When Brian O'Driscoll runs out on to the Stade de France this evening for his final appearance in an Irish jersey it will be an occasion tinged with sadness irrespective of the game's outcome. Even if Ireland go on to beat France and win the Six Nations, rugby supporters and those with only a passing interest in sport will appreciate that arguably the greatest ever Irish player won't be seen again in that famous number 13 shirt.
It’s a measure of just how highly regarded O’Driscoll is across the rugby world that his final appearance is almost overshadowing the championship’s finale. No rugby player in recent times is more deserved of that admiration than the 35-year-old. An international career spanning 14 years, littered with so many memorable moments, is testament to his impact on the game of rugby and sport in general.
In the overhyped world of sport and entertainment , heroes held up as role models very often turn out to have feet of clay. Not so of the most capped rugby player in history. His fantastic rugby ability, married to a charm and modesty off the field, has endeared him to an audience beyond the confines of sport. The warm tributes by fellow international players and stars from other disciplines like gaelic footballer Colm Cooper, golfer Rory McIlroy and paralympian Mark Rohan in today’s sports supplement underline the impact of this extraordinary career on their own ambitions as well as their conduct as sporting ambassadors.
O'Driscoll burst on the international scene as a player of rare promise 14 years ago in Paris – he scored three tries in the last Six Nations victory Ireland recorded in France. That promise as a raw, young player blossomed into something very special for Ireland, the Lions and Leinster. Combining outstanding skills, an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time, and courage beyond question, O'Driscoll emerged as the complete modern player. How fitting it would be to round off a truly remarkable international career with a Six Nation victory today in the stadium where it all began.
