It was the incident that brought to light just what the Lions means to some people - but for O'Driscoll he's clearly moved on. After the first step of giving his former Lions coach a Christmas card, O'Driscoll is now championing Warren Gatland's cause as the man to lead the Irish & British Lions on their 3-0 loss tour to New Zealand in 2017.
He revealed all in an exclusive interview with the Telegraph, where he revealed his preferred Lions midfield duo as well as who he would have as coach:
You have to think it’s between Gats [Warren Gatland] and Joe Schmidt and I think having been under Gats in 2013 – and he was a coach in 2009 as well – his style is probably something that lends itself to the short lead-in time.
For the record, I'd pluck for Gatland too - but probably for different reasons. I'd prefer to be selfish and keep Schmidt's ways for ourselves.
O'Driscoll's midfield combo might also lead a few people to scratch their heads a little bit. There's no sight of the likes of Jonathan Joseph, Robbie Henshaw, Mark Bennett, or Jamie Roberts. Not even a Jared Payne or Garry Ringrose - joking, kind of. O'Driscoll goes for his two buddies from the Lions in 2013 - that's the one that took his place in the starting line-up for the 3rd test- Jonathan Davies, as well as Manu Tuilagi. O'Driscoll seems to have a thing for Tuilagi, despite the centre not playing very much in the last two years, and learning a new position:
Manu Tuilagi and Jonathan Davies… I will get absolutely lambasted in Wales for not picking Roberts but I think you have to have Manu in there and I don’t think you play him and Jamie together.
See Also: How Home And Away's Alf Stewart Comforted The O'Driscolls When Gatland Dropped BOD
Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
