THE JARRING CONTACT in training was a welcome relief for Brian O’Driscoll — he emerged from the Leinster training runs confident that he would not miss his team’s second final in eight days.
A back spasm, which flarred up in the Pro12 semi-final win over Glasgow Warriors, has eased up and O’Driscoll is likely to take his place in the Leinster midfield, alongside Ian Madigan [if Joe Schmidt is feeling brave], against Ulster.
“It has been a frustrating few weeks,” he told TheScore.ie. “When I came back from being laid-off after the Six Nations, having the three-week sabbatical [ban for stamping Simone Favaro], I played three games in a row then I benched for a game thinking I’d have another three in the run-in but I only had 12 minutes.
It has been frustrating from that point of view but now, with the prospect of a final coming up and a tour to head off on, it’s exciting to feel good again and not feel as though I’m struggling.”
With the Leinster team announcement slated for midday. forwards coach Jono Gibbes has labelled O’Brien as “unlikely” to feature against Ulster and suggested that the longer term goal of a first Lions tour may have influenced thinking. The Kiwi said there were no other pressing injury concerns but Fergus McFadden and Richardt Strauss will be sweating on their place right up until the starting XV is confirmed.
O’Driscoll described Ulster No. 8 Nick Williams as ‘a revelation for them this season’, the “phenomenal” fullback Jared Payne and the returning Tommy Bowe as a key player in adding an extra dimension to the province’s attack.
The centre feels two late tries against Ulster in last year’s Heineken Cup Final flattered his side and holds greater stock in the two league defeats suffered by the Blues against Mark Anscombe’s men this season. Having lost the past three Pro12 Finals, O’Driscoll is refusing to countenance the idea of ending a club season on another losing note.
He said, “Last year against Ospreys was a sickener, we couldn’t finish them off… We’ve won an Amlin but we’re do want to do the double and we’re desperate to make sure it is not four in a row.”
Pro12 Final on Saturday, day of celebration/sombre reflection on Sunday, meet up with the British & Irish Lions on Monday — O’Driscoll’s summer is only getting started.
*Additional reporting by Sean Farrell
