Seán O’Brien admitted he “blew up” after 20 minutes but was nonetheless relieved and even a little happy – amid his displeasure at being on a losing Irish side – to have come through 50 minutes of international rugby after four months on the sidelines. He was sufficiently encouraged to believe he could play for Ireland in Rome next Saturday, if not for 80 minutes.
“I was disappointed to lose the game and I struggled after 20 minutes. I blew up,” he said with a smile, “but I was expecting that and overall I was happy just to be back out there and get 50 under my belt.”
While “not sure” as to whether that would be enough to play in the Stadio Olimpico, O’Brien said: “Ideally I’d like more game-time before next week but there’s no real opportunity between now and then. We’ll see what happens now on Sunday,” he added, in reference to the expected culling of the squad to around the mid-30s. “I’d usually prefer to get two or three games under my belt but with the short window that’s not possible.”
Most encouraging of all O’Brien not only appeared to be enjoying the contact, but emerged each time unscathed. “No reaction, that was the pleasing thing. I can take a bit of confidence from that. I was going in a bit high at times but there were no effects on the shoulder, and so I was very pleased in that sense. I got over the ball as well and took a few good hits. So yeah, happy enough.”
“Everything in training is in a controlled environment. It’s set up for you. Out there you don’t know what’s going to happen so it’s good that I got into different positions and got hit at different angles.”
He happily and freely admitted that his skills set felt a little rusty. “Yeah, absolutely, big time around the ruck area. I’ve been out for a while now and there’s nothing like game-time to get you back into the swing of things. We’ll have a look and assess what I’ve done out there tonight and get working on those things in training this week.”
In any event, it was a relief to be talking about a game rather than his shoulder injury woes. “That’s the pleasing thing. That’s where I want to be at now. I want to get a run of games. I don’t want any more injuries and I’m just happy to be back now.”
Assessing his chances of inclusion against Italy, O’Brien said: “I’d say everyone is in with a chance. He (Schmidt) did say it was an opportunity for lads to stick up their hands, but you don’t know what way Joe is thinking. You don’t know what way he is going to approach the game next week. He’ll pick a squad and pick a good bench to finish the game. I’d say Sunday or Monday we’ll know a lot more.”
When pushed, O’Brien admitted: “If selected, I’d feel confident of doing a job. Obviously I wouldn’t last 80 minutes of an international but I’d be confident of definitely adding to the squad.”
An IRFU spokesperson confirmed that Fergus McFadden suffered a bang to the ribs while Mike McCarthy sustained concussion and will have to undergo the return to play protocols and Luke Fitzgerald came down with a stomach bug the night before the game.
"I'm very pleased," said Jon Callard, the Saxons coach. "It was a stop start affair. Two good sides found it difficult to get momentum. But our attacking rugby pleased me. Our players gave everything against a good Irish side, and that was a good Irish side, and to score two tries to nil was very pleasing."
