Lions breathe O’Driscoll sigh of relief

ANYTHING up to 35,000 Irish spectators breathed a collective sigh of relief when Jonathan Sexton hoofed the ball into the crowd and Nigel Owens blew the final whistle at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Ian McGeechan had to wait a bit longer.

The Lions head coach must have felt a sudden churning in his stomach when Brian O’Driscoll fell heavily to the turf 64 minutes in after a spectacular kicked clearance and even worse when he stayed down holding his shoulder.

But O’Driscoll reported for duty yesterday – and dismissed any fears about his tour fitness.

“You get ‘stingers’ and that sort of thing in games – I’ve had a few of them,” he said. “It is just a matter of managing it and treating it in the best possible way and getting yourself ready for the Saturday, because not too many Test matches or other games are won on a Monday or a Tuesday.

“I am very motivated, and the goal is to try to win a Test series and to be a part of that.”

O’Driscoll was involved in the last two Lions trips – losing Test series experiences in Australia and New Zealand – but he refuses to be burdened by history.

“I put all that (2005) to bed a long time ago,” he added. “The only thing I look about trying to put something right on this tour is winning. It is not about being involved in the squad or touring South Africa and having a great time – it is about winning a Test series – that is the bottom line.

“Certainly, we should have won that series (against Australia) in 2001, and the more I look back on it the more regretful you are about it. You realise how tough series wins are to grasp against one of the three big nations in the world.”

Lions head coach Ian McGeechan admitted the sight of O’Driscoll requiring treatment caused a scare in the camp.

“I must admit I did have a second look when Brian went down,” said McGeechan. “He is fine. These guys are experienced players – they know their bodies, not only for rugby tactics but for management as well.”

The Lions headed for Heathrow after a final media session on the terrace of their hotel, with many of the players joined by their wives, partners and children, reflecting the nature of a tour that manager Gerald Davies wants to develop.

McGeechan, meanwhile, delivered an upbeat departure message as the Lions set off, targeting a first Test series triumph since he masterminded their 1997 glory at South Africa’s expense.

“There isn’t a player we’ve got who is unavailable for selection. We have got some good work in this week, we have trained twice a day doing different things and I am very conscious of managing the players.”

McGeechan confirmed that none of his Leinster or Leicester contingent would be considered for the opening tour game against a Royal XV in Rustenburg next Saturday, together with Scotland prop Euan Murray, who featured in Northampton’s European Challenge Cup victory over Bourgoin on Friday night.

Added O’Driscoll: “I’ve played in three competitions this year and I’ve won two of them. We won the other one last year so I can handle not winning that this year.

“I don’t see any reason why we can’t win (in South Africa). It’s going to be incredibly difficult. Of that there is no doubt but confidence is a massive component in any team and I feel we can go over there and do well.”

O’Driscoll, Luke Fitzgerald, Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney flew down to London yesterday to link up with the Lions party.

Hardly ideal for a quartet of players which would dearly love to celebrate their province’s seminal achievement but Fitzgerald sounded eager to address new demands soon after the win in Edinburgh.

“We haven’t too much time for this to sink in but it is always good to go into something like that on the back of something like this,” said Fitzgerald.

“It is a new challenge. From what I hear, the important thing about the Lions is how the team comes together.”