'Envious' O'Driscoll praises Munster win

Brian O'Driscoll has admitted being "very envious" of his Ireland team-mates that triumphed over Toulouse in Munster's second…

Brian O'Driscoll has admitted being "very envious" of his Ireland team-mates that triumphed over Toulouse in Munster's second Heineken European Cup final victory on Saturday.

The Ireland captain will not see the Munster contingent until they report for international duty later this week but believes they will instil a "real buzz" ahead of Tests against New Zealand and Australia.

O'Driscoll and company will continue their build-up for the away Tests by tackling the Barbarians in Gloucester tomorrow night.

The Leinster captain has also dismissed criticism - most notably from Toulouse outhalf Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde - that Munster played ugly.

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"I think it's a little bit harsh to criticise Munster's style of play," he said today. "They were in a final, and it doesn't matter how you play in a final. You can play the most unattractive rugby imaginable — it makes no odds because it is about winning.

"The Heineken Cup is notorious for producing poor rugby in a final, but they ground it out.

"They recycled the ball and killed the clock, and I applaud them for it. It typifies the sort of side they are. They are a thinking side.

"To be honest, I am very envious of it and I make no secret of that. They have been in four finals, and for that you have to take your hat off to them.

"I think they have been in the (Heineken Cup) knockout stages for 10 years in a row, and for that reason they deserve to be there.

"The position they are in is something we all have to strive for and is something I want to achieve. There are not many players out there with two Heineken Cup winners' medals.

"They rarely play badly, and even when they do have their off-days they push teams to the limit. That is a great skill to have.

"When the Munster players join the squad, I am sure they will bring a huge infectious factor — a real buzz."

O'Driscoll leads an Irish XV drawn largely from Leinster and Ulster tomorrow, with most interest surrounding his new centre partnership alongside his young Leinster team-mate Luke Fitzgerald.

Coach Michael Bradley, in charge for the Barbarians game and senior tour before Munster boss Declan Kidney takes up his appointment as Eddie O'Sullivan's successor, also has the experience of wing Shane Horgan and lock Malcolm O'Kelly at his disposal.

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); S Horgan (Leinster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), T Bowe (Ulster); P Wallace (Ulster), I Boss (Ulster); B Young (Ulster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Harlequins), B Casey (London Irish), M O'Kelly (Leinster), S Ferris (Ulster), S Jennings (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster).

Replacements: B Jackman (Leinster), T Court (Ulster), R Caldwell (Ulster), N Best (Ulster), F Murphy (Leicester), J Sexton (Leinster), G Dempsey (Leinster).

Barbarians: P Hewat; S Anesi, M Turinui (capt), J Pretorius, L Vainikolo; S Larkham, M Claassens; O le Roux, S Bruno, C Visagie, K Chesney, R Skeate, C Newby, D Croft, P Wannenburg.

Replacements: M Regan, P Collazo, S Dellape, M Chapman or J Collins, A Gomarsall, G Jackson, T Smith or S Mapusua.

Referee: Andrew Small (England).