Brian O'Driscoll dropped into Monday Night Rugby on Off The Ball where he got excited about the future for weekend debutante Craig Casey.
The Shannon scrum-half made his first appearance in green in Rome having been an unused sub against France, and O'Driscoll was suitably impressed by the cameo.
'We have a real treat on our hands..'
Brian O'Driscoll rates Craig Casey highly - and not only for his rendition of 'Careless Whisper'..
Full story ➡️ https://t.co/HmiJBtjqPp pic.twitter.com/MCUOqXJSw0— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 1, 2021
"I thought Casey was brilliant in his 16 or 17 minutes, the speed of his pass was exceptional, it was Stringer-esque," said the former Ireland captain.
"I have not seen a quality of pass at International level in Ireland since Peter Stringer, with that quality Casey was throwing out.
"I think it will be difficult to parachute Conor Murray back in there, fit or not. The two lads have really impressed."
The position Ireland find themselves in, O'Driscoll reasoned, gives Andy Farrell the freedom to experiment.
"Now it is an opportunity because we are not going to be winning the Six Nations, it is an opportunity to see what they are made of in more difficult fixtures like Murrayfield," the ex-Leinster centre said.
Excited by Craig Casey
Despite the lack of any silverware for Ireland in this Six Nations, Casey's emergence is giving the former captain hope for the future.
"We really are entitled to be excited about the future," O'Driscoll said.
"I had seen bits and pieces of him for Munster and when you are playing second fiddle to Conor Murray, you don't get to start in many of the big games."
🎶Let's talk about Craig Casey, let's talk about JGP... 🎶
These weren't BOD's exact words, but he's excited nonetheless...
Full chat with Brian ➡️ https://t.co/ezazLnNdt7 pic.twitter.com/YA8emh0AW2— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 1, 2021
"Is this a look into the future?" O'Driscoll wondered.
"It does feel a bit transitional now because he was able to deliver when it was put to him.
"I appreciate it was Italy, the game was won, they were out on their feet. But, what he brings, high energy, high tempo, bullet pass.
"There is a narkiness about him, happy to carry the ball into contact even though his frame suggests he shouldn't.
"There is a courage there, a belief there and clearly a huge work ethic to get better too. If you are being compared to Johnny Wilkinson, I'm aware of his work ethic, it was insatiable, it was almost to a detriment. To have that at 21 years of age is really great.
"If you can marry that with a skillset that is clear for everyone to see, I think we have got a real treat on our hands in the coming years."
"He can inject something that we have not had for a while. It is a very different type of scrum-half.
"Whether he is on the bench or starting, it is nice to have contrasts in your nines sometimes.
"Someone that is soothing and capable of what Conor Murray has done for years, but then someone to come on and do what Gibson Park does. But it feels like Craig Casey brings that to the next level," O'Driscoll said.
Casey Attitude
When considering the attitude of Craig Casey, there was a recent moment the former Ireland skipper observed that made him happy.
"I watched him a couple of weeks ago for Munster. He got subbed off in the 76th minute and he sprinted off," recalled O'Driscoll.
"I was laughing, that is a bit of a sign to the coach to say 'this is what you get from me, I am an all-action player. 75 minutes, no problem. I am fit as a fiddle.'
"It is those little things that just stay with you, I am just really excited about him."
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