One of the most notorious bust-ups of Brian O'Driscoll's illustrious career came on his very first Lions tour in the summer of 2001.
The then-22-year-old was one of several Irish players in Graham Henry's squad for the tour of Australia. One of his fellow Irishmen was to endure a gruelling beating in one of the early touring games.
Ronan O'Gara was subjected to a heavy round of punches from Duncan McRae in the touring game against the NSW Waratahs, leaving his face heavily wounded.
In the days after that incident, O'Gara was subjected to some harsh jabs from Englishman Austin Healey in the Lions camp. O'Gara's fellow Irish youngster O'Driscoll would take issue with Healey's antics in a rather hostile manner.
Speaking to Off the Ball in 2016, Keith Wood explained how a boxing match between O'Driscoll and Healey broke out after the Englishman's antics.
ROG just said 'Pisss off, just leave me alone, get away from me'
Then suddenly this little voice peeps in - 'I'll have a bit of that,' says Drico and they put on a pair of boxing gloves. Drico beat the living crap out of him.
O'Driscoll explained what had happened during their bout in the Lions camp, as he gave Healey a few digs to make clear that his verbal jabs at O'Gara were not welcome.
I might have been a young lad. I just thought that's not on and I said it before I really knew what I was doing.
It was one of those out-of-body moments when you suddenly realise that you have a little bit of boxing technique. I started landing some shots and he started getting frustrated and started throwing haymakers. I ducked them and I was catching him with little kidney punches.
It is a story which has been recounted several times down through the years.
Brian O'Driscoll would rekindle memories of the clash with an incredible response to Healey's tweet this week about Team GB's misfortune in the Olympic boxing.
READ HERE: Daniel Wiffen Looking Forward To A Guinness After Gruelling Marathon Swim
READ HERE: Emotion Washes Over Sarah Lavin In Tearful Interview After Olympic Exit
Brian O'Driscoll throws incredible dig at Austin Healey
There's nothing the average sports fan loves more than becoming an expert in 12 new sports every Olympic summer.
As Team GB's Lewis Richardson took to the ring in Tuesday's 71kg semi-final against Mexico's Marco Alonso Verde Alvarez, he found support from English rugby legend Austin Healey.
Richardson ultimately lost out on a narrow judging call and Healey was not impressed, tweeting, "I'm no boxing expert but surely Lewis Richardson won that fight??"
It was a prompt Brian O'Driscoll simply could not resist responding to in perfect fashion.
I can confirm the first part! 🤪🥊 https://t.co/BdY3wIPONa
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) August 8, 2024
Judging by the account of Keith Woods and others in the Lions camp, it seems as though O'Driscoll may be bang on the money.
Credit to Healey, who would respond with a jab of his own suggesting that the widely accepted story is a "myth."
Chapeau and the myth continues
— Austin Healey (@IamAustinHealey) August 9, 2024
The only way to resolve this may be a renewal of the rivalry in the ring.
SEE ALSO: Rassie Erasmus Rubbishes Joe Schmidt Comments About Infamous James Lowe Try
