Brian O'Driscoll says Sean O'Brien being selected for Ireland against Italy tomorrow is "a big statement" by head coach Joe Schmidt.
The Tullow Tank appeared for the Wolfhounds last weekend after a long injury lay-off and O'Driscoll says there's no way Schmidt was going to Rome without both the injured Jamie Heaslip and O'Brien.
"That’s a big statement having Seanie there," the former Ireland centre told Off The Ball in studio tonight. "I would have expected to see Seanie on the bench.
"It’s a pretty big ask after 50 minutes last weekend having not played for, I think, the whole season pretty much – I think it’s important with Jamie out, to have Seanie in there.
"An Italian team looking at that back row and seeing both Heaslip and O’Brien in it would probably fancy themselves.
"It think it’s a diffent proposition having O'Brien in there.
"Jordi [Murphy] is playing well. And the fact that he can play and seven very comfortably - he packs a bigger punch than the looks - I think he’ll go well tomorrow."
O'Driscoll added: "Seanie’s probably not going to last the game."
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