O’Connell has learned from 2005

Paul O'Connell prepared to lead a 37 man Lions squad in South Africa this summer

Graham McEnroe
22nd April 2009

Newly appointed Lions captain Paul O’Connell insists that he has emerged from the calamitous 2005 Lions tour a better player.

O'Connell will lead the 37 man Lions squad in South Africa this summer, when the cream of British and Irish talent attempt to erase memories of four years ago.

Speaking yesterday, O’Connell recalled his experience of those events, where the Lions were embarrassingly whitewashed by New Zealand.

“It was an experience in 2005. Luckily I've gone on since that tour to have a successful career,” said O'Connell.

“Clive tried something different by taking a lot of players and coaching staff. On paper it was probably a good idea because it's such an attritional game now," he said, referring to the latest Lions coach Clive Woodward.

Head coach Ian McGeechan chose O’Connell over his closest rival Brian O’Driscoll, because he will be operating at the coalface against the ever-physical Springboks.

“The important thing was having a real focus in the forwards,” said McGeechan. “Paul's had a fantastic Six Nations. He's a strong character and has a huge amount of respect which is important.

"It was important to look at the dynamic of the Lions in South Africa and Brian understood that”, said the Scotsman.

This could be an inspired move by McGeeghan, as every successful Lions teams in South Africa since the end of the Second World War, have been lead by a lock.

However with the world champions being massive favourites, O’Connell’s Lions will need more than omens to bring victory.

Exclusive footage from the adidas Lions photoshoot with comment from Paul O'Connell on the upcoming tour to South Africa