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Rugby

Brian O'Driscoll hails 'best performance without question' of Farrell era

Brian O'Driscoll believes that Ireland's Six Nations win over England was undoubtedly the best of...



Brian O'Driscoll hails 'best p...
Rugby

Brian O'Driscoll hails 'best performance without question' of Farrell era

Brian O'Driscoll believes that Ireland's Six Nations win over England was undoubtedly the best of Andy Farrell's reign.

The former Ireland outside centre believes that the  32-18 win at the Aviva bodes well for the future of Irish rugby.

"Without question," O'Driscoll explained to ITV about whether this was the best win under Farrell.

Brian O'Driscoll on Farrell

"We had been wondering what - ultimately - the game plan was going to look like under Andy Farrell and Mike Catt.

"There has been aspects of it. Over an 80 minute performance, weathering England's early physicality for the first 10 to 15 minutes, and then counter-punching - creating a huge number of opportunities.

"We saw off-loading, we saw tip-ons, footwork at the line. They used their kicking game as a weapon rather than as a shield. I was just super-impressed. Their scramble defence was excellent."

O'Driscoll believes that the attacking versatility bodes well for Ireland going into preparing for future performances.

"It was clear what Ireland's game plan was today. For the first time, it felt like they had multiple options with what they were trying to do.

"I thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable and impressive performance.

"To get the respect of teams at this level, you've got to do that week on week. That is their next revolution."

Conan

No doubt O'Driscoll would have been happy to see Jack Conan with a try, after giving constructive criticism on Off The Ball last week.

"It feels like a development as well as something with an eye on this game - one for the future too," O'Driscoll said on Thursday.

"I feel he has got the capacity - sometimes I wish he had a bit more anger to him; that he has all the physical attributes to be a great international player, but you feel as though he's just lacking that really nasty edge.

"The one that we see in Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien, Billy Vunipola, [Tom] Curry - I just don't know if he really wants to hurt people and he hates people when he carries into them and hits them.

"I think you really want to see that in the personality of your number 8, of really imposing themselves on the opposition and almost frightening them. He has not quite delivered that, but he is a different sort of player and he definitely gives you go-forward as he does for Leinster and now for Ireland."

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Andy Farrell Brian O'Driscoll Ireland