From squad outsider to Lions captain in the First Test against New Zealand. This Saturday could mark a quite remarkable surge in the fortunes of Peter O’Mahony.
On form alone, O’Mahony should be the British & Irish Lions blindside for their gargantuan challenge against the All Blacks, at Eden Park, this weekend.
The Munster and Ireland man featured off the bench in the loss to Auckland Blues but he has been immense in two starts against Crusaders and the Maori All Blacks. He went from whistle to whistle in a superb defensive display against Crusaders and put in another fine shift [65 minutes] as the Maori copped the first beating on the 10-game tour.
O’Mahony’s prowess in the lineout, physicality around the pitch and sheer grunt work at the breakdown – in attack and defence – have seen him talked up as a live option to wear the No.6 jersey against the All Blacks.
Lions legend Ian McGeechan has O’Mahony in his Text XV, as does Kiwi rugby sage Graham Henry, with the Scot not hesitating to make him his captain. That’s all well and good but it is not those comments that have everyone excited today.
That frisson is courtesy of Lions defence coach Andy Farrell, who told reporters in New Zealand that he would be ‘more than comfortable’ with O’Mahony leading the Lions out at Eden Park. He commented:
“To be honest, it’d be the easiest team to captain because there are so many leaders out there.What the guys who have captained the side so far have realised is they don’t have to be vocal all the time, because there’s always people that’s helping them out and I think the balance has been great so far.
“What the guys who have captained the side so far have realised is they don’t have to be vocal all the time, because there’s always people that’s helping them out and I think the balance has been great so far.”
That was enough to spark off those that believe O’Mahony is the man to lead the way in Auckland:
It would be insane to keep Warburton as captain! Again I sound biased here, but O'Mahony brings the emotional energy #LionsNZ2017
— Simon Birchall (@SimonBirchallye) June 19, 2017
Peter O'Mahony needs to captain the lions against AB's
— Tommy Vercetti (@Cactusjackkk) June 19, 2017
@peterom6 Onwards to glory and beyond #LionsvAllBlacks 🏈🏈🏈👀
— John J O'Donnell (@haccpjod) June 20, 2017
Not a big call in my opinion mate, the right call, any sane human being with any idea of rugby would make that call 😂😂
— Sam Stockley (@Stocko1306) June 20, 2017
Saying he would be comfortable with the Cork man captaining the Lions does by no means lock O’Mahony in for the blindside role. Many feel head coach Warren Gatland would try to get tour captain Sam Warburton into his starting XV at all costs.
Both O’Mahony and Sean O’Brien are proving hard to shift and Warburton has not proved, yet, that he can go for 80+ minutes if needs be.
Whether or not O’Mahony captains the Lions – lock Alun Wyn Jones is the other option – he has definitely done enough to prove himself as one of the key men to take the fight to the world champions.
