Sean O'Brien was one of five Irish players named in The Lions' starting squad to face the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua on Saturday, and the Leinster man will be hoping to make his impact felt as Warren Gatland's side look to bounce back to a loss to the Highlanders on Tuesday.
England hooker Jamie George has also been named in the Lions' team for the Maori match, and he has been giving us an idea as to how Sean O'Brien has made his impact felt off the pitch on tour, as he has taken his role on the 'fines committee' very seriously indeed.
George was conducting a Q&A for the official Lions site, when he revealed that O'Brien has gone as far as carrying a notepad and a pen around to take note of any indiscretions he sees while out and about.
Q. What about the fines committee then?
A. There are a few people on that, but Sean O’Brien is the one you want to look out for. He is always walking around with his notepad just ticking stuff off and trying to catch you out. We all know who is on the fines committee so you have to make sure you stay whiter than white when they are around. There is a dice roll but the punishments are different to 2013, there won’t be anyone calling up their DoR like Simon Zebo had to do then, but some of them are still very bad. One of the punishments is that you have to do a two-minute performance in front of all the lads but I think the worst one is probably that you have to wear your suit, what we call your ‘No 1s’, for a whole week. If you are seen out of your room then you have to be in your suit which is brutal – that would be such a bad one to get when we have the first fines meeting. There are also ones like if you roll a 1 then you get a free pass, if you roll a 2 then you get to nominate someone else to roll.
The image of Sean O'Brien delivering a condescending lecture after pulling someone up is outstanding, and we can't imagine there are many who will plead their case.
George also shed light on what it's like to room with Peter O'Mahony, who he describes as a lovely bloke, but a very angry man.
Q. Is Peter a good roommate then?
A. He is very good roommate, very tidy, but he is also a very angry man so you have to be careful! He certainly has a short fuse, but I have been getting on very well with him, he’s a top man. I am currently rooming with Mako (Vunipola) here in Rotorua, and the rumours are true – he is a deep snorer but that’s fine, I am a deep sleeper so I get on with it.
Sounds about right.
You can read Jamie George's Q&A about life on tour with the Lions in full over at LionsRugby.com
