O'Driscoll hungrier than ever

O'Driscoll cemented his position as one of the game's leading lights last season with a series of stunning displays for Leinster, Ireland and the Lions.

The 31-year-old helped Leinster to a first European crown two months after leading Ireland to only their second-ever Grand Slam and their first for 61 years.

He later went on to star with Britain and Ireland's elite in South Africa in the summer and has since been named World Player of the Year by the Rugby Writers' Association.

O'Driscoll is currently with the Ireland squad preparing for the defence of their Six Nations crown, before he returns to Leinster as they look to build on their current play-off position in the Magners League and a quarter-final place in the Heineken Cup.

"I'm as hungry as ever, if not hungrier," said O'Driscoll.

"Certainly after winning silverware your ambition doesn't wane in any way shape or form. If anything it heightens it.

"It gives you a taste and appetite for silverware and you want more."

The first trophy on offer this season is the 2010 Six Nations and O'Driscoll is determined to repeat last year's historic success.

But the Leinster legend insists that the 2009 triumph will have no bearing on this season's outcome, with Declan Kidney's men going all out on reaffirm their position as Europe's No1 side.

"I was once told you don't ever defend anything, you just role up your sleeves and try to win it again," added O'Driscoll.

"There will be no change of emphasis. It will be the same attitude that we've had for the past 10 years.

"You try and build into a competition, you don't win it in the first couple of weeks. That's how you lose it.

"We'll build slowly and go from there - or even better build fast and go from there."