Paul O'Connell: 'We didn’t get the summer tours right in my time, I think'

SUMMER TOURS: It is to Paul O’Connell’s regret that the Ireland teams he played for did not understood what made a tour successful. Pic:   Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

It is to Paul O’Connell’s regret that the Ireland teams he played for did not understood what made a tour successful. Yet as the national team’s forwards coach he is confident this summer’s series in South Africa will provide a platform for a more self-assured team as they go head-to-head with the Springboks.

Ireland fly to Johannesburg on Tuesday for a two-Test series against the world champions, beginning at altitude in Pretoria at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, July 5. Andy Farrell named his 35-player squad to be captained by Peter O’Mahony last Tuesday that represents the completion of a circle for the head coach having joined predecessor Joe Schmidt’s backroom team as defence coach for the 2016 tour to South Africa, when Ireland landed a historic first victory there, at Cape Town’s Newlands.