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O'Connell rouses his hurting Lions

July 02 2009

Wounded captain Paul O'Connell insisted the pride his men have in their jersey will galvanise the British & Irish Lions for one final assault on South Africa this Saturday.

The Test series is gone after the Springboks snatched a dramatic 28-25 victory with the last kick of a brutal and brilliant match at Loftus Versfeld.

But the Lions must rouse themselves for Johannesburg's Test this weekend and O'Connell is confident they will manage to match the ferocity and intensity levels that had South Africa on the ropes last weekend.

"The guys are enthusiastic to do that again," said O'Connell.

"It is not ideal. Everything isn't on the line like it was last Saturday but for a lot of us it will be a chance to pull on a Lions Test jersey again and we will not take that lightly.

"We want to win in a Lions jersey. There is a massive respect for what the Lions are among the squad. Chatting among the players you really do feel that all the time.

"Pulling on a Test jersey will be big for whoever gets picked. It will be a massive motivation for everyone.

"You look at the intensity of last weekend and you have to bring everything you have to the table. Passion and emotion are important parts to the game - I think we can replicate it.

"I think we will be eager to prove ourselves. Being 2-0 down is probably not a true reflection of where we are."

The players were given three days off to go on safari and recharge their batteries after Saturday's heartbreaking defeat before knuckling down to training on Wednesday.

"The last few days have been tough. I have enjoyed the tour and enjoyed how the players have aspired to achieve so much. They have really aspired to win for the Lions," said O'Connell.

"But in terms of enjoyment, the only real enjoyment comes from winning. In the last two weeks we have come close but we haven't had that.

"It makes the tour tough and it has made the last few days tough.

"But there is a good eagerness there now to finish off the tour strongly and put in a good finish."

The Lions' hopes of a first Test victory in eight outings - an unwanted record dating back to Brisbane 2001 - are affected by injuries though.

Gethin Jenkins (fractured cheekbone), Adam Jones (dislocated shoulder) and Brian O'Driscoll (concussion) are all out of the game.

The Lions announce their depleted team on Thursday but O'Connell remains confident the united spirit that has been created in the camp will hold them in good stead at Ellis Park.

"Any team in the world that loses a player of the calibre of Brian O'Driscoll is going to be at a loss," the lock continued.

"Brian has been incredibly valuable - but the player that comes in will be very hungry.

"Guys have been training and working on their game non-stop because they are aware on the last two tours how many changes there were through the Test series.

"The guys that do get picked should be very hungry."