RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE Johnny Wattersongets the views of Leinster's consultant coach on Brian O'Driscoll's future
THE PRINCIPAL line of inquiry last Tuesday at the launch of this year's Magners League was whether the Leinster consultant coach Alan Gaffney would be able to coax Brian O'Driscoll into the sort of brilliance that has earned him the "world class" label of previous years.
O'Driscoll's form has been a matter of some debate, and those questioning Gaffney about his star player were not unaware of the irony that the league had just promised to deliver more top-class players for matches than in previous years. At 28 O'Driscoll's body is not looking for more games but an injury-free run that will allow his adventurous spirit to flourish.
The consensus is that over the past three or four years, Ireland's greatest player of the modern age has only intermittently hit the heights and enthralled as only he can. By normal criteria he has been an excellent player. But O'Driscoll at his best is far better than that.
Possibly the last time O'Driscoll left an indelible fingerprint on a game with the world watching was during Ireland's doomed World Cup campaign.
Against Argentina in Paris in the final play-off match, the Ireland captain was visibly trying to make things happen and when Ireland desperately needed a score, it was O'Driscoll who provided it.
Injuries have taken a toll and his creaking hamstring has been a constant companion as he heads into his 10th season of international rugby.
That he eventually rejected the overtures of several French and English clubs a few years ago was surely a wise decision. The IRFU have minded their asset as best they can. In England and France, clubs would have been seeking a lot more bang for their euro.
This week Gaffney was defensive but his acknowledgement that O'Driscoll "wasn't far away" (from his best) was recognition that the player was not quite where he could be.
"I don't think Brian is too far off form to be truthful," said Gaffney. "I don't think it's a big issue. I think there's, no doubt, little bits and pieces . . . Obviously he's had that hamstring twang now for a little while. But he seems to be handling that pretty well. He's training the house down at the moment and he's enjoying what he's doing.
"I don't think he's far off his form. I think some structural things and the way the set-up is in the back line . . . I'm not saying I've got all the answers but in conjunction with the boys we're working on him at the moment and I think very much that you will see the old Brian O'Driscoll."
That O'Driscoll has stepped back from the captaincy in Leinster and possibly with Ireland removes an honour and a status he has held with distinction. It will seem a small sacrifice, however, if the unburdening brings greater freshness and clarity as to what can be achieved on the pitch.
"Obviously people do get down on themselves and take a lot of responsibility and that was Brian," says Gaffney. "That's what Brian is. Captain of Leinster and captain of Ireland and a hard break, obviously, with the World Cup.
"It's the way Brian is that he wants to take a lot of that responsibility himself. Over time you can only be accountable for so much. And as I say I don't think his form was that far off going back to then. There are structural things there that we need to look at carefully and work at it together, not just with him. I mean the back line all together. And I don't mean just with me. It will be a bit of a joint venture shall we say and I think we are going to see the Brian O'Driscoll that we love and know."
They are encouraging thoughts and today with Felipe Contepomi beside O'Driscoll in the centre, Leinster have two players who strive to create openings. There is hope too that with the new ELV rules, space might become available.
"We've got to be smart. More space yes, but nines and backrowers are now defending," he says. "They talk about there being more space but you don't know how they are going to referee it. If they don't those backrowers will be eating up those five metres quicker than most."
New rules. A harder edge to the team with Elsom and van der Linde coming in. And who knows, maybe some of the old magic too.
LEINSTER WITHOUT NEW RECRUITS IN FINAL WARM-UP
LEINSTER'S FINAL match before the beginning of the Magners League takes place tonight in the RDS against the Queensland Reds (kick-off 6pm).
Neither Australia's Rocky Elsom nor South Africa's CJ van der Linde - both new recruits - is in the side but some seasoned internationals will take to the pitch. Brian O'Driscoll partners Felipe Contepomi in the centre.
The Ireland wingers Rob Kearney and Shane Horgan also start. Chis Whitaker is at scrumhalf and Jonathan Sexton at 10. Isa Nacewa slots in at fullback. Ireland's most capped player, Malcolm O'Kelly, partners the relatively inexperienced Devin Toner in the second row.
Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings and Cameron Jowitt form the back row.
Hooker Bernard Jackman teams up in the front row with Ronan McCormack and Stephen Knoop. Luke Fitzgerald and Girvan Dempsey are among the replacements.
LEINSTER:I Nacewa; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, F Contepomi, R Kearney; J Sexton, C Whitaker; R McCormack, B Jackman, S Knoop; M O'Kelly, D Toner; C Jowitt, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Replacements: C Healy, J Fogarty, B Blaney, T Hogan, S O'Brien, S Keogh, K McLaughlin, C Keane, P O'Donohoe, F McFadden, L Fitzgerald, E O'Malley, G Brown, S Keogh, G Dempsey.
