Gatland hails O'Driscoll

Wales coach pays glowing tribute to Ireland skipper

By Rachel Griffiths   Last updated: 10th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Gatland hails O'Driscoll

Gatland: Has praised O'Driscoll

I gave him his first cap, and it was an honour for me to be involved with him with the Lions last year to see how he has developed.

Warren Gatland
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Wales coach Warren Gatland has heaped praise on Ireland cap centurion Brian O'Driscoll ahead of Saturday's RBS Six Nations clash in Dublin.

Ireland captain O'Driscoll will follow in the footsteps of team-mate John Hayes when he joins Test rugby's arguably most exclusive club this weekend.

The 31-year-old skipper will become the 13th player to reach the 100-cap milestone for their country, and is certain to receive an rapturous reception when he leads Ireland out against the Welsh at Croke Park.

Debut

Former Ireland coach Gatland, who gave O'Driscoll his international debut against Australia in Brisbane nearly 11 years ago, worked with the Leinster centre on the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa last summer and has nothing but praise for the skipper.

"I gave him his first cap, and it was an honour for me to be involved with him with the Lions last year to see how he has developed," said Gatland.

"He deserves all the accolades, and I will be one of the first to stand up in the coaching box on Saturday and clap him.

"Brian has got natural flair, is a good passer off both hands, has got a step and fantastic pace. He would most definitely be in most people's World XV of the last decade."

O'Driscoll has enjoyed a sparkling career, competing on the last three Lions tours, making 63 appearances as Ireland skipper, winning a Six Nations title, a Grand Slam, four Triple Crowns and the Heineken Cup with Leinster.

But Gatland insists his favourite recollection of O'Driscoll is from 2000, when the centre scored three tries against France in Paris to boost Ireland to an emphatic victory.

"That is my greatest memory of Brian - the hat-trick of tries he scored when Ireland beat France in Paris for the first time in 27 years," added Gatland.

"I remember the French great Philippe Sella coming into the changing room to congratulate him afterwards and saying it was one of the most impressive centre performances he had ever seen."

Respect

Although Wales will be looking to ruin O'Driscoll's celebrations by claiming victory at the weekend, Gatland's side, including opposite number and fellow Lion Martyn Williams, have the utmost respect for the Ireland skipper.

"Brian is without doubt the best player in the northern hemisphere over the last decade, and probably one of the greatest ever," said Williams, who will take over captaincy duties from injured Ryan Jones on Saturday.

"I cannot speak highly enough of him. He is an unbelievable player."