O’MAHONY SET TO BE THE LIONS KING
RUGBY Munster star is top choice as main man for clash with the All Blacks TOURS OF DUTY Scotland star Finn’s French connection
PETER O’MAHONY is the surprise front-runner to be Lions captain for the First Test against the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday.
The Irish flanker was a late pick for the tour and started only one match for Ireland in this year’s Six Nations campaign but is in line for the skipper’s role due to Sam Warburton’s injury.
Lions defence coach Andy Farrell said: “I would be more than comfortable with Pete as the captain.”
Warburton is tour skipper and will lead the team out at Eden Park if he is selected to start the match. But should the Wales flanker be only on the bench, boss Warren Gatland will look at Munster captain O’Mahony.
The Cork blindside has taken his chance since Jamie Heaslip was injured in March and the 27-year-old has started in the tourists’ two top performances against the Crusaders and Maori.
Hooker Jamie George said: “Pete doesn’t over-talk but when he does talk he does it brilliantly and everybody listens.”
Lions legend Paul O’Connell said of his successor as Munster skipper: “We had seen leadership in him from day one.
“I don’t think he was even 21 when I had him down as a future Munster captain.”
Scrum-half Conor Murray was also supportive of his Munster pal. He said: “Those fellas who have played against him really respect him. He’s a hard player, he leads by his actions on the pitch. And on Saturday the lads followed him, which was great.”
Meanwhile, James Haskell feels Sean O’Brien and O’Mahony have the qualities to rattle the All Blacks.
The Wasps man will face the Chiefs in Hamilton today with the midweek team ahead of the Lions clash with the All Blacks.
Haskell said: “Taulupe Faletau has been fantastic, Sean O’Brien excellent, Ross Moriarty showed in the first game why he’s on the tour and Pete led by example the other night. They are fantastic.”
Haskell knows he is now a long shot to feature in the first Test but the 32-year-old did highlight the importance of the Lions’ midweek men getting back to winning ways after losing to the Blues and the Highlanders.
He said: “If we look at those games, did we deliver? Did we have control? Probably not – but did we learn from it? Yes.
“The Chiefs will run it from everywhere and take quick throws but if we play with energy and intensity we will win.” FINN RUSSELL had more than one reason to enjoy his first training stint with the British and Irish Lions squad after also being linked with a big-money move to France. Cash-rich Montpellier are set to move for the Glasgow Warriors stand-off – a stand-out in Scotland’s 24-19 win over Australia in Sydney on Saturday – in time for season 2018-19. According to reports in France, Russell has signed a pre-contract agreement with the French side where he will team up again with former Scotland coach Vern Cotter. The 24-year-old’s pay package has not been revealed but he will earn a multiple of his current salary. Russell is replacing South African Frans Steyn who will leave Montpellier at the end of next season but he will have to be at his best since 28-year-old stand-off Aaron Cruden, with 47 All Blacks caps, joins the club this summer.