Brian O'Driscoll's stunning performance against France in 2000 was about more than the tries but the hat-trick that the then 21-year-old scored is firmly planted in Irish rugby history.
The outside centre’s trio of tries in a 27-25 victory in Paris, Ireland’s first there in 28 years, underlined O’Driscoll’s rich promise and set him on course to become a global superstar.
Brian O’Driscoll picks his dream backline – and includes himself, obviously
Ireland’s legendary centre Brian O'Driscoll has selected his all-time backline – and it’s incredible.
Looking back at a number of interview conducted by the former Leinster man, this is how his back division would line-up in a dream match.
#BACK-THREE:
15. Jason Robinson (England)
O'DRISCOLL SAID: "To get to see in close quarters what he was capable of. You see so much on a Saturday, but when you’re training and playing and watching players of that calibre leading up to a Saturday. You see some exceptional stuff that cameras don’t always catch.
“Jason, I knew so little of him in 2001 other than his rugby league talent. But to have a full appreciation of what his footwork was like, you need to defend against it, and it was horrible at times in training.
“I would’ve analysed him a lot as I played against him, he was equally comfortable on either foot, it made no difference to him. There was no preference on ball carry, you just could not work him out. He honed the ability to be unpredictable as well.
“He might’ve been a small guy, but he packed a serious punch too.”
14. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
Has one man ever done more to popularise the game of rugby than Jonah? When he burst onto the scene at the 1995 World Cup, it was like a meteor landing from outer space.
O'Driscoll said: “He had all the qualities you would aspire to in a hero.
"No-one transcended the sport of rugby union quite like him; he was a force of nature with a blend of pace, power and size that has never before seen, certainly in a winger”
11. Shane Williams (Wales)
Named world player of the year in 2008, he ended up with 60 Test tries, leaving him fourth on the all-time list behind behind Daisuke Ohata, David Campese and Bryan Habana. He was The Great Entertainer.
O'Driscoll said: "Shane Williams was a left-foot step. The problem was if you waited for it on the inside he burnt you on the outside. A great player and teammate"
#CENTRES
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
12. Yannick Jauzion (France)
The 73-cap France international was a member of the Toulouse team that reached the Heineken Cup final in 2003, 2004 and 2005, winning in 2003 and 2005. The centre was named as the man of the match in the 2005 Heineken Cup Final as Toulouse defeated Stade Français.
Brian O'Driscoll SAID: "Jauzion was just incredible and was so hard to stop, with his offloading ability. France built so much off and around him. 6-foot-4 and probably 17-stone."
#HALFBACKS
10. Jonny Wilkinson (England)
WIlkinson garnered 1,246 during his 97 caps for England and the Lions. His finest hour, of course, came in 2003, when he slotted the drop goal that won the World Cup.
Brian O'Driscoll SAID: “Even to just get a snapshot of what his mind works like now and how he thinks about things is pretty eye-opening as to what sort of detail he went into as a player,”
“He’s an out-and-out perfectionist, he just needs that 10 out of 10. I don’t think you ever achieve it and I think he beats himself up about it, but he got pretty close to 10 a lot of times.”
9. Conor Murray (Ireland)
O'Driscoll said: "The calm, the influence he brings, the comfort and confidence he generates in guys who have played with him for 10 years and the guys just coming in who see what he does in training, never gets flustered, plugging all the holes, doing all the clever things.
“I’ve always been a huge Conor Murray fan and continue to be, even though he’s not at the height of some of his previous contribution over the last 10 years.”
