Paul O'Connell reacts to being the British Lions captain
- 00:02:00
- ITN
Paul O'Connell reacts to being the British Lions captain
The British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa has been announced with Paul O'Connell being confirmed as captain. The 29-year-old lock has led Ireland on just four occasions and becomes the nation's tenth Lions captain. The Munster lock was widely expected to be given the role ahead of Ireland's Grand Slam-winning skipper Brian O'Driscoll, who also tours. The squad is dominated by Irish players, with 14 of the 37 players chosen to tour. O'Connell said: "It's a fabulous honour. This was never something I aspired to do but to be selected is a great honour. "I looked at the squad and it will be a privilege to lead them. It's a great honour considering the captains that have gone before me, some of them legends of the game." He added: "Brian O'Driscoll gave me a ring the other day after we had spoken to Ian and was great about it. The main thing will be leaning on the experience of the coaches and leaders within the squad. "It needs to be a big squad effort. That will be the secret to any success. The more people who have input the better." O'Connell won three Lions caps against New Zealand in 2005 and was one of only two tourists to play in every minute of each Test, except for a spell in the sin-bin. Since making a try-scoring debut against Wales in 2002 he has amassed 62 caps and become one of the northern hemisphere's most respected players. A destructive ball-carrying lock, he plays with an intensity and controlled aggression that has invited comparisons with Martin Johnson, who led the successful 1997 Lions tour to South Africa. Coach Ian McGeechan said: "Paul has proved himself with Munster and Ireland. He drives a forward pack with his character and it was important to have that focus in the forwards. "We need that impetus up front and Paul is a very special character."
ITN | April 21, 2009
