O’Driscoll backs Ireland to clinch the Slam

– Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll is not a betting man but the captain of the last Irish side to win the Six Nations Grand Slam is backing the 2018 version to emulate them.

But the 39-year-old former centre – Ireland’s most-capped player – admitted it won’t be easy toppling an England side unbeaten at Twickenham since Eddie Jones took over after their 2015 World Cup debacle.

Adding extra spice to the encounter – which takes place on Ireland’s patron St Patrick’s Day – is the possibility of England avenging their defeat in Dublin last year that denied them successive Grand Slams.

“I do think they will beat England,” O’Driscoll said at the Laureus Awards prior to Ireland’s bonus-point win over Scotland, which resulted in them ending England’s two-year reign as Six Nations champions.

“I liked the look of them at the start of the year.”

O’Driscoll says head coach Joe Schmidt (right) is putting together a potentially formidable outfit – one that could emulate the 2009 Grand Slam winners.

“I think they are building and have set themselves up to be quite difficult to beat,” said O’Driscoll.

“They will push England bloody close,” he said.

“Those are the sort of games they have to go and prove themselves in.”

O’Driscoll insisted the Irish won’t ease to victory, though.

“It will be last-minute stuff, it will be all hands to the pump,” he said.

“But I think this team has it in them, there is a depth to them both of quality and personality.”

Rory Best, who along with fullback Rob Kearney is one of the two survivors from the 2009 squad, says he is under no illusions as to the size of the task.

“We’re going to have to probably save the best for last,” said the 35-year-old.

Schmidt believes the likes of Best, Sexton, Conor Murray, Cian Healy and Kearney have the stature of the 2009 stars such as O’Driscoll and flyhalf Ronan O’Gara.

“I think by pure evidence of performance and results, I think you’d have to say so,” said Schmidt.

“I think they’re (England) going to be really dangerous,” said the 52-year-old New Zealander.

“They’re wounded, but they’re far from dead and buried.” – AFP