Brian O’Driscoll bade an emotional but victorious farewell to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin yesterday afternoon as Ireland kept their Six Nations title hopes alive with a crushing win over Italy.
The 35-year-old marked his world-record 140th Test cap by deftly setting up tries for Johnny Sexton and Andrew Trimble, teeing up the Irish for a title-decider in France next weekend.
Cian Healy, Sexton, Sean Cronin, Fergus McFadden and Jack McGrath scored further tries in a one-sided contest, but the occasion was all about O’Driscoll, who was substituted after 61 minutes to a rousing standing ovation.
And the centre fought back tears as he admitted he was still getting used to the idea of retirement.
“I haven’t let myself think about it. It’s emotional,” O’Driscoll said. “It’s been a huge part of my whole adult life and to leave here it’s going to be hard. But a good way to leave it today and hopefully we set ourselves up for next week.
“I feel humbled by the reaction. It seems a bit of a joke that you get get man of the match for 60 minutes, but I’ve loved my time playing in this jersey. It had to come to an end at some stage and I’m glad I’m able to go out at home with a big win. It will only properly set in when I’ve had a bit of time.”
O’Driscoll is now hoping to lift the Six Nations trophy in Paris.
He said: “Hopefully next week there’s a performance and a championship in this team. We have to go to France with huge positivity.
“It’s one thing playing in this jersey but it’s another thing altogether winning in this jersey, and we’ve built a good standard. We’re capable of doing great things and we have to start next week by trying to win a second championship as this unit of players.”
Elsewhere, Scotland suffered last-gasp heartache as France snatched a 19-17 Six Nations win at Murrayfield after Jean Marc Doussain kicked the winning penalty with just 90 seconds left.
Scott Johnson’s men scored twice in the first half through Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour to leave championship-chasing Les Bleus shocked at the break.
But Duncan Weir’s error let in Yoann Huget to score and, despite the stand-off nailing a nerveless penalty to put Scotland back ahead, Doussain’s late kick and 11 points from the boot of scrum-half Maxime Machenaud sealed Les Bleus’ third win.
“That is one of the most disappointing games I have had in a Scotland jersey,” No8 David Denton said. “We went out and gave it everything we had.”
Tim Swinson was the man penalised at the death, perhaps harshly, and the home fans let their feelings known as they booed the decision.
“We were very unlucky at the end,” Denton added.
