Haskell: Irish duo will worry the All Blacks

Sean O’brien and Peter O’mahony boast the qualities to rattle the All Blacks for the British and Irish Lions, according to James Haskell.

Haskell will face the Chiefs in Hamilton today as the three-test series with New Zealand hurtles into view. The Lions take on the All Blacks for the first time in Auckland on Saturday, with Haskell and the rest of the midweek team still busting a gut to force their way into boss Warren Gatland’s Test plans.

But the Wasps man, running the rule over the Lions’ back-row stocks, talked up their impressive options.

“Taulupe Faletau has been fantastic, Sean O’brien has been excellent and Ross Moriarty showed in the first game why he’s on the tour,” said Haskell.

“And Pete led by example the other night. They are all fantastic and offer a big point of difference.

“It’s probably Sean O’brien or Peter O’mahony that I’d be slightly concerned about – not necessarily because of the physical thing, but because they are completely mental. So I’d be worried if I took them on what might happen to me in the car park later on!” Munster captain O’mahony will be favourite to skipper the Lions against New Zealand should tour captain Sam Warburton not start the opening Test.

Warburton has been battling an ankle problem, but the Lions bosses now expect him to be fully ready to take on the back-to-back world champions. He could yet slot in at blindside flanker in Saturday’s Eden Park opener, which would mean O’mahony dropping to the bench and O’brien continuing at openside.