Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has swerved round a succession of quality Test players before accelerating away for a try.

But on Friday the talented centre proved his capacity to confound from a seemingly unthreatening situation extends beyond the confines of a rugby pitch.

At a news conference in the lead-up to Saturday's Six Nations match with England here at Croke Park, O'Driscoll was asked Friday about what it was like to play with and against England manager Martin Johnson.

"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad," he said to a backdrop of first bemusement and then roaring laughter from reporters.

There were shades of French footballer Eric Cantona's remark in 1995 that "when the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea".

That was interpreted by some as a comment about the media spotlight being shone at the time on the then Manchester United star.

Quite what O'Driscoll, who quickly paid tribute to Johnson's will to win after his fruit reference, meant, other than to inject an amusing note into the latest pre-match press conference of his lengthy captaincy career, was unclear.

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