The Test by Brian O'Driscoll

I got given this for Xmas, and finished it a week or ten days ago.
It was a really enjoyable read - not toooo much airbrushing.
The biggest surprises to me were that:
BOD was almost blind for most of his career - we're talking glasses as thick as the bottoms of milk bottles (and he didn't wear contact lenses).
He didn't think that Umaga and Mealamu were deliberately trying to take him out of that game.
It was clear, despite the airbrushing, that he'd been a big fan of going on the beer between games.

I haven't yet caught him on BT Sport - BT have cut off our broadband due to incompetence, and still waiting to get it back - but I look forward to it.

Oddly enough I watched a match on the weekend with BOD on the 2 man panel (despite living in NZ, if you have the right software you can get BT and all the other sports matches). The host was another Irishman and 'that' incident was mentioned with BOD doing nothing but wearing a smirk!

To be honest if BOD did not think that then that is good enough for me. I would wager that it was kiwis who made up this stupid argument because BOD insulted the haka ballet by throwing a bit of grass or something. As if BOD would be really bothered about a silly dance and words he would not understand.

BOD is a legend worldwide and deserves his plinth at the very top of World rugby, there was no one better in his position in the world when he was playing.

Have to admit I am awaiting the edition to be put on Audio book. I find reading anything these days a cure for my insomnzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I think Woodward blew it out of all proportions because the tour was going very badly for him.

BOD has said on numerous occasions (and backed up by his ghost writer) that he is totally peed off with having to talk about the incident which would explain the smerk.

Craig Doyle (the BT Presenter) is a smary git.

I'm holding off for Robbie Henshaw's book. Brian is so last season.

I got this for xmas too and have to say - much as I admire BOD - it's not my favourite rugby biography. I thought it was an OK read. My lasting memories of BOD are going to be of those on the field and not his storytelling.