O'Driscoll mulls life after Six Nations

Ireland open their Six Nations campaign by hosting Scotland in Dublin on Sunday before taking on Wales six days later.

Brian O'Driscoll has postponed all decisions about life after rugby until he retires at the end of the season.

Ireland's stalwart centre is desperate to get on with life after the British and Irish Lions, though, and certainly the furore over being dropped by head coach Warren Gatland on last year's tour Down Under.





Wales boss Gatland was pilloried for dropping O'Driscoll for the Lions' final Test in Australia before a 41-16 landslide victory to claim the series offered vindication.

The row has rumbled on, with Gatland admitting last week he jokingly asked O'Driscoll to influence the Aviva Stadium crowd not to boo him.

O'Driscoll remains unsure about a career in coaching but is quite clear he has no interest in any lingering Lions pantomime.

"What happened, happened, no one can change it," said the 35-year-old.

"I don't have any ill-will towards Warren.

"When it was raw afterwards your emotions are a bit different. Time does heal all wounds and I don't have any animosity towards him."

Hailing boss Joe Schmidt as crucial to Ireland's chances of a successful Six Nations, O'Driscoll admitted it is important the country develop home-grown frontline coaches, even if he does not eventually number among them.

O'Driscoll wrestled with retirement this time last season and decided against it.

Reaffirming his commitment to quit in the summer come what may, the 128-cap centre revealed no torment over his future has cleared his mind for the tournament ahead.

"I was really unsure last year and it was strange emotions," said the former Ireland skipper.

"It's nice knowing you can empty the tank in this Six Nations knowing it will be the last.

"From my own point of view it's probably a little less stressful."


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Source: AAP


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