Declan Kidney urges Brian O'Driscoll to 'carry on playing for Ireland'
Last Updated: March 10, 2013 3:15pm
Declan Kidney is hoping Brian O'Driscoll will not hang up his Ireland boots at the end of this season's Six Nations' Championship.
It has been hinted that next week's trip to Italy could be the 34-year-old centre's final international match in a green shirt.
O'Driscoll may even be named Lions skipper for this summer's tour of Australia, before calling it a day at the highest level.
But Ireland coach Kidney said: "It's a decision for Brian obviously, but I'm hoping this won't be his last game as he's such a huge asset."
And Saturday's draw against France in Dublin could even turn out to be O'Driscoll's final Test if he fails to recover from an injury suffered at the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland winger Keith Earls said: "One minute Brian didn't know where was, the next he was coming back on with his head strapped up. He's a true warrior."
Ireland will travel to Italy without scrum-half Eoin Reddan who was stretchered off with a broken leg late in the game.
In addition to O'Driscoll, Luke Marshall and Donnacha Ryan are other injury doubts for the Irish.
