Six Nations
O'Driscoll: Ireland in the hunt for title
ESPNscrum Staff
January 27, 2011
Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll talks to the media during the Six Nations launch, the Hurlingham Club, London, England, January 26, 2011
Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll believes they are in the hunt for honours © Getty Images
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Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll believes that they are in the hunt for the Six Nations title despite their recent mixed form.

England boss Martin Johnson has tipped O'Driscoll's men to 'slip under the radar' after being installed as third favourites for the tournament but the experienced centre, who is fresh from helping Leinster storm into the last eight of the Heineken Cup, thinks that their rivals will be aware of the threat they pose when on top form.

"If you're going on recent form I don't know how much under the radar we've managed to slip," he said. "We had a reasonable November series - we won two and lost two.

"Plenty of other sides did better than us but we're quietly confident that if we get our game together we'll be in the hunt in some capacity. But I haven't really thought about slipping under any radar or about any other side that has done likewise. We're just plodding along like we always do, working hard."

Ireland open their Six Nations against Italy on February 5 and O'Driscoll admits trips to the Italian capital are welcomed by his team-mates. The squad will travel without a number of big names following injuries to Jamie Heaslip, Tommy Bowe, Rob Kearney and Geordan Murphy, but the skipper remains in good spirits.

"More often than not we've been fortunate to have good conditions in Italy," he said. "The players thrive on the sun shining and there's usually a freshness to playing in February or March. Players do enjoy it there - it's a good atmosphere in the stadium. There are worse places to play rugby internationals than Rome."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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