ON RUGBY:The pride of the four home unions are now probably more reliant on the Ireland captain than any other player, writes GERRY THORNLEY.

“O’Driscoll has almost re-invented himself. His defending is smarter, so too his kicking, his leadership. And such is his work at the breakdown he could probably play at openside in the Tests. But perhaps most of all there is his decision- making.

IF THE events of Ellis Park and Roland Garros were some distance apart and in different sports, they gave us another reminder that we write off the sporting greats at our peril. Brian O’Driscoll and Roger Federer wield their magic in sharply contrasting manners, but both, as a few other select greats have done over time, have bounced back from adversity to remind us that they remain the best. And nothing quite beats a great comeback.

As Ireland and O’Driscoll’s 2007-08 season unravelled, one pundit even declared that the great one was, simply, “past it”. At 29?

Admittedly, by his own stellar heights, his standards had slipped. But at the 2007 World Cup he had been arguably the only frontline player not to subside with the collective tide.

That World Cup affected pretty much all of them, and perhaps O’Driscoll more than any. His form and fitness undoubtedly suffered, though like so many others, when back with his province there were hints of a revival towards the end of the season.

O’Driscoll scored his first Test try since the fateful World Cup defeat against Argentina in the final throes of the seasonal finale at the Telstra Dome against Australia, only to strain his hamstring again in the process.

Afterwards, there was a look of utter frustration in his eyes, and he spoke openly of having to change his training regime to ensure that the continual hamstring problems could be curtailed. Perhaps the onset of his 30th birthday in January also focused his mind.

In any event, he returned leaner and meaner for the 2008-09 season, and there were clear signs of a rejuvenated, vintage O’Driscoll in October. Still, his detractors were not convinced, and there remained widespread calls for a change in captaincy to Paul O’Connell prior to the autumn Tests and again before the Six Nations.

Ireland’s record try-scorer went into that tournament at 33 to 1 to be the leading try-scorer. He would share the honour with Riki Flutey, and would also end up as the leading try-scorer in the Heineken Cup.

And he captained Ireland to their first Grand Slam in 61 years and helped inspire Leinster’s first Heineken Cup crown.

The last time O’Driscoll was on a losing side was January 17th, in Leinster’s 19-12 defeat to Wasps at Twickenham. He has been on the winning side in 11 games since then, scoring seven tries and a drop goal.

And he has clearly carried his form into the Lions’ tour.

Privately, he was probably disappointed not to have become only the second two-time Lions captain, but in some ways it may be better for him. Not alone is he free of all the captain’s onerous responsibilities, it may have given his game an extra edge. More fulfilled and relaxed, his sheer presence (furthered even more by his achievements this season) on the pitch at Ellis Park last Wednesday was palpable.

Those around O’Driscoll seemed lifted even before he created a 10-minute try for Jamie Roberts and then finished similarly inventive work by Tommy Bowe four minutes later. The look on Roberts’ face almost said, “hey, I’m playing with Brian O’Driscoll here”.

The Lions need the few men who have this aura about them, which is why Lawrence Dallaglio’s knee injury in the tour opener against Bay of Plenty four years ago was as damaging as what happened to O’Driscoll in the first Test. Ironically, O’Driscoll is probably more influential now than four years ago.

The wheels may not be quite as quick, the brilliance not quite so breath-taking, and there may not be a repeat of his remarkable exploits in Australia eight years ago. But those who only look at that are missing the point.

O’Driscoll has almost re-invented himself. His defending is smarter than ever, so too his kicking game, his drop goals, his leadership. And such is his work at the breakdown he could probably play at openside in the Tests.

But perhaps most of all there is his decision-making. He doesn’t call too much on himself, but invariably makes the right plays at the right times.

In a similar way, plenty of pundits claimed Federer was past his best, and perhaps even finished; incapable of winning another Major, much less completing the set of four in Paris. At 27!

For sure his form dipped in the last year as Rafa Nadal wrested his Wimbledon and world number one crowns from him, though this overlooked Federer reaching the previous four Major finals in a row and winning the US Open.

Similarly too, Federer may not be quite so imperiously brilliant, swatting away all-comers in that uniquely majestic way of his, and he went into the French Open at 5 to 1. But he thinks and works his way through matches better, varies his tactics and his serves and his choice of shots such as the oft-used drop shot in Paris. Now recognised as the greatest player ever to pick up a racquet, he is also perhaps the greatest sportsman in the world right now.

And without trying to be too profound about this, when the greats do revive past glories, they are invariably more popular perhaps because they are successfully fighting off time.

Hence, nothing elevates quite like a comeback by the greats: Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus shooting a final-day 65 to win the Masters at 46.

And, perhaps more than any other, a 32-year-old Muhammad Ali rumbling in the jungle. He may not have been able to float like a butterfly in Zaire, but with experience and ring craft came his rope-a-dope tactics and end-of-round flurries which so mentally discommoded George Foreman. And, in any event, as the younger man found out, Ali could still sting like a bee.

Federer can play out the rest of his career relaxed in having scaled the mountain top. The history man will set more landmarks, perhaps never to be scaled again.

Despite turning 30, O’Driscoll has had the season of his life and has been the stand-out player in the Northern Hemisphere season.

Now the pride of the four home unions are probably more reliant on him than any other player. His fitness and well-being are simply vital to the their hopes.

As Eddie O’Sullivan once put it, when O’Driscoll is on the pitch, all bets are off.