Brian O'Driscoll's former Lions teammate Lewis Moody gave a pretty forthright interview to the Daily Telegraph today, in which he claimed that sentiment should have no place in deciding the starting line-up for the test matches.
Moody explained that while he thought O'Driscoll was an outstanding player, on form he shouldn't make the team, "there are so many talented individuals in the Lions squad, and great experience - though I don’t think Brian O’Driscoll will be in the Test side."
"The Lions have not played a game yet, I might be wrong. I would love him to play, and he is such a legend, one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, and a mesmerising player - but at the moment he would miss out through lack of form."
"There is no place for sentiment - it's all about winning. Which Lions tours are memorable? Only the ones which were successful. Winning is all that matters. You pick the guys - whether they have played one match or 100 Tests for their country - who are in the best form at that moment to deliver what needs to be done to get that Test series win. For me now the centre partnership would be Roberts and Manu Tuilagi."
He did however recommend Sean O'Brien to start at No. 8 as well, "I love his destructive ball-carrying ability. He has been consistently good with the ball in hand this season. If I were to pick the side now I would have Tom Croft at blindside flanker, Sam Warburton at openside and O'Brien behind them."
Picture credit: Matthew Impey, Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
