Sean O’Brien: ‘I’m a smarter player with more strings to my bow’

Sean O’Brien will not be poring over every injury report the British & Irish Lions issue about tour captain Sam Warburton. 

If he is to realise his ambition of Test selection against the All Blacks in the upcoming series the Ireland flanker does not intend to rely on the Welshman’s fitness as his way into the Lions’ number seven jersey.

Warburton has emerged as an injury concern in New Zealand over the last couple of days, having suffered an ankle strain in the opening game against the Provincial Barbarians a week ago in Whangarei.