can ever be seen as an easy touch.

He pointed to some notable Scottish victories over Australia, South Africa and in Ireland over the last 18 months as proof.

Ireland have 12 players who are regularly part of the first team picture sidelined including British Lions forwards number eight Jamie Heaslip and flanker Stephen Ferris as well as full-back Rob Kearney.

Although many believe Ireland may have a better chance of winning the tournament in odd numbered years, as they play traditional European powerhouses France and England at home, O'Driscoll says it's too simple to look at rugby in that way.

"You have a preference for playing the perceived stronger sides at home but at the same time last year we managed to lose to Scotland at home," he said.

"Having watched what they did at Murrayfield last November (beating South Africa), we know that won't be an easy game.

"We only beat Wales in Cardiff two years ago when they had a penalty kick fall a yard and a half short of the posts in the final minute.

"I even remember we went nine points down in the first half of the Italy game two years ago. We had to fight our way back with an interception try and eventually ground our way through.

"What makes this tournament so great is that to win five games in a row is really tough. That's why it took us 61 years to do it for a second time."

Two years ago Ireland did manage the Grand Slam but only after Ronan O'Gara landed a drop goal two minutes from time in their final match against Wales, who then later missed a penalty.

Last year, though, they floundered early on in Paris before suffering that shock home defeat to Scotland.

For O'Driscoll there is extra motivation on Saturday as he is just two tries short of former Scotland international Ian Smith's individual championship record of 24 - a mark that has stood for 78 years.

Not that he sees it that way.

"It's not something that will have any bearing on how I play my game or how I go about this campaign or any others," added O'Driscoll.

"If tries come, grand, but it doesn't really bother me which person scores them.

"I get as much enjoyment in creating a try as I do in scoring it.

"You probably get a bit more kudos when your name is in the paper the next day.

"But I've walked in a few easy tries in my time and those who tend to deserve the plaudits don't usually get them."

If there is added spice in this fixture it would come from the fact that these two sides will face each other later in the year in the World Cup in New Zealand.

And Italy's Australian-born full-back Luke McLean admits that game will be in the back of the players' minds.

"Everyone is just looking at it as one game and trying to get off to a good start in the Six Nations," he said.

"Obviously last year it didn't happen that way, we got off to a bad start, we didn't play well against Ireland and came out 20 points on the bad side (a 29-11 defeat).

"So obviously we will be trying to get on the good side and then we have the added aspect of them being in our World Cup pool and obviously it would be a bit of a confidence builder if we get the win here and go into the World Cup thinking: if we've beaten them once, we can beat them again."

Having lost their last 14 matches to Ireland dating back to 1997, Italy could well do with a confidence-booster.