Sporting advent calendar #8: Brian O’Driscoll’s long goodbye to the Ireland crowd

March 8th 2014. Test number 140. New world record. Just another game.

Reporter: “That Italian game, I was watching you and, honestly, it looked like your body was falling apart. That considered, where did the performance come from?”

Brian O’Driscoll: “I was really struggling that week with my calf. I was so worried I wouldn’t get to play one last time in the Aviva. It probably came from not pushing things too hard. Because I couldn’t go full tilt. I was trying to get rid of the ball ‘cause I didn’t want to run too far with it. It was like a hot potato. It was more of a distributing game. Yeah, I thought I played decent.”

Reporter: Mark out of 10?

O’Driscoll: “I only played 62 minutes so seven and a half.”

Six minutes in and he was only playing centre. A beautifully concealed return pass put Jonathan Sexton racing over for the first try.

31 minutes later he grew impatient, only playing scrumhalf and outhalf in quick succession. More creativity as the black lights beckoned, glancing up he saw that digital mesh of green, throwing a dummy switch to Sexton that enticed three Mr Smith's toward him before flinging the hot potato at Andrew Trimble.

Ulster’s finest barged over for the second try.

The dominant kid in a dimly lit field, it was still O’Driscoll’s game.

Forty-five minutes gone and he became the openside. Luke McLean was glanced by Paul O’Connell into the warm embrace of this perfectly arched poacher. Penalty Ireland.

Getting darker now, 59 minutes and he compelled one last moment from ageing limbs.

Taking a straight line through midfield, a bundle of hooker, Leonardo Ghiraldini, leap t upon his back, and still, he slowed time long enough to take aim, change his mind, before throwing a left handed, looping pass to

Rob Kearney who found brother Dave who put Sexton over.

Only 62 minutes, but 62 minutes that will be remembered for a lifetime.