Advertisement
nervous days

'I'm not expecting anything' - O'Mahony and Ireland stars wait on Lions call

The Munster captain is in the back row mix, with Warren Gatland set to name his squad on Wednesday.

PETER O’MAHONY SAYS he is “not expecting anything,” but feels he has given himself a fair shot of making the Lions squad to travel to New Zealand this summer.

Warren Gatland will name his touring party on Wednesday afternoon, meaning a nervy couple of days lie ahead O’Mahony and his fellow Ireland players.

Peter O'Mahony O'Mahony was excellent against England in the Six Nations. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

The likes of Conor Murray, Tadhg Furlong, Jack McGrath, Robbie Henshaw and CJ Stander would appear certainties to be named, but the chances for a host of other Ireland internationals are not quite as clear.

O’Mahony and Munster will be training when Gatland names his squad on Wednesday, but he is content that he has given his hopes of touring as good a shot as he could have.

The blindside flanker has returned impressively from a long-term knee injury this season, although a hamstring problem saw him miss the opening rounds of the Six Nations.

Yeah, look, I’ve been happy with my rugby over the last few weeks,” said O’Mahony after Munster’s win against Ulster on Saturday. “I was disappointed with the bad timing of my hamstring and stuff.

“Hopefully this club will have a couple of guys on it, fingers crossed we’ll have more than a couple but I’m happy with the way I’m playing at the moment, happy playing with Munster and getting my shot in the last few weeks with Ireland.

“I’m in a good place at the moment, I’m not expecting anything… just drive on next week.”

Indeed, the looming Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens is the prime focus for Munster’s players this week, but many of them will awake on Wednesday in nervous apprehension.

Eanna Falvey, Conor Murray, Paul O'Connell and Simon Zebo celebrate with the trophy Eanna Falvey, Murray, Paul O'Connell and Simon Zebo on the last Lions tour. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

O’Mahony, Stander, Murray, Donnacha Ryan, Simon Zebo and Keith Earls are some of the Munster men considered to be in the mix this time around.

Murray, Paul O’Connell and Zebo were the three Munster players involved in the last Lions tour in 2013, while there were a total of 12 Irishmen – Rory Best, Tom Court, Cian Healy, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Johnny Sexton, Brian O’Driscoll, Tommy Bowe, Rob Kearney and the aforementioned Munster trio.

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Saracens rest stars ahead of Munster showdown but still recover to stun Saints

UL Bohemians edge out Railway Union to book spot in the Women’s All-Ireland Cup final

Your Voice
Readers Comments
20
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.