Sean O’Brien played this the right way.
The Leinster flanker is back in the Ireland XV after he missed out on the tight November victory over Australia. Having overcome a calf injury, picked up last month, O’Brien edged out Leinster colleague Josh van der Flier to get a No.7 jersey he insists he is merely “borrowing” to play Scotland.
And it is Scotland that is holding O’Brien’s keen attention.
Asked by a reporter about comments he gave [on Newstalk] about Scotland being the toughest opponents after 2016 Grand Slam champions England, O’Brien was quick to clear the air. He declares:
“I actually said the Scottish game. I never mentioned England in that interview.
“I said the Scottish game would be the toughest. It is our first game – they are at home – so I still think that is going to be our toughest game.”
“The minute you look past that first game,” he adds, “you’re in trouble.”
As one of Ireland’s key men at the breakdown and at the back of the pack, O’Brien was asked about his role in protecting Irish scrum-half Conor Murray, who came in for some rough treatment by Glasgow Warriors last month. He decided to turn that query on its’ head.
“I don’t think [Glasgow] took it too far to be honest with you. There is a target on his back – like us all – and people are going to go after him but I don’t think there’s anything bad, in terms of malice, that happened to Conor that time.
“Conor’s bigger than most of us; he should be able to look after himself.”
Indeed, O’Brien admitted Ireland will have no hesitation in going after Scotland’s half-back pairing of Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell. “Isn’t that the way in every rugby game,” he remarked.
As far as goals are concerned, O’Brien’s are crystal clear as he goes into his sixth championship [he missed 2014].
“Trying to get that Grand Slam [is the goal] at a personal level,” he says.
“The competition itself is so tough and you get to test yourself, week in, week out, against the best. It’s a special competition and it is where you want to be.”
