In BOD we trust – Drico hits 100

The Man who is largely responsible for transforming the face of rugby in this country will win his 100th cap against Wales on Saturday that man is Brian O’ Driscoll. Whether it has been with Ireland, Leinster or the Lions, O’ Driscoll has always been a cut above the rest. Since his debut vs. Australia in 1999, he has gone on to win 99 caps for his country, 57 of which have been as captain.

Arguably Ireland’s one true world class player, in his pomp he would have walked onto any rugby team, in any hemisphere. A man capable of winning a game on his own, with a quick turn of pace, a shimmy here a shimmy there, or just a sheer moment of inspired genius O’ Driscoll has done it all.

He's also the first Irish rugby player to have achieved bonafide celebrity status, his face has often been found in the celebrity pages. For the most part, however, it’s on the field where O’ Driscoll does his talking. A mesmerizing try scorer, O’ Driscoll holds the Irish all-time record of 38 international tries; he is also the highest scoring centre of all-time.

Who can forget his two epic tries versus the French ten years ago? His career could have been ended in 2005 when he was maliciously spear-tackled by Tanga Umaga & Keven Mealamu of New Zealand, whilst on tour with the Lions. However, he came back stronger than ever for both club & country, again going on tour with the Lions to South Africa in 2009.

His record speaks for itself -

- Named RBS 6 Nations player of the tournament on 3 separate occasions – 2006 2007, 2009.

- The highest try scorer in Irish history.

- Joint 11th-highest try scorer in Rugby Union history.

- He holds the Irish Six Nations record for most tries scored with 21.

- He has scored the most Heineken Cup tries (28) for an Irishman.

Some of his fellow pros views on Drico -

‘Without a shadow of a doubt he has been the best player in the Northern Hemisphere in the last decade, if not the world' - Martyn Williams, Wales

‘In my time playing rugby and watching rugby he was the best centre by far. He reads it better than most guys. He doesn’t run to where the ball is going, he runs to where it’s going to end up’ – Tim Horan, Australia

‘That fella’s the future. He will end up as the greatest ever player from this island. – Keith Woods

‘On the pitch he is more or less a mind-reader. He’ll go down as one of the best centres ever’ – Jamie Roberts, Wales

‘Irish rugby struggled in the 1990s and we play with a lot more confidence now. A lot of that confidence has come on the back of Brian’s play and his attitude.’ – Paul O’ Connell