Brian O'Driscoll exuded the composure of a man leading his country for the 50th time yesterday. Seeming more assured than ever before in the eye of the media maelstrom at Jury's hotel, across the road from Croke Park, just moments after sitting out the captains run.

There follows a brief moment of chills. O'Driscoll missing the last session before the All Blacks! With alarm bells sounding in everyone's head, he allayed fears of a creaking body.

"It's nice to be able to take a session off now and then. No point in expending energy when it is not needed, when you can do with a little bit of a break. That was it."

Alright then, we changed tack to some reminiscing.  His first run at the captaincy proved an immediate success when, in the absence of an injured Keith Wood, he led Ireland to a ground breaking victory over Australia under sheets of rain at Lansdowne Road in 2002. It announced Ireland's intent in the professional era. It announced the boundless potential of a young leader.

Asked to compare his jittery team talk that November day with this evening's he replied: "Hopefully I'll be a little bit more confidant with what I say. I suppose giving a team talk 50 times, it is sometimes difficult to come up with new material. You have to use people in your team as well. You know guys that speak well. The guys that lead well. Some guys are leaders by their actions. Some are a little bit more vocal but it is just about combining all that together.

"To be honest I don't think I will need to say a huge amount. The boys will be ready."

Beside him sat new Irish coach Declan Kidney. Same old Declan Kidney, gently side stepping the questions lain at his feet.

But O'Driscoll's form yesterday can be perceived as hugely positive. Not so much a bullish attitude, rather a test veteran comfortable in his own skin.

"I don't think we get caught up in that whole aura and mystique factor of the All Blacks. I think maybe with professionalism that has changed a little bit. You see South Africa and Australia beating them here and there. We've beaten those sides so essentially why shouldn't we be capable of beating New Zealand ourselves?"

And what of the psychological benefits they derive from the haka? The war dance that will freeze the sporting world at 5.14pm. The Clontarfian has faced it on many occasions, most memorably before the first Lions test in 2005.

"It's not something that we have overly focussed on to be honest with you.

"I don't know whether they perceive it to be an advantage. We don't see it as a negative. We don't see it as an ability to get more fired up than us. We'll be where we want to be at that stage anyway. It is just a case of standing there and letting them do there thing and getting on and playing a bit of rugby."

O'Driscoll repeated the need to be in this match with five, ten minutes remaining, while in contrast opposing captain Richie McCaw noted the importance of the All Blacks doing some early damage.

"We've got to build pressure," said McCaw. "It is something we've been guilty of even in Hong Kong when we perhaps had our chances in the first half but dropped the ball or rushed passes. I think in a test match like tomorrow we can't wait to the second half to do that. That is what we're aiming for."

We ended on a typically light hearted note. McCaw lauded O'Driscoll's achievement but we wanted more.

Would he make a good flanker?

"Uhh, I dunno. He'd probably do alright there, probably."

He gets about, no?

"Aw, he gets in there. I'll make sure he gets in there a bit tomorrow."

Oh dear.

Last question (this opportunity is always ruined by an over eager person near the back of the room).

Have you got any late injury worries, Graham?

"No," Henry replied and then he smiles: "The team hasn't got any. Personally I've got none at all."

The jokes are put on ice today.