Brian O'Driscoll: ‘Reputations don’t count for anything’

No wonder even the likes of Brian O’Driscoll are being kept on their toes as the battle for Test places against Australia intensifies.

Warren Gatland yesterday underlined the depth of talent in his 37-man British & Irish Lions squad when he named another strong line-up to face the Western Force in Perth tomorrow to kick off the nine-game Australian adventure that will shape the way O’Driscoll and company are regarded in the annals of rugby history.

For the Ireland legend and four-tour veteran, a series victory this summer would tick one of the few boxes that remain unchecked in the twilight of a glittering career. Yet despite being named captain for tomorrow’s second tour game in the city where his Lions career was launched back in 2001 as a full-back against Western Australia, O’Driscoll’s observations of last Saturday’s opener against the Barbarians has proved yet again there is no such thing as a guarantee of a Lions Test place.