In a wide-ranging chat with former teammate Shane Horgan, Ireland’s record try-scorer reflected on his disappointment at missing out on the series-clinching Test against the Wallabies. O’Driscoll was dropped in favour of a fit again Jamie Roberts for the crucial game in Sydney.
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As part of a preview for the full-length interview, which airs on at 8pm tonight, Sky Sports aired O’Driscoll’s comments about the Lions, and wales, coach.
“Do I resent him?” O’Driscoll mused. “Yeah, there’s resentment of course. Is he on the Christmas card list? Unlikely.
“When you’re left with disappointment that way, you can’t but feel a little bit of resentment you know.”
Roberts’ Welsh teammate Jonathan Davies was shifted into the outside centre role and O’Driscoll was deemed surplus to replacements bench requirements. Roberts raced in a try late in the 41-16 Lions victory but the tourist’s scrum was the Blunderbluss that hobbled the Aussies.
“People will say the decision was justified because of the results and the performance I guess,” O’Driscoll added. “The way the team played I felt within the 13 jersey that I might have been able to do a decent job within that part of the team the way they played in that game.
That’s absolutely not taking anything away from Jonathan’s performance, I thought he was pretty good that day, made some big plays at important times. But I guess it comes back to you backing yourself, feeling you too could have done some things that maybe others didn’t do on the day.”
Gatland waited a long long time for his revenge. BOD will always be the better man especially the manner in which he carried himself at the time. Pro and a gent
Really Seanie? The man who pulled Irish rugby out of the dark ages? The man who has since won several 6 Nations with Wales? The man who masterminded a rare Lions tour victory? What a fool he must be.
I really wish that fool wasn’t so unceremoniously removed from the helm of Irish rugby because we’d be in a far better position than we are now.
Fin the Aussies should have been 2-0 up going into the last game and that’s with a poor Aussie team. No Pocock or outhalf or reliable kicker. Had the tour been due in NZ or SA don’t think they would have gotten a win.
Ned, does any of that matter? Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve – he beat what was in front of him. The history books are written, proving Gatland is anything but a fool. Niceties have no place in professional sport. Gatland made a decision and the axe would have fell firmly and sharply on him had they lost. They didn’t, so show some respect to the man who did great things for Irish rugby and the Lions team.
That’s the great thing about peoples respect it’s earned not written in the history books. Give him yours if you like but he wont ever get mine. He got lucky and behaved badly, bringing Shane Williams and Tom Court out for a game and then bringing Farrell on for daddy in the 3rd test.
Following on the first two extremely close Tests do you want the (still) best defensive 13 in the northern hemisphere in your squad? One who (still) gets tries at critical times in critical matches. Gatland’s game strategy was right (just) but that doesn’t mean his player selection at 13 was. As has been frequently said, with the dominance the Lion’s forwards had on the day, Gatland could have kitted out at 13 and still the final Test would have been won. In the event leaving out O’Driscoll was not game changing but it made little coaching sense given his performances in the opening Tests.
It’s still in the news because Sky Sports asked him about it. They wouldn’t have asked him if they didn’t think that rugby fans wanted to hear his side of the story. He probably could have kept quiet and sold a tell all book on the back of it!
How’s about you get picked up and intentionally thrown down on your head, potentially ending your career or your life? Water off a ducks back I’m sure.
Are we resorting to name-calling now, Ronan? Is the prutty D4 angry his hero’s being called into question?
O’Driscoll was a great player, just as O’Connell was a great player, just as ROG was. But the Lions had better players, and Gatland picked them. Leinster fans, get over yourselves.
You can’t compare rog and bod 2wod class players but two completely different positions.you mustn’t have a clue what your talking about with a statement like that
Why when talking about one Irish player who has been talked about as one of the greatest players in the world ( outside of Ireland) do bitter people from another Provence have to come up with a way to knock that player?
I’d love to tell you why o’driscoll is the better player but he doesn’t need me to defend him.
Be a better man and if you have nothing good to say, say nothing
Brian O Driscoll is one of the world’s best ever centres just because he wears blue doesn’t change that.
What bod said on twitter about that interview today @BrianODriscoll: Frustrating when things are quoted & lifted out of context for headlines. Simply a personal disappointment I can’t escape in interviews.
I think the lions one and only objective was to win a test series…..bod was lucky to make the squad following his six nations displays since the welsh game and he was defending badly and offering nothing in attack in the the first two tests……undoubtedly an all time great player but very selfish perspective.
Rugby club interviewer was asking the questions, of course they were going to bring it up and he simply didn’t lie, he thinks he would have played great, wouldnt be much of a professional sports player if he thought otherwise so of course he was peeved. Gatland as a coach can only be judged on results its his job to win first and foremost so you have to give credit where its due.
The lions could have sent out any back line in dat 3rd test and won de game, such was the embarassment of talent at their disposal. I cant help but feel that gatland dropped bod so dat if they won it would look like a master stroke.
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Gatland waited a long long time for his revenge. BOD will always be the better man especially the manner in which he carried himself at the time. Pro and a gent
Pro and gent absolutely
Does a pro and a gent carry a grudge?
yes he does – and he wouldn’t be the pro he is without it.
That’s not a grudge, that’s honesty.
Revenge for what exactly?
Gatland is a fool.
Really Seanie? The man who pulled Irish rugby out of the dark ages? The man who has since won several 6 Nations with Wales? The man who masterminded a rare Lions tour victory? What a fool he must be.
I really wish that fool wasn’t so unceremoniously removed from the helm of Irish rugby because we’d be in a far better position than we are now.
Fair point, Finn. Doesn’t make him any less of a dick, though.
His record demonstrates how foolish he is.
Fin the Aussies should have been 2-0 up going into the last game and that’s with a poor Aussie team. No Pocock or outhalf or reliable kicker. Had the tour been due in NZ or SA don’t think they would have gotten a win.
Ned, does any of that matter? Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve – he beat what was in front of him. The history books are written, proving Gatland is anything but a fool. Niceties have no place in professional sport. Gatland made a decision and the axe would have fell firmly and sharply on him had they lost. They didn’t, so show some respect to the man who did great things for Irish rugby and the Lions team.
That’s the great thing about peoples respect it’s earned not written in the history books. Give him yours if you like but he wont ever get mine. He got lucky and behaved badly, bringing Shane Williams and Tom Court out for a game and then bringing Farrell on for daddy in the 3rd test.
Following on the first two extremely close Tests do you want the (still) best defensive 13 in the northern hemisphere in your squad? One who (still) gets tries at critical times in critical matches. Gatland’s game strategy was right (just) but that doesn’t mean his player selection at 13 was. As has been frequently said, with the dominance the Lion’s forwards had on the day, Gatland could have kitted out at 13 and still the final Test would have been won. In the event leaving out O’Driscoll was not game changing but it made little coaching sense given his performances in the opening Tests.
BOD is an extremely competitive guy. I’d be a little surprised if didn’t hold a bit of grudge over being dropped for the third test.
christ is this still news???? get over it!
It’s still in the news because Sky Sports asked him about it. They wouldn’t have asked him if they didn’t think that rugby fans wanted to hear his side of the story. He probably could have kept quiet and sold a tell all book on the back of it!
I thought it was his Leinster team mate Horgan asked the stupid questions ?!!
I’m surprised he didn’t mention his spear tackle from Tana Umaga as well. The man has a chip on both shoulders. He needs to get over it.
How’s about you get picked up and intentionally thrown down on your head, potentially ending your career or your life? Water off a ducks back I’m sure.
Gatland dropped O’Driscoll for the final test, and the Lions won the final test comfortably. Coincidence?
The answer to your question is YES
damihce
‘Damihce’ means ‘ignorant fool’ in Hungarian. Coincidence??
It’s begrugery! It’s the irish way!
Are we resorting to name-calling now, Ronan? Is the prutty D4 angry his hero’s being called into question?
O’Driscoll was a great player, just as O’Connell was a great player, just as ROG was. But the Lions had better players, and Gatland picked them. Leinster fans, get over yourselves.
ROG will always be the superior player of this era.
You can’t compare rog and bod 2wod class players but two completely different positions.you mustn’t have a clue what your talking about with a statement like that
*world
Is a 800m Olympic medal better than a 1500m medal.
Why when talking about one Irish player who has been talked about as one of the greatest players in the world ( outside of Ireland) do bitter people from another Provence have to come up with a way to knock that player?
I’d love to tell you why o’driscoll is the better player but he doesn’t need me to defend him.
Be a better man and if you have nothing good to say, say nothing
Brian O Driscoll is one of the world’s best ever centres just because he wears blue doesn’t change that.
Mikie, who won player of the decade in 2010 ?? Was it Rog? Oh no I forgot he can’t tackle !!
No he is the worlds best ever centre
Thats o driscoll
In an article about the lions would you care to share rog’s history in a lions shirt with those of us who can’t recall his contribution
Zzzzzzzzzzzz
What bod said on twitter about that interview today @BrianODriscoll: Frustrating when things are quoted & lifted out of context for headlines. Simply a personal disappointment I can’t escape in interviews.
Bore off Brian. He dropped you. They won.
I think the lions one and only objective was to win a test series…..bod was lucky to make the squad following his six nations displays since the welsh game and he was defending badly and offering nothing in attack in the the first two tests……undoubtedly an all time great player but very selfish perspective.
Rugby club interviewer was asking the questions, of course they were going to bring it up and he simply didn’t lie, he thinks he would have played great, wouldnt be much of a professional sports player if he thought otherwise so of course he was peeved. Gatland as a coach can only be judged on results its his job to win first and foremost so you have to give credit where its due.
True!
Gatland a fantastic coach
Lads I think it’s pretty unfair repeating interviews and quotes that Brian said were taken completely out of context on Twitter today?
I’ve seen extended clips of the interview and steered well clear of Twitter. We’ll have a larger piece about the interview on the site at 8pm.
Ah no probs, just he said on twitter that the indo totally misrepresented his words!
The stench of begrudgery int he comments is sickening. Not a lions fan or neutral voice throughout.
Begrudgery my @rse. Fantastic player but showing no class. If he said “obviously I was dissapointed but delighted the team won” then ok.
The lions could have sent out any back line in dat 3rd test and won de game, such was the embarassment of talent at their disposal. I cant help but feel that gatland dropped bod so dat if they won it would look like a master stroke.
You missed a bad tackle for the O’Connor try but overall you played well :-)