ON HIS FOURTH and final Lions tour, Brian O’Driscoll hopes that this year he will finally claim a series win in the southern hemisphere.

O’Driscoll was a Test starter on the Lions’ last visit to Australia in 2001 and looking back on that tour, which the Wallabies won 2-1, O’Driscoll concedes that he got carried away in the moment and knows the Lions could have done more to win the 2001 series.

“Back in 2001 it was all new and I was just delighted to be there,” O’Driscoll said. “It’s only 12 years later that I look back and think what a massive missed opportunity that was.

“We had them in that second Test (that Australia won 35-14) and didn’t finish them off.

“Then you go on other tours and realise how hard it is to win a series and it doesn’t sit any easier but it is great to have another opportunity.

“I’m an eternal optimist and believe we can go down there and win the series.”

O’Driscoll is the second-most capped player in rugby union history (131 Tests for Ireland and the Lions) and captained his country 83 times.

With 24-year-old Welsh flanker Sam Warburton leading the Lions in Australia, O’Driscoll has vowed to provide some leadership support.

“There’s a nice balance to his leadership but I always found when I was captain that I liked it when other people did some of the talking,” O’Driscoll said.

“Then when you talk people tend to listen more so we can help him out in that regard, take some of the pressure off.

Leaders

“All good teams have leaders throughout and I hope this one is no different.”

Another leader in word and deed, Rory Best was added to the squad this weekend. It’s an addition O’Driscoll believes will boost morale.

“I don’t think we lose very much,” O’Driscoll said. “Warren [Gatland] said it was the most keenly contested position when it came to making the call and Rory was very unfortunate to miss out.

“He’s been an integral part of Ulster and Ireland’s success in the past few years and he’s a popular guy to have around.”

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