‘Lucky’ O’Connell thriving in bonus territory

It hardly seemed likely when Paul O’Connell went under the knife last New Year’s Eve, that the Munster and Ireland talisman would be standing tall in Brisbane discussing his first Test against Australia in a British and Irish Lions jersey.

Yet less than six months after undergoing surgery to correct a bulging disc in his lower back, the 33-year-old lock is facing in to his seventh consecutive Lions Test appearance on his third tour of duty and playing with house money, everything since his return to fitness very much icing on the cake.

“Absolutely,” O’Connell agreed yesterday following training at the Anglican Church Grammar School in East Brisbane. “People were talking about captaincy and things like that; I just wanted to be on the plane. Absolutely in bonus territory. I’ve really enjoyed it, really enjoyed not being captain in some ways and being able to relax and worry about my own game.