Sean O’Brien was on a plane heading back from Italy when Ireland beat the All Blacks in Chicago.
The Ireland back-row had the pilot, co-pilot and flight attendants plagued as he sought updates on Ireland’s progress at Soldier Field.
As delighted as he must have been with his country’s 40-29 victory, it must have gnawed at O’Brien that he missed out on history. He had returned to playing action a few weeks before that November 5 fixture but Joe Schmidt was not convinced he was fully fit for the rigours of 80+ minutes against the All Blacks.
So O’Brien helped Leinster to a handy win over Zebre as his international teammates ended New Zealand’s 111-year unbeaten run. He got his chance against the world champions, two weeks later, but found them in brutal, punishing form.
He made 20 carries for 36 metres and landed 11 tackles that day but the only numbers that would have stood out were 0 and 5. Five games against the Kiwis and zero wins.
O’Brien was by no means certain of Lions squad selection but had stand-out performances, for Ireland then Leinster, in victories over England and Wasps. They were the type of bruising, battering outings that Warren Gatland must have loved.
O’Brien made the squad and was at Syon House on Monday to meet up with the 2017 Lions for ‘Player Admin Day’. Following a day of squad meetings, corporate obligations and of trying on Lions stash, O’Brien spoke with the media about the upcoming tour.
New Zealand Herald have run with an O’Brien interview on their website. Though there are comments about ‘attacking mindsets’ and the Lions expressing themselves, the Herald’s photo caption for O’Brien flashes before you like a beacon.
Injury plagued Irishman.
It’s not exactly how we would caption a picture featuring Carlow’s finest but it is hard to argue with.
O’Brien is, like so many rugby professionals, constantly walking that fine line of being fit or broken up. As Warren Gatland mused, on Monday, who is really fit in rugby these days? Who is 100%.
When as close to fully fit and up to match speed as possible, O’Brien is straight into the Ireland team. That has not always been the case since the 2013 Lions Tour. He missed each of Ireland’s 11 Tests in 2014 and featured in only three of 12 last year, lasting 25 minutes of his one Six Nations appearance against France.
He was pulled from the starting XV just a hour before Ireland beat Australia, last November, but featured in all five Six Nations games this year. Since then, after that Wasps win, his hamstring has flared up again and Leinster have allowed him time to recover.
O’Brien spoke positively about his fitness, and the tour ahead, during the Lions get-together. This summer, it won’t only be Irish fans hoping that the flanker has a clear run of it down in New Zealand. O’Brien told reporters:
“It’s a massive challenge and from what I’ve learned you have to have unbelievable discipline.
“And you have to have to play rugby. You can’t sit back against the All Blacks and try and soak up pressure. They will kill you.”
He certainly sounds up for what will prove to be one hell of a fight.
