Ireland coach Declan Kidney praised centre Brian O'Driscoll after the veteran put in an excellent performance in the win over Wales.
O'Driscoll created and scored a try as Ireland dominated the opening 50 minutes in Cardiff, before Wales hit back with three tries of the own to cancel out Ireland's impressive 27 point lead.
Former Ireland captain O'Driscoll has hinted that this Six Nations could be his last, but Kidney hopes that he may stay on for another season.
"Brian will make up his own mind. I would not like to sway him one way over the other," said Kidney.
"The bottom line is you would love to have the guy around forever wouldn't you? But if you look at the performance he put in today, that is not easy on the body.
"Huge credit to him, given the amount of game time he has had, to come out and give such an international class performance like he did today.
"It is wrong to say it doesn't surprise you, as normally you should not be able to pull out a performance like that with the amount of game time he has under his belt.
"With Brian it is just a privilege to be working with him."
Kidney however refused to discuss the possibility of a Grand Slam, despite Ireland boosting their chances and now facing both England and France at home.
"I don't buy into that because it means we should not bother every other year as we have no chance.
"If you look at the second half here, we still have a lot of work to do.
"England and France are playing well and we still have to go to Murrayfield where we lost the last time we were up there."
Comments
pierredelot1 says...
Good God Fish, running on fumes and yet still the best centre on display this last weekend. I think you must be a member of the white stick department. BOD will know when to retire, we see him have a great game like on Saturday, what we don't see is the grimace and groan the next morning when he hauls himself out of the pit. His body will be what stops him playing, nothing else, so just be thankful for the privelage of watching him.
But lets cut out these expressions such as 'The best ever', I've seen a few in the last years and lets just say he's the pick of his generation, by a country mile.
Posted 16:43 04th February 2013
campesebaba says...
Possibly,probably,certainly in my opinion undoubtedly the best 13 to ever play the game we are priviledged to be able to watch him year in year out it will be a long time before we see the likes again ....
Posted 12:04 04th February 2013
dodgyrog says...
After the lions, i would expect the announcement he will retire. lets face fact he's still the best and an outside bet of Lion's captain?????
Posted 10:03 04th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
"especially if he gets picked for the Lions"
You are joking, BOD is the first player picked and you build your team around him.
Posted 09:54 04th February 2013
pog_mahone says...
from listening to his comments on the Total Rugby podcast I get the impression that this or at most next season is his last.
Posted 09:22 04th February 2013
JamieTheProp says...
BOD has been a great player and is still one (although can't go on forever). If Ireland can win the 6 Nations (especially with a Slam) he should retire at the end of the season (especially if he gets picked for the Lions).
That would be a perfect end to a great career and ensure he is always known as a legend!
I for one would love a final chance to cheer him on (and can only do that when he pulls on as Lions shirt). Even if it is only for the midweek team.
Posted 01:22 04th February 2013
FISH says...
jeez let it go ireland.......the man is running on fumes....this is his last season deal with it .....let the legend go out while he still has something left in the tank
Posted 10:23 03rd February 2013
melkdave says...
I dont see BOD being swayed im afraid ,he knows his body,and this will be his last season at least at international leval.Its like ROG after the RWC isnt it really ROG stayed the extra season now his duing another ,and now really should retire from internationals Ireland have good FHs coming though time for them to be given a chance really.Same for BOD ,L.Marshall and D.Cave should be given time or even A.Trimble and T.Bowe could do a decent job as centers,given that Szebo and Gilroy look likely to be Irelands wingers for sometime ,and Earls and Fitzgerald arnt slouches either and wingers not centers.So Bowes time as a winger is up in my opinion really. ,same as Trimbles
Posted 23:54 02nd February 2013
TVaddict says...
@carpelone
Perhaps the other nations should throw their games against Ireland to make this happen. That way Kidney can continue to miss manage Ireland and they'll be no threat to us come the next world cup! On a serious note, I really hope Ireland do get rid of Kidney. He's a joke of a coach and he's holding them back. Heck, I'd prefer MJ to Kidney.
Posted 21:33 02nd February 2013
carpelone says...
With this win, he will retain his job four other four years.
Posted 20:54 02nd February 2013