The Carlow man had a rough start in Test encounters against France but has not lost to them since 2011.
Sean O’Brien definitely looked as if he had been in a fight.
With his IRFU kit-bag slung over his shoulder, and still bearing an Aer Lingus luggage sticker, O’Brien reflected on a tough day at the office.
“It was a very difficult game; very physical,” he said. “We knew what we were getting ourselves in for but the Italians caused us a lot of problems.
“The result is all that matters but we’d be disappointed with our performance… There is nothing major to fix, just a number of small things.”
He continued, “There were difficult things said after the game but it is like any other. You move on.
“We go and look at what we can do better next week.
There’s always a bit of chat after games. This time, it was about what we can do better, especially as we didn’t perform the way we’d like.”
Thoughts, as they always seem to do after one match is put to bed, turned quickly to next Sunday’s clash with France at the Millennium Stadium.
A French journalist relayed, to O’Brien, that many of Les Bleus had declared Ireland as favourites for the pool-topping encounter.
He replied, “They all say that? Well, I wouldn’t buy into that. Of course they are going to say that.
“We are going to look into who are favourites or not. We’ll look into how we will prepare ourselves so we’ll be ready to go.
“We won’t be worrying about who’s favourites or who’s not favourites.”
O’Brien pointed out that although Ireland have a hex over France at present, he has tasted defeat to them enough times. Indeed, he was on the losing side against the French on three occasions in six months, back in 2011.
The flanker added, “This is different. This is a World Cup; a new season. All to play for.
“There’s pressure on everyone.”
