Sean O'Brien says it's inevitable that rugby players have to tailor their games more to avoid mounting injuries.

The flanker will start the Irish Wolfhounds game against England Saxons tomorrow night, as the build up to the Six Nations continue.

O'Brien's recent seasons for province and country have been injury ravaged, and tonight on Off The Ball he spoke about the need to bring variation to his style of play in order to avoid constant contact. 

"I did always enjoy it until I started getting these bad knocks. There's different times in games when you'll come across those situations again and you'll have to try and run over someone or find a body. But it's part of the game now where you're trying to be a lot smarter and cleverer about the way you play," said the Tullow Tank.

Ireland's Sean O'Brien at training in Carton House today ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

"That type of attrition, you won't last forever or your lifespan as a rugby player won't last that long. You have to be smart about it, while being able to mix it in that aspect of the game too." 

The 27-year-old focused on how his own game has developed in that respect to achieve more longevity.

"I suppose I can't be going looking for contact as such. I do [look for contact] in defence. I try and go after people alright, but in attack I'll certainly be avoiding trying to smash into someone," he said, adding that breaks can be boost later down the line.

"If there's a bit of space, I'll be looking for the space, moreso than the contact. But it's probably something I did at the start of my career a lot, more than now."    

O'Brien also said he welcomes the increased competition at Leinster, with the recent emergence of backrow Jack Conan, and suggested that the intensity of training will help him make the step up from a long absence to international test rugby.