This weekend’s third Test provides an opportunity for O’Connell’s men to salvage something from the Castle Lager Series and head home with their heads held high. World champions South Africa secured the Test series win with a dramatic 28-25 victory over the tourists on Saturday.
“I’m proud of how the lads performed over the past two weeks and I think we were very unlucky. That just gives us some positivity to take into the third Test,” said O’Connell, who has now played five Tests for the Lions without tasting victory.
“We can’t escape from the fact we are going into the game 2-0 down in the series, and that’s disappointing because we came here to win. I believe we can replicate the passion and intensity of Loftus Versfeld once again and we are certainly enthusiastic to do that. There isn’t everything riding on the fixture as there was last weekend, but it’s another chance to wear the Lions Test jersey. We all want to win in the Lions jersey and there is a massive respect within the squad for what the Lions means.
“For me and a lot of the guys, passion and emotion still plays a massive part in the game and we’ll be looking to bring everything we can to the last Test. We are eager to prove ourselves because we don’t believe that being 2-0 down is a true reflection of where we are as a team.”
Lock O’Connell believes his Munster team-mate Ronan O’Gara will bounce back strongly from the disappointment of conceding the crucial last gasp penalty which handed South Africa the chance to win last weekend’s second Test in Pretoria.
“Ronan (O’Gara) is disappointed and very low, but he’s a tough guy mentally - that’s his biggest strength.
“What happened in the second Test won’t be lost on him, but the tough guys bounce back and Ronan is one of them. When you keep putting yourself out there for selection in the big games these things happen.
“Our careers aren’t always up, up, up. We should have been away and the game should have been over by that stage and we all have bad days.
“Ronan has had many brilliant days, where he has won games single-handedly, and I’m lucky enough to have won a few medals because of his brilliance. I don’t think I would have any of them if it wasn’t for him. He’s extremely disappointed and, no doubt, he will beat himself up over it, but he will bounce back.”
Meanwhile Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has launched a plea for the British & Irish Lions to be given the time to prepare properly for future tours so they remain competitive against the three Southern Hemisphere rugby giants.
Ian McGeechan believes the current trip to South Africa has resulted in ‘some of the best rugby ever’, despite his side’s series defeat.
McGeechan believes officials from the home unions and domestic competitions must adjust the season for future Lions tours.
McGeechan would like to see the Lions given the same priority as a World Cup.
“If they give the Lions a fair crack, the Test series will always be very meaningful,” McGeechan said.
“I just wish more of these people who don’t want to make time for the Lions would actually come out and experience a tour. I don’t think they understand the impact.”
The Lions’ hopes of a first Test victory in eight outings - an unwanted record dating back to Brisbane 2001 - are affected by injuries.
Gethin Jenkins (fractured cheekbone), Adam Jones (dislocated shoulder) and Brian O’Driscoll (concussion) are all out of the game.
South Africa v British & Irish Lions
Third Test: Saturday, July 4,
Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 2pm (Irish time)
TV: Live Sky Sports 1 from 1.30pm
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Colm Kinsella
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