O'Driscoll looking to Lions Tour
by Michelle Fortune, 14 October 2008
Brian O'Driscoll is hoping he can maintain his form over the remainder of the season as he looks to the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
O'Driscoll was named captain of the Lions for their last tour of New Zealand in 2005 but his participation ended just seconds into the first Test when a shoulder injury ruled him out of the series.
The Lions went on to suffer a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks and O'Driscoll is looking forward to having the opportunity to banish those memories.
"Whilst something which is eight months away isn't in the forefront of my mind, the players and the fans are fully aware already that this is a Lions season," the Irish and Leinster player said.
"There's a heck of a lot of rugby to be played before then and as a player you are almost afraid to think too much about it, as so much can happen in that period.
"You really need to be in form going into the Six Nations and then the final rounds of the Heineken Cup before you are in with a real chance of selection.
"To me, the Lions is the carrot dangling heavily at the end of the season.
"It isn't about avenging the missed opportunities of the last tour, but I'd really love to be part of another Lions series.
"I have been fortunate enough to play on two tours now. We should have won in Australia in 2001, and then the New Zealand tour for me was over before it started and we lost miserably.
"The Lions creates such excitement amongst players and fans across all of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
"You forget the enormity of it until the Lions season starts. It's the rareness of the event that makes it such a huge spectacle."