BRIAN O’DRISCOLL WILL captain the Lions against Western Force on Wednesday but even Welsh legend Gareth Edwards could not convince him to stick around for more rugby tours.
The Irishman caught up with the mercurial scrumhalf in Hong Kong, before the Lions beat the Barbarians 59-8, and reflected on his previous three Lions tours and the Joe Roff intercept try that won Australia the 2001 series.
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“It is unfinished business,” said O’Driscoll. “I don’ really want to think of it that way. I want to look on it as another opportunity. 2001 was a huge disappointment, having won the First Test and really being in control in the Second. It just shows, games can turn on small moments.”
He added, “Here I am, embarking on a fourth tour and no series wins to date. Albeit, this will be my last in a Lions shirt.” Edwards jokingly remarked, “For the moment.” O’Driscoll replied:
Trust me, trust me my wife has made it very clear this is going to be my last.”
“I think we definitely have the capabilities of going and winning a series,” he proclaimed, “but the big thing is about starting well. You need to go out and win the First Test and springboard from there.”
For more of the interview, and some post-match insight from Edwards and Martin Johnson, another former Lions captain, check out the video.
BO’D: Trust me, my wife has made it very clear this is going to be my last tour
BRIAN O’DRISCOLL WILL captain the Lions against Western Force on Wednesday but even Welsh legend Gareth Edwards could not convince him to stick around for more rugby tours.
The Irishman caught up with the mercurial scrumhalf in Hong Kong, before the Lions beat the Barbarians 59-8, and reflected on his previous three Lions tours and the Joe Roff intercept try that won Australia the 2001 series.
“It is unfinished business,” said O’Driscoll. “I don’ really want to think of it that way. I want to look on it as another opportunity. 2001 was a huge disappointment, having won the First Test and really being in control in the Second. It just shows, games can turn on small moments.”
He added, “Here I am, embarking on a fourth tour and no series wins to date. Albeit, this will be my last in a Lions shirt.” Edwards jokingly remarked, “For the moment.” O’Driscoll replied:
“I think we definitely have the capabilities of going and winning a series,” he proclaimed, “but the big thing is about starting well. You need to go out and win the First Test and springboard from there.”
For more of the interview, and some post-match insight from Edwards and Martin Johnson, another former Lions captain, check out the video.
YouTube credit: HSBC
*TheScore.ie will be liveblogging all the action from Lions v Western Force on Wednesday morning.
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Amy Huberman Australia BOD Brian O'Driscoll British and Irish Lions butter wouldn't melt Captain Lions 2013 Rugby Wallabies Western Force