Imagine Paul O'Connell smoking, alone, on a balcony.
Gazing wistfully into the distance, perhaps contemplating his own performance in the lineout that day, maybe day-dreaming about an alternative life as a nippy wing or stylish fly-half. We cannot know for sure what was going through the big man's head as he puffed, but it is nevertheless surprising that an ultimate professional like O'Connell would smoke in the middle of what was at that point the biggest Tour of his career so far.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, O'Connell admitted his fondness for the odd fag while touring with the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and his attempts to, like a teenager smoking out his window, disguise any slight trace or smell that might give the game away to the Lions bosses.
If I was ever out on the town when I was younger, all my friends smoked so I used to, at the end of the night, have a cigarette or two or whatever. I'd look absolutely ridiculous with a cigarette in my hand.
But in that tour, we had a balcony looking out over the harbour. I don't know what I was doing but I used to have the odd cigarette sitting on my own, because we were rooming on (our) own. I wasn't used to it.
But I was worried when I'd go downstairs that I'd smell of cigarettes so I started brushing my teeth...if I did get anything out of the tour it might be white teeth.
I brushed my gums away a little bit too much so whenever I was on my holidays and I ate ice cream my teeth were in agony. So I went to the dentist and he went, 'Look, you're stuck with crappy gums for the rest of your life.'
'I smoked throughout 2005 Lions tour...and split up with my girlfriend'.@paul_oconnell on an eventful 6 weeks in New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/lwrkLXpjBg
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) October 12, 2016
O'Connell was the Lions captain in 2009, so he has a fair idea of what is required to lead the cream of British and Irish talent on tour. And in his view Dylan Hartley, the somewhat controversial Northampton Saints hooker, would be the best choice to captain the 2017 Lions.
It might be tough on Dylan, seeing as he is half Kiwi, but he seems to have learnt from all the scrapes he's been in. He's been through all the ups and downs, he seems to be in a very good place in terms of how he plays.
I think he'd be a great captain.
I played with loads of guys who were in plenty of scrapes, guys like Alan Quinlan. Turns out when you really get to know these guys they're the guys you 100% want in your team.
I've met Eddie Jones once or twice, I've read a lot of his stuff. He knows his rugby. You've got to trust his judgment.
I've never met a dirty New Zealand player. They're tough, they'll hit you harder than anyone else in the tackle, but I just think he's beyond that now.
Paul O'Connell has his say on who should captain the 2017 @lionsofficial side. pic.twitter.com/pwCX14Kj1B
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) October 12, 2016
