Warburton is expecting to be a target just like O’Driscoll
SAM WARBURTON expects to be the latest Lions captain to be targeted by New Zealand in their three-Test tour.
Twelve years ago, Brian O’Driscoll was illegally spear-tackled at the side of a ruck by All Black captain Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu just seconds into the first Test, leaving him with a dislocated shoulder (below) which ruled the Lions skipper out of the series.
Warburton believes he will face the same treatment. ‘Guys are used to being targeted. That happens in every international Test match you play in,’ he said.
Warburton’s selection as captain by Warren Gatland has been criticised by those who believe Ireland’s Sean O’Brien will be a better option to start Tests as openside flanker.
Warburton said: ‘It wouldn’t have been right for me to be captain back in January. I wasn’t playing my best rugby. I’ve always thought if I’m going to be captain I need to be playing well and that’s something the rest of the boys will respect.
‘Now the Six Nations has gone and I’m really pleased with my form, I’m ready to take on the captaincy.
‘Because I’ve been playing some good rugby over the last few months I feel a lot better about accepting the captaincy role.’
Meanwhile, Warren Gatland has ruled out imposing strict curfews or alcohol bans on his Lions players in New Zealand, despite England’s scandal-hit World Cup campaign in the same country in 2011.
The New Zealand-born Lions coach, well aware of the potential pitfalls facing his players on tour in his rugby-mad homeland later this summer, will allow his players to police themselves when it comes to drinking and staying out late after games.
England’s players were condemned for a string of alcohol-related scandals on tour to New Zealand in 2008 and again during their failed World Cup campaign under Martin Johnson three years later.
But Gatland, who toured New Zealand with Wales last year and was in charge when they reached the World Cup semi-final in 2011, is confident the Lions will not overstep the mark.
He said: ‘For Wales they were all night games so we got back to the hotel at about 11 and we just said to the players, “You can go out for a few hours but be back at the hotel by 1am. The bar will still be open if you want to have a few drinks in the bar”. I just think we will probably say that to the Lions players.
‘I’d never want to keep the boys locked up in a hotel and tell them you’ve just got to focus on the tour. A happy camp tends to be a successful camp.’