Playing with Finn? It would be fun but frustrating!

OVER a long and distinguished career, Brian O’Driscoll became adept at dealing with everything and anything thrown his way.

Playing at outside centre, the Ireland, Leinster and Lions legend experienced the good, bad and ugly in terms of the quality of pass heading in his direction and the opposition defender looming down upon him. Quick feet as well as speed of thought were a simple necessity.

He was, of course, blessed to play with some truly talented stand-offs, the likes of Johnny Sexton for club and country providing not just quality ball but also reassurance in that key playmaker role.

While O’Driscoll has hung up his boots, his former team-mate remains an integral part of the Ireland side and central to his country’s World Cup hopes.

Indeed, looking ahead to Sunday, it is the battle between Sexton — the current World Player of the Year — and Scotland’s Finn Russell at No 10 which will go a long way to deciding the Pool A clash in Yokohama.

And having played so much of his career with one of the men,

Sportsmail asked O’Driscoll if he could imagine what it would have been like lining up outside the talented if somewhat whimsical Scot...

‘Obviously, it is never going to happen now,’ said a laughing O’Driscoll (below). ‘But it would be fun, exciting, a challenge and frustrating — all at the same time — to play with Finn.

‘He is an exciting player to watch and much more off the cuff than Johnny (Sexton), who is slightly more formulaic in keeping to a system from ten that he will be asked to implement by Joe Schmidt.

‘Finn has a quick brain and, for some centres who are not on his wavelength, that can be difficult, especially if the ten doesn’t know what he is going to do himself. ‘You have to be reactive when you have a player like Finn in your team. ‘That is where having good footballers like Sam Johnson and Duncan Taylor outside him will really help him and Scotland. Intelligent players like them have the ability to read play quite early and anticipate what Finn is trying. As you mature as an international fly-half, you have got to understand how to bring the most out of the players around you. ‘I think Finn is at that stage and will work well with Sam and Duncan.

‘He has to be able to express himself, too, but he also needs to be able to utilise the skillsets that are around him. When you look at the firepower that Scotland has in the back three, with the likes of Stuart Hogg, you need to give these players the opportunity to flourish as well as having a go yourself. With every year, Finn is getting better at that.

‘We still love the fact he can pull a rabbit out of the hat or play the miracle pass. He has an eye for the intercept now, so Ireland have to be wary of that.

‘There are so many dimensions to his game that it makes it a mouthwatering prospect having him at ten for Scotland.

‘It makes for great viewing as well. Scotland are at their best when they don’t get into an arm wrestle and mix up their game instead — and I expect them to do that in Yokohama.’

O’Driscoll proudly wore No13 on his back for Ireland and he expects the man with that shirt for Scotland to make an impression.

A long-term admirer of Saracens centre Taylor, he is warning his countrymen to beware a player desperate to shrug off his injury problems and impress in Japan.

‘Duncan Taylor has the ability to turn things Scotland’s way,’ said O’Driscoll. ‘He was injured for most of last season but the upside for Scotland is that he will be fresh and raring to go.

‘Whenever I saw him play for Saracens and Scotland in the past, I was hugely impressed.

‘Duncan brings a power game to proceedings and he is a clever rugby player and very direct when he has to be. He will be a vital player for Scotland.

‘I would imagine he would start at 13 with Sam Johnston at 12. With Finn Russell at fly-half and Stuart Hogg at full-back, that is an exciting back division that Ireland will come up against.

‘Duncan can keep it all together for Scotland.’

O’Driscoll, who played for his country in four World Cups, believes the forwards will dictate play as they always do but it is what the respective back divisions do with the ball that will matter most. Whoever Ireland pick in the centre, O’Driscoll expects an epic battle.

‘I like Sam Johnson next to Duncan at twelve as Sam is a clever footballer,’ he said. ‘They