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Peter O’Mahony believes there is “no better man” than Munster and Ireland team-mate Conor Murray to replace Alun Wyn Jones as British and Irish Lions captain for the tour to South Africa. The Lions’ preparations for the trip suffered a hammer blow as a line was drawn through Jones’ name last Saturday when the celebrated Wales lock suffered a dislocated shoulder after just seven minutes of the 28-10 win over Japan.
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Murray will, therefore, fulfil the role in what will be his third tour with the Lions, despite no previous captaincy experience with his country or provincial side, but O’Mahony has thrown his backing behind the scrum-half. O’Mahony, who captained the Lions in the first Test against New Zealand four years ago, said: “I’m thrilled to bits for him. It’s an incredible honour, the Lions is a special entity and it’s a huge honour for Conor.
“You have seen how many years he has been around now, how many big games he has played and the experience he has, being on his third tour is proper legend stuff. He keeps driving to be better, the work the fella puts in is incredible and I’m delighted for him, (there is) no better man.”
Murray is one of seven Ireland internationals on duty with the Lions, while Johnny Sexton, Keith Earls and Cian Healy are sitting out the summer Tests against Japan on Saturday and the United States the following weekend. O’Mahony, who was sent off in the Six Nations opener against Wales, which led to a three-match ban and restricted him to just 16 minutes in their final match against England, insisted he had no intention of resting.
The 31-year-old flanker said: “I didn’t play a huge amount of rugby in the Six Nations so I was delighted to be selected and given another chance to play in an Irish jersey.
There was a quick catch-up on Sunday morning in Edinburgh before they went their separate ways…#LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/uSrflBCyNQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 29, 2021
“I’m sure those guys, it’s a good call from their part, but I’m sure there’s parts of them that want to be here. The nature of the beast is you want to be playing and this is a special place, being in camp is incredibly enjoyable. Those guys always lead the charge in regard to driving the enjoyment in camp. It’s good for them to get a rest, 100 per cent. We’ve got to look after our bodies, put a bit longer on them which is no harm.”
Ireland have beaten Japan in seven of their eight past encounters, but it was the Brave Blossoms who memorably prevailed 19-12 when they last met in the 2019 World Cup pool stage at Shizuoka. Joe Schmidt left his coaching post at the end of that campaign, with Andy Farrell taking the reins, while O’Mahony is just one of five players who could take the field this weekend who started the game against Japan 21 months ago.
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Hugo Keenan admitted the shock defeat had been mentioned among the 37-strong squad, which contains twelve uncapped players, but he insisted it will have little bearing on this weekend’s clash at the Aviva Stadium. The Leinster back said: “It’s been touched on. We said it’s a lot of different players are involved at the moment, but we do have a responsibility, as a collective, to bounce back and right the wrongs of that game.
“They are a serious side. Obviously they got one over us in the World Cup and they put on a good performance last week against the Lions. They are a serious, serious side so we know it is going to be a big challenge for us. At the same time, it is a new group in, new coaching staff – well, slightly altered, anyway. We are not going to get overworked on it, we’ve got a lot of other motivations and things to be worrying about as well.”
'It was probably the most disappointing call ever… I get counselling every four years when they announce it… it brings back the memories'@philmattie was nailed on for Lions selection, until he wasn't. He relives some painful memories w/ @heagneyl ???https://t.co/NwSr5YCm0t
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 20, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments