O’Mahony fears for tour place after his red card
IRELAND star Peter O’Mahony fears his Lions chances may have been wrecked following his red card against Wales.
The tough-as-teak back-rower was Warren Gatland’s first Test captain last time out in New Zealand and will have been hoping for tour selection to South Africa as well.
But he concedes the ban imposed for his early sending-off in the Six Nations opener at the Principality Stadium means he hasn’t had enough game time to press a case to Gatland.
O’Mahony missed the subsequent games against France, Scotland and Italy after his dangerous challenge on Tomas Francis and only returned as a replacement in Ireland’s finale with England.
Lions boss Gatland is spoilt for options in the back-row, with O’Mahony’s Irish colleagues Tadgh Beirne and CJ Stander other blindside options, plus Wales star Josh Navidi, England’s Sam Underhill and Scottish ace James Ritchie.
Gatland likes O’Mahony’s abrasive style of play, knowing he wouldn’t take a backward step against the Springboks, while he also admires the Irishman’s leadership skills and experience.
However, O’Mahony is quoted in the Limerick Leader as saying of his Lions prospects: “Look, I don’t think I’ve played enough rugby if I’m honest with myself.
“That’s just the way the cards have fallen as I’ve said. Obviously the Six Nations is a big one at this time of the year and unfortunately that didn’t go very well with the way I ended up with the red card.
“That’s just the way it went and unfortunately I haven’t played enough to consider myself for that tour.”
Instead, O’Mahony says he is looking forward to Ireland’s summer Tests with Fiji, if they go ahead, and the Rainbow Cup with Munster.
“I’m looking forward to putting a run of games together hopefully,” he said.
“You need to be playing regularly and you need to be playing well, and that’s what I need to do.”