Brian O’Driscoll insists the time for sentiment is after the job is done, and focus needs to remain on the Irish team, not the man making his final playing appearance at the Aviva stadium.

O'Driscoll becomes the most capped player in international rugby history this afternoon, but the veteran centre says he's focussed on the job at hand: “I’ve never been one for great sentiment while living in the moment. There’s always time to reflect afterwards, and that’s the time to do it. You know, the team has absolute priority and always has done.”

A win for Joe Schmidt's side would more than likely be enough to keep them top of the table ahead of the final weekend of this year's championship and set up a potential title decider in Paris.

The defeat to England last time out means that Ireland will also be hoping to register a large victory over a weakened Italian side that is without their talismanic captain, Sergio Parisse.