Brian O’Driscoll has urged his Ireland team to show Wales there is plenty to fear from a Six Nations trip to Dublin, and Croke Park in particular. Perhaps imbued with the sense of determination only a 100th cap can bring, the Ireland captain issued his rallying call after a final training run at Headquarters this afternoon.
Ireland are still in the hunt to retain their Six Nations title ahead of penultimate match at the home of GAA before relocating to a revamped Lansdowne Road in the autumn.
Wales’ last visit to Dublin was a 16-12 victory in 2008, prompting flanker Jonathan Thomas to state he found Croke Park far from hostile and less intimidating than Ireland’s permanent home.
O’Driscoll, who will reach a century of appearances for his country tomorrow, insisted it is time to prove the visitors’ confidence is misplaced.
“We’ve been reasonably proud of our record at Croke Park but Wales two years ago was one of our less memorable days,” he said. “We want to finish our last couple of games there on a high.
“There is an element of motivation in that they’ve said they don’t find it a difficult place to come and play.
“The one time they’ve come here they’ve won. We need to turn that around.”
Wales head coach Warren Gatland stoked up the fires before their showdown in Cardiff last year by revealing the Welsh players disliked their Irish counterparts the most, while in 2008 he insisted O’Driscoll had lost a yard of pace.
Lions captain Paul O’Connell rounded on Gatland after Ireland had completed the Grand Slam at the Millennium Stadium, ordering him to keep his ego in check.
The Kiwi this week attempted to prevent any further flashpoints by being complimentary about the champions and O’Driscoll agreed that any animosity between the sides has vanished.
“We got on fine (with the Welsh players) on the Lions tour. I always got on well with Warren when he was coaching Ireland,” he said. “There were certainly no issues when we’ve been on Lions tours. Warren’s a very different coach from 10 years ago, as I am as a player.
“We all move on and Warren’s already alluded to that in the papers this week.
“He apologised for any upset that he may caused so it’s water the bridge.”