O’Connell Determined To Finish Tour ‘On A High’
Although the British & Irish Lions only have pride to play for in this weekend’s third Test against the Springboks, tour captain Paul O’Connell says his players are eager to prove themselves and hugely motivated to end the Lions’ seven Test-losing streak.
PAUL O’CONNELL…
ON WHETHER IT IS HARD TO REFOCUS KNOWING THE SERIES IS LOST:
“I think guys are just looking forward to the game at the weekend and just finishing on a high. We’ve had some time off and got it (the second Test defeat) out of our system and it’s not ideal – we’d love to be here at one-all – but that’s life and you’ve just got to get on with it.
“I think the guys are professional enough to do that. I’m proud of how the lads have performed, I think we were very unlucky at the weekend and that does give you positivity going into the third Test.
“At the same time we are 2-0 down and you can’t get away from that. We came here to win and you play to win – you don’t come for big performances where you lose. You come to win and it is disappointing.”
ON HOW YOU REPLICATE THE INTENSITY FROM LAST WEEK:
“I think we can. The guys are enthusiastic to do that again and I don’t see why there should be a problem – everything isn’t on the line like it was last Saturday but still for a lot of us, it is a chance to pull on a Lions Test jersey again.
“The way the tour has gone, the way it has been managed, the way we’ve tried to manage ourselves – we won’t be taking it lightly on Saturday.”
ON GETTING THE EMOTION AS WELL AS THE PHYSICALITY READY FOR SATURDAY:
“I think at this level you have to be ready on both fronts – you have to bring everything to the game.
“When you look at the intensity of last week, passion and emotion played a huge part in the game and the same as every other week it is important that we get that right.”
ON THE SQUAD’S MOOD GOING INTO THE FINAL GAME OF THE TOUR:
“I think we will be eager to prove ourselves. I don’t think the last two weekend’s results are a true reflection of where we are, so I think we will be motivated to show ourselves.
“We want to win in a Lions jersey – there is massive respect for what the Lions is amongst the squad and you do feel that all the time.”
ON RONAN O’GARA:
“He was disappointed and very low but he is a tough guy and he is mentally very tough and that is his biggest strength.
“What happened won’t be lost on him, no doubt about it, but he is tough enough to know that when you put yourself out there these things happen from time to time and careers aren’t always up, up, up.
“There are tough days and the best players bounce back. It is not about one man anyway – we shouldn’t have been in that position in the game anyway – I think a few things went against us and a few mistakes by ourselves left us in that position.”
ON THE SPRINGBOKS:
“They are an excellent team and teams that win those tight matches and come back from a deficit like show just how mentally strong they are.
“They scored their tries to bring themselves back into the game, they kicked their penalties and they were patient and they didn’t panic. Full credit to them, they are not World champions for nothing.”
ON THE LOSS OF ADAM JONES AND GETHIN JENKINS:
“They have been outstanding. Gethin is a very intelligent guy and very intelligent about his rugby.
“He is a very good guy to chat to about where we are going right and where we are going wrong – a kind of quiet strength.
“You have the same with Adams Jones – a really good scrummager and a really good guy to have around at the lineout and around the pitch.
“The two of them have been outstanding and they will be a big loss.”
ON POSSIBLY FACING A NEW-LOOK SOUTH AFRICAN BACK-LINE:
“I’d love to have a go at the same set of players, but if they do make the changes they have an outstanding strength and depth and that will no doubt bring a new intensity and new hunger to the Springbok team. Either way it will be very tough whatever back-line we face.”
ON THE LOSS OF BRIAN O’DRISCOLL:
“Any team in the world that loses a player of Brian’s calibre is going to be at a loss.
“One thing I always say about Brian is when your most potent attacking player is also one of your best, most honest defenders it really is a very galvanising thing for a team.
“But I think that the guys coming in will be very hungry and the thing I’ve noticed is the training that has been going on all the time – be it the midweek or Saturday teams – guys have been training non-stop because they are aware of the last two tours and the amount of changes from the teams that have started the Test series to the teams that have finished.
“I think guys have been eager to stay in shape for when they get their opportunity to start a Test and I think those that do get picked will perform well and will be very hungry.”
ON HOW TOUGH THE TESTS HAVE BEEN:
“It has been tough when you look at the amount of injured guys and those who have had to leave – it shows the intensity of Test match rugby and the Lions tours.”