Is that a first - capt Lions before club?

[Foot Soldier]

Delighted for Donncha in captaining the Lions


I do not ever recall him captaining Munster though. Can anyone recall if he was ever captain.


I do recall one match in Musgrave v Dragons when after a raft of subs (including Quinnie, Axel) Micko (I think) got injured as acting captain and went off and all the other usual suspects were either off, on bench (ROG)or not playing (POC)and all the players were shrugging their shoulders when ref asked who was captain - so he may have been captain that day for a while on the pitch


Anyone know who was captain for end of that match?

[Foot Soldier]

Munster Rugby has a different finishing 15 on pitch to the Magners League site. It has a finishing 15 of:


<S&#079;NG>Munster:</S&#079;NG> D Hurley; B Carney, K Lewis, (R Tipoki 60th min)I Dowling; P Warwick, (G Hurley 55 min); F Pucciariello, (J Flannery 70th min), T Buckley; (D O'Callaghan 55 min), D Ryan; (M Horan 60th min), N Ronan, (D Leamy 55 min)


With Quinnie presumably the acting captain when he went off injured (after Micko and Axel)

[mac22]

Great for Donncha, he's a lovely guy and im glad for him

[Tobyglen]

Its a good honour for him, I would presume that this is the first time it has happened in a long time. I think the press have unfairly overlooked him in regards selection AWJ has done little to impress. Chris Wyatt would have looked like a superstar against the Golden Lions FFS.

[mac22]

Are you trying to say that Chris Wyatt was not one of the best signings Munster ever made ???????????????????????[img]smileys/cool.gif[/img]

[sewa]

Class act. How many sides have ever had two Lions captain on one tour? Can ROG make it three?

[Stringer9]

I do recall one match in Musgrave v Dragons when after a raft of subs (including Quinnie, Axel) Micko (I think) got injured as acting captain and went off and all the other usual suspects were either off, on bench (ROG)or not playing (POC)and all the players were shrugging their shoulders when ref asked who was captain - so he may have been captain that day for a while on the pitch


Anyone know who was captain for end of that match?

Strings I'd say.

[Hopelessly Devoted]

From jester to Lions skipper

Normally better known for providing the comic relief within a squad, Ireland lock Donncha O'Callaghan has described the honour of being asked to lead the British and Irish Lions.

The tourists face a fledgling Southern Kings outfit in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday with Saturday's first Test against the Springboks looming large.

The third Irish player to captain the side on this tour, after Munster team-mate Paul O'Connell, Irish national skipper Brian O'Driscoll and England prop Phil Vickery, O'Callaghan continues Head Coach Ian McGeechan's preference for choosing a player from the pack to lead his team.

"It's the biggest honour of my life," said O'Callaghan, who admitted that his previous captaincy experience has been limited to age-group rugby.

"When Geech told me this morning I was just taken aback."

Explaining why he had chosen a player who had almost no track record as a skipper to wear the captain's armband, McGeechan pointed to the Munsterman's character and the relationship they had built up since the last Lions tour.

"I got know Donncha pretty well in 2005," said McGeechan.

"He's a fantastic tourist. I valued what he did he 2005 when I was working pretty closely with him and he's taken it a step further with this group.

"I think sometimes you don't have to have led a lot to know that people will follow and I think he's done a lot of things that have created huge credibility amongst the players. I certainly value what he's brought. He's very deserving of the captaincy in my book.

"Lions tours come together because of the players and the personalities and he brings something quite special to this group."

Commenting on his reputation as a joker, O'Callaghan said that leading the team was no laughing matter.

"I think about having fun and I do try to enjoy myself as much as I can, but I think the lads will tell you when it comes to rugby and playing ball, it's a different side of me," he explained.

"You have to enjoy moments like this when you're living out your dreams and around good guys....it's just been an incredible buzz in the squad.

"Looking through that team sheet anyone could be captain, no one is going to look to anyone else to lead."

O'Callaghan said the knowledge that players participating in mid-week games were still in contention for a Test place has kept motivation high and is welcome change from the 2005, when the first team was less of a mystery.

"We've all been involved in squads before where from the first training session you basically know the team, but everyone knows and even the boys that aren't travelling know [they still have a chance]," he said.

As a real contender for a starting place in Durban on Saturday, the big second rower dispelled any suggestions that playing on Tuesday would make it tough to start on the weekend.

"I think this tour has pushed a lot of us out of our comfort zone. At our clubs and countries we get used to two days of recovery, but we knew [it would be hard] when we came on tour," he said.

"It is a chance to force the coach's hands with a huge performance, and that's a great way for everyone to feel.

"It's been a bit of old-school, which is something a lot of us really haven't had. When you see a guy like Harry Ellis, heading out to training after playing a game, we learn a lot of respect for each other."

One player in Tuesday's team who might have harboured ambitions of captaining the side himself is Scotland captain Mike Blair. But the scrum-half said he rather concentrating on his own game..

"Personally that's not what it's about for me," said Blair.

"Everyone has a role within the squad to make this Lions team as best prepared as possible for the first Test. So it's not something I've been thinking about, I'm just please to get another opportunity.

"It's important for me to make an impression on the tour because I don't think I have so far."

[ferg]

What's a bad honour Toby?

[Foot Soldier]

I do recall one match in Musgrave v Dragons when after a raft of subs (including Quinnie, Axel) Micko (I think) got injured as acting captain and went off and all the other usual suspects were either off, on bench (ROG)or not playing (POC)and all the players were shrugging their shoulders when ref asked who was captain - so he may have been captain that day for a while on the pitch


Anyone know who was captain for end of that match?

Strings I'd say.

But he wasn't on pitch at end of match according to Munster Rugby site

Munster Rugby has a different finishing 15 on pitch to the Magners League site. It has a finishing 15 of:


<S&#079;NG>Munster:</S&#079;NG> D Hurley; B Carney, K Lewis, (R Tipoki 60th min)I Dowling; P Warwick, (G Hurley 55 min); F Pucciariello, (J Flannery 70th min), T Buckley; (D O'Callaghan 55 min), D Ryan; (M Horan 60th min), N Ronan, (D Leamy 55 min)


With Quinnie presumably the acting captain when he went off injured (after Micko and Axel)

[Fresh Start]

I do recall one match in Musgrave v Dragons when after a raft of subs (including Quinnie, Axel) Micko (I think) got injured as acting captain and went off and all the other usual suspects were either off, on bench (ROG)or not playing (POC)and all the players were shrugging their shoulders when ref asked who was captain - so he may have been captain that day for a while on the pitch


Anyone know who was captain for end of that match?

Strings I'd say.

But he wasn't on pitch at end of match according to Munster Rugby site

Munster Rugby has a different finishing 15 on pitch to the Magners League site. It has a finishing 15 of:


<S&#079;NG>Munster:</S&#079;NG> D Hurley; B Carney, K Lewis, (R Tipoki 60th min)I Dowling; P Warwick, (G Hurley 55 min); F Pucciariello, (J Flannery 70th min), T Buckley; (D O'Callaghan 55 min), D Ryan; (M Horan 60th min), N Ronan, (D Leamy 55 min)


With Quinnie presumably the acting captain when he went off injured (after Micko and Axel)

I do recall one match in Musgrave v Dragons when after a raft of subs (including Quinnie, Axel) Micko (I think) got injured as acting captain and went off and all the other usual suspects were either off, on bench (ROG)or not playing (POC)and all the players were shrugging their shoulders when ref asked who was captain - so he may have been captain that day for a while on the pitch


Anyone know who was captain for end of that match?

Strings I'd say.

But he wasn't on pitch at end of match according to Munster Rugby site

Munster Rugby has a different finishing 15 on pitch to the Magners League site. It has a finishing 15 of:


<S&#079;NG>Munster:</S&#079;NG> D Hurley; B Carney, K Lewis, (R Tipoki 60th min)I Dowling; P Warwick, (G Hurley 55 min); F Pucciariello, (J Flannery 70th min), T Buckley; (D O'Callaghan 55 min), D Ryan; (M Horan 60th min), N Ronan, (D Leamy 55 min)


With Quinnie presumably the acting captain when he went off injured (after Micko and Axel)

You haven't got a SH there at all

[JonB]

I thought DOC had another superb game, not much media hype, but the media dont pick the team. I was delighted for Donnacha, I know he is a legend but his gracious words on being made captain were words from a man who appreciates his sport and were personal, which sport now lacks.


Well done big man, I think DOC will be involved in 2 of the test matches, I dont think he has anything to prove. DOC gets very little credit for his work on the field, yesterday was some reward for him.

[mr chips]

I thought DOC had another superb game, not much media hype, but the media dont pick the team. I was delighted for Donnacha, I know he is a legend but his gracious words on being made captain were words from a man who appreciates his sport and were personal, which sport now lacks.


Well done big man, I think DOC will be involved in 2 of the test matches, I dont think he has anything to prove. DOC gets very little credit for his work on the field, yesterday was some reward for him.

[img]smileys/thumb-up.gif[/img]

+1

[Dodo's pram]

I do recall one match in Musgrave v Dragons when after a raft of subs (including Quinnie, Axel) Micko (I think) got injured as acting captain and went off and all the other usual suspects were either off, on bench (ROG)or not playing (POC)and all the players were shrugging their shoulders when ref asked who was captain - so he may have been captain that day for a while on the pitch


Anyone know who was captain for end of that match?

Strings I'd say.

But he wasn't on pitch at end of match according to Munster Rugby site

Munster Rugby has a different finishing 15 on pitch to the Magners League site. It has a finishing 15 of:


<S&#079;NG>Munster:</S&#079;NG> D Hurley; B Carney, K Lewis, (R Tipoki 60th min)I Dowling; P Warwick, (G Hurley 55 min); F Pucciariello, (J Flannery 70th min), T Buckley; (D O'Callaghan 55 min), D Ryan; (M Horan 60th min), N Ronan, (D Leamy 55 min)


With Quinnie presumably the acting captain when he went off injured (after Micko and Axel)

I do recall one match in Musgrave v Dragons when after a raft of subs (including Quinnie, Axel) Micko (I think) got injured as acting captain and went off and all the other usual suspects were either off, on bench (ROG)or not playing (POC)and all the players were shrugging their shoulders when ref asked who was captain - so he may have been captain that day for a while on the pitch


Anyone know who was captain for end of that match?

Strings I'd say.

But he wasn't on pitch at end of match according to Munster Rugby site

Munster Rugby has a different finishing 15 on pitch to the Magners League site. It has a finishing 15 of:


<S&#079;NG>Munster:</S&#079;NG> D Hurley; B Carney, K Lewis, (R Tipoki 60th min)I Dowling; P Warwick, (G Hurley 55 min); F Pucciariello, (J Flannery 70th min), T Buckley; (D O'Callaghan 55 min), D Ryan; (M Horan 60th min), N Ronan, (D Leamy 55 min)


With Quinnie presumably the acting captain when he went off injured (after Micko and Axel)

<S&#079;NG>You haven't got a SH there at all</S&#079;NG>

Hope you never need a favour from Gerry Hurley[img]smileys/lol.gif[/img]


They've obviously ommited Strings ahead of Hurley's name.


Still though: The question remains??? was it his second victory as captain?

[Fresh Start]

I do recall one match in Musgrave v Dragons when after a raft of subs (including Quinnie, Axel) Micko (I think) got injured as acting captain and went off and all the other usual suspects were either off, on bench (ROG)or not playing (POC)and all the players were shrugging their shoulders when ref asked who was captain - so he may have been captain that day for a while on the pitch


Anyone know who was captain for end of that match?

Strings I'd say.

But he wasn't on pitch at end of match according to Munster Rugby site

Munster Rugby has a different finishing 15 on pitch to the Magners League site. It has a finishing 15 of:


<S&#079;NG>Munster:</S&#079;NG> D Hurley; B Carney, K Lewis, (R Tipoki 60th min)I Dowling; P Warwick, (G Hurley 55 min); F Pucciariello, (J Flannery 70th min), T Buckley; (D O'Callaghan 55 min), D Ryan; (M Horan 60th min), N Ronan, (D Leamy 55 min)


With Quinnie presumably the acting captain when he went off injured (after Micko and Axel)

I do recall one match in Musgrave v Dragons when after a raft of subs (including Quinnie, Axel) Micko (I think) got injured as acting captain and went off and all the other usual suspects were either off, on bench (ROG)or not playing (POC)and all the players were shrugging their shoulders when ref asked who was captain - so he may have been captain that day for a while on the pitch


Anyone know who was captain for end of that match?

Strings I'd say.

But he wasn't on pitch at end of match according to Munster Rugby site

Munster Rugby has a different finishing 15 on pitch to the Magners League site. It has a finishing 15 of:


<S&#079;NG>Munster:</S&#079;NG> D Hurley; B Carney, K Lewis, (R Tipoki 60th min)I Dowling; P Warwick, (G Hurley 55 min); F Pucciariello, (J Flannery 70th min), T Buckley; (D O'Callaghan 55 min), D Ryan; (M Horan 60th min), N Ronan, (D Leamy 55 min)


With Quinnie presumably the acting captain when he went off injured (after Micko and Axel)

<S&#079;NG>You haven't got a SH there at all</S&#079;NG>

Hope you never need a favour from Gerry Hurley[img]smileys/lol.gif[/img]


They've obviously ommited Strings ahead of Hurley's name.


Still though: The question remains??? was it his second victory as captain?

Yeah my bad [img]smileys/redface.gif[/img]

[Kingfisher234]

Class act. How many sides have ever had two Lions captain on one tour? Can ROG make it three?

Nope but POC, BOD and DOC can.

[DonL]

Expect to see him on the bench for the first test

[mr chips]

Class act. How many sides have ever had two Lions captain on one tour? Can ROG make it three?

Nope but POC, BOD and DOC can.

I think he meant Munster rather than Ireland. [img]smileys/wink.gif[/img]