Captaincy never an issue for Paulie

After an injury plagued year, Paul O’Connell is quite happy to play the part of a foot soldier in the Lions tour to Australia.

In December, his goal was just to get game time with Munster as he faced the daunting prospect of a second operation on his back. Now, he’s just happy to be on Warren Gatland’s list.

Six weeks ago he got the chance to press his claims as he returned for Munster’s build-up to the Heineken Cup quarter final clash against Harlequins. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands, giving a barnstorming performance at The Stoop and following up with another heroic display in the semi-final loss to Clermont Auvergne

He admitted it would have been nice to get the captaincy again: “There are benefits in not having it as well in terms of being able to concentrate on yourself a little bit more, and in terms of my condition where I’m still coming back from an injury then it probably suits me fine.”

Disappointed? “No, not at all, I am just delighted to be on the plane; six weeks ago I didn’t think that would happen, certainly not around Christmas when I was on the flat of my back getting an operation. So I am happy to be there, the captaincy never really came into my mind at all.”

If there was a disappointment, it was for some of his Munster colleagues who failed to make the cut: “Simon Zebo, Peter O’Mahony and Donnacha Ryan, especially, they were unfortunate. However, they’re young men and will get another opportunity.”

“I’m lucky to have returned when I did and lucky we had such big games against Harlequins, Leinster and Clermont; they were three real high intensity games against very good sides with lots and lots of internationals playing in them.

Munster’s assistant coach Anthony Foley yesterday paid tribute to O’Connell for his perseverance and to young scrum half Conor Murray for the exceptional progress he made these last number of months to push himself into Gatland’s squad.

On Murray, he had this to say: “He had a breakthrough year, it was a massive statement of intent from him; his progression through the Munster Academy from club was nothing short of incredible at times.

“He has won a lot of admirers in terms of how he has performed in the Heineken Cup this year, and going back to the Racing game away from home where he got caught (having a kick charged down near the end) and the way he bounced back from that says a lot of the character of the lad.

“He was challenged around that time and came out the other end of it a stronger person; at the end of this year he’s now on a Lions tour which is hugely to his credit.”

The importance of O’Connell to the Lions this summer should not be underestimated in the slightest, said Foley: “What he is now is fresh and keen, it’s not at the end of a long season for him. He has worked hugely on his fitness, he’s dying to play rugby at the moment and going on that tour is a testament to hard work and never say die attitude in terms of the way he carries himself.

“Paul will have a huge influence and so will Brian O’Driscoll, amongst other senior players, because they will provide natural leadership and will put pressure on themselves and others to perform to the optimum.”