O’Driscoll admits to captaincy frustration

IRELAND’S Grand Slam-winning skipper Brian O’Driscoll has admitted his disappointment at being overlooked for the Lions captaincy.

Head coach Ian McGeechan decided O’Driscoll’s Irish team-mate and talismanic Munster lock Paul O’Connell would lead the tourists to South Africa next month.

“There was a bit of disappointment,” said O’Driscoll yesterday. “I felt it was coming, that Paulie was going to be made captain. McGeechan had made it known that he had a preference for the captain in the forwards and once he said that the writing was on the wall.

“But even when I got the call from him I suppose there was a bit of disappointment. Until you hear it from the man himself you always harbour hopes but Paul will have my full support and I look forward to being a senior player.”

And O’Driscoll, who had his stint as Lions skipper prematurely ended by a violent spear tackle from Tana Umaga in New Zealand in 2005, says he craves a successful series this summer.

“It’s not about four years ago; eight years ago in Australia we should have had it wrapped up after two matches but ended up losing it 2-1. So its a case of really wanting to win a test series. To be part of three Lions tours and not win any wouldn’t be a great thing to have on your CV so its something I want to put right.

“Going down to the home of the world champions and having the opportunity to play them in their own back yard, it’s a chance to make history and be associated with Willie John McBride, Ken Kennedy and these sort of guys. It would be very special to have your name bandied about with that calibre of player,” he added.

But while McBride captained the Lions to a famous win over the Boks in 1974, O’Driscoll insists the task is that much harder in the professional era.

“It is becoming more and more difficult. The guts of the South Africans’ squad had been together for three or four seasons. So it is a big ask to put a group 37 individuals together and make them a cohesive team. But that’s the beauty of the Lions Tour – the difficult job in doing so would make the victory all the sweeter.”

But before O’Driscoll departs for the southern hemisphere, there is the small matter of Leinster’s Heineken Cup final in Edinburgh against Leicester.

“I’ve always wanted to lift the trophy. It’s our first time there and we want to make it count. We don’t want to be one of those teams with individuals that really should have won it but never did. Now’s the time, seize the moment.”

And a win with his province would cap a remarkable year after that dramatic Grand Slam victory with Ireland. O’Driscoll admits since ending the famine for a championship victory, buying a pint of milk in Dublin is now a planned excursion.

“It’s late night shopping usually. It’s been great – and manic at times – but the reasoning for that is we must be doing something right. The country hasn’t had much to cheer in the past year so we’re glad to lend a hand.”