Brian O' Driscoll is in the eye of a storm, albeit of the teacup variety, as a result of quotes which were misleadingly attributed to the Irish match-winner in Paris two years ago by French newspapers.

Both Midi Olympique and Le Parisien quoted O'Driscoll as saying that he would prefer England to win the championship than France.

Released through AFP from an interview O'Driscoll gave to English newspapers, O'Driscoll was quoted in the two newspapers as saying "I would prefer England to win (the Six Nations). We are going to France and I know if we win in Paris it will give the title to England, but I prefer that to giving the final victory to France."

Well naturally he would, though the well publicised if misinterpreted comments kicked up quite a fuss, with Bernard Laporte being embroiled in the rumpus. Initially the French coach was not amused but has since expressed his anger over the two newspapers concerned, and has expressed the view that O'Driscoll would never have expressed a preference for England to win the championship.

The sports daily L'Equippe has also absolved O'Driscoll of such comments, with the player himself reacting indignantly to the notion yesterday prior to the squad's departure for their base outside Paris in Chantilly.

"I never said that. That would be a ridiculous thing to say. Those comments just weren't made by me. Of course we want to go out and do our best to upset the French. But if we were to win and England won the championship, such is rugby. You can't be involved in those things that are out of your control.

"I want to win the Six Nations one day with Ireland," O'Driscoll added, "but if it's not us then I don't have any preference over who wins the championship."