Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FROM LIONS TO LEGENDS
O’brien scored one of THE great tries but knows only a series victory will satisfy the squad’s burning desire and send them home as heroes
HE will go home with a memory to last a lifetime.
The greatest try ever scored by the British and Irish Lions has the name of Sean O’brien attached to it.
But the Irishman is not satisfied with the length-offield score which lit up the rugby world the last time the Lions were at Eden Park (right).
Nothing but a series triumph on the same pitch in Auckland today will do for him and his team-mates.
“To have been a part of that try was special,” admitted the flanker, who was on hand to finish a move dazzlingly sparked by Liam Williams and featuring Elliot Daly and Jon Davies during the first Test.
“But I’ll be honest, winning the series is what matters. That’s what we’re all here for.
“Whether people are still watching that try 50 years from now probably depends on how this weekend goes.”
That O’brien is fired up to close the deal is clear from the final training session on Thursday when he was embroiled in a fierce flare-up with team-mates.
“It was tasty, there were a few verbals,” the 30-year-old confessed. “But it’s not a concern, it’s good to see before a game of this magnitude.
“Tensions are high. There was a good bit of intensity to the session, a good bit of cut in it. But once it was done we were best friends. The lads are buzzing.”
It was the second time this week that O’brien has sailed close to the wind, having been cited for dangerous play during the Lions’ win in Wellington. openside was alleged to have left All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo with concussion after catching him “deliberately or recklessly”.
It did not look that way on TV footage and O’brien says he was never concerned as “there was no intent.” Nonetheless the Lions were, so important is he to their breakdown unit.
Their relief was obvious when the case was dismissed and he was freed to rejoin Sam Warburton in the two-man breakdown wrecking crew which has such a key role to play.
And that verdict, with the knock-on boost to the tourists’ momentum, could yet prove significant in the direction the series takes from here.
But the Lions know they have to make that happen as the All Blacks, stung from coughing up a nine-point lead at Westpac Stadium, are hellthe bent on revenge. The world champions have sought inspiration from America’s Cup-winning sailor Peter Burling, who visited the camp fresh from New Zealand’s triumph.
The message for the team, unbeaten in 23 years at Eden Park, is this is no time for panic.
“When you come off a loss there’s a bit of an edge around,” said Kiwi captain Kieran Read, who plays his 100th Test. “Guys want to get back out there and have another crack.
“Fortunately we’ve got that opportunity. But we can’t just go rewrite the books and change things. We’ve got to go out there and play the game.”
O’brien knows the All Blacks are “coming to try and hurt us” and insists the Lions are ready.
They had better be.