Ireland begin their defence of the Six Nations Championship on Saturday February 6th against Italy at Croke Park

Brian O’Driscoll will once again led Declan Kidney’s troops as they aim to become the first side since France in 1997-1998 to claim back-to-back Grand Slam titles.

“Coming in as defending champions you are not owed anything. If anything you are there to be knocked off your perch,” he told Sportspeak.

“As someone said to me you don’t ever defend a crown, you give it back and you try and win it again.”

“That’s the way we will be looking on it.

“It took us 61 years to win a Grand Slam and now the Irish public are losing the run of themselves saying it’s another Grand Slam in the bag and what not.

“We have goals of trying to improve as a team and making ourselves difficult to beat.”

And the Six Nations tournament holds a very special place in O’Driscoll’s heart.

“The Six Nations is very, very special because certainly for myself having gone for 10 years and only last year managed to win that elusive Grand Slam.”

“It’s such a good competition, because of how tough it is to win five games. Each year for the past eight years I’ve been at the launch and I’ve sat here and talked about how more

Cóilín Duffy spoke to Brian at the RBS Six Nations launch in London.