Had Billy Vunipola not suffered a shoulder injury which ended his Lions tour before it even started, the blossoming bromance between James Haskell and Sean O'Brien may never have seen the light of day. Haskell replaced Vunipola in the squad a week ago.
The Lions arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday ahead of their first game of the tour against the Provincial Barbarians this in Whangarei this weekend. Neither Haskell or O'Brien have been included in the squad for that game.
Opposite numbers on the pitch when Ireland and England faced each other in the final game of the Six Nations this season, the two appear to have hit it off.
Haskell's love of painting his toenails is a particular point of amusement for O'Brien.
'He's not right in the fucking head, lads.'
O'Brien considers Haskell to not be 'the full bag of sweets.'
