Six Nations: ‘Call a spade, a spade’ – Ireland’s next string ‘a long way off’ says Sean O’Brien

Recalling his own days of representing an Ireland XV, a team then called the Ireland Wolfhounds, O’Brien remembers an eye-opening realisation regarding the physicality required at the top level.

“We were all there at some point. I remember saying to myself after those games, ‘you need to be so physical’. That’s the big thing you take out of those games.

“You get run over and you get battered and you get thrown around the place and you say ‘I’m not there yet’. That’s the reality of it.

“There’s no point saying anything else. In international rugby you need collision winners, physical people. You can be smart and a good player, but you need physicality and momentum.”

O’Brien believes there is one exception from Friday’s defeated panel, adding that Ulster back row Bryn Ward could “go in there straight away” and contribute for Farrell.

The 21-year-old was part of the senior group for their Six Nations preparation camp in Portugal before turning out for the Ireland XV in Limerick then re-joining the full squad to prepare for this weekend’s game.

“Bryn Ward was very good. He’s a big, physical fella, I like what he’s about,” added O’Brien.

“I think he can make the grade to go in there straight away.”