Watch: Paul O’Connell Reveals What It Takes To Be A British & Irish Lion
Jason Hennessy
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All I can be is the best I can be.
Paul O’Connell recently sat down with the British & Irish Lions in an excellent interview to discuss his motivation on tour with the famous side.
Earlier in his career O’Connell reveals that ‘fear of failure’ motivated him, before realising there was a much healthier way of dealing with the pressures of a Lions tour. While fear of failure is great in small doses according to the former captain, it can be a little crippling as well.
As his career progressed he learned that all he can do is try and be the very best player that he can be. Once he realised that he believes it was a much healthier way to approach motivation than he had earlier on in his career.
According to O’Connell what the Lions need is guys “that are playing their absolute career best rugby.” After that a Lion must work hard at trying to “make the team a team,” especially considering they are together for such a short period.
O’Connell reckons if you can get to a Test series as a team and you’ve “got a good group of players that are playing close to their career best,” then you most definitely have a chance of winning it.
The former Munster and Ireland lock also discusses his experiences as a captain in 2009 in this fascinating insight. Check it out below.
