Paul O’Connell: Lions paying for basic mistakes

Something close to 20,000km separate Paul O’Connell from the Lions right now but the umbilical cord remains.

A three-time tourist with 15 appearances to his name, he watched the first Test on Saturday from the rather more genteel surroundings of Dublin’s Fitzwilliam Square, where the team’s principal sponsors had laid on a giant screen and a choice of breakfasts.

The scent of flaming meat drifted over the manicured park and a trickle of courageous kids eager for autographs broke into a tide as the game in Eden Park mutated from that of a potential classic into an ultimately convincing win for the reigning world champions.