It’s unfortunate for Peter O’Mahony really.
One moment O’Mahony is receiving all the praise in the world for being announced as captain of the British and Irish Lions and the next he’s not even making the test 23.
It was only a week ago that Brian O’Driscoll was leading the praise for his fellow Irishman.
What a brilliant achievement for @peterom6 to captain the @lionsofficial this weekend.
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) June 21, 2017
Oh, how things change.
Very tough on Pete O'Mahony going from skipper to non 23. He'll come again.
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) June 29, 2017
The Munster man wasn’t at his best against the All Blacks last Saturday but to drop him out of the test 23 is very harsh.
Maybe Warren Gatland feels that it is right for the team, and Warburton is genuinely a better addition to the side than O’Mahony but O’Driscoll believes that there is another reason behind the snub.
Has to be someone to point the finger at in defeat.
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) June 29, 2017
Well he was captain & now isn't togging out. Read between the lines…
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) June 29, 2017
O’Driscoll suffered a similar faith to O’Mahony back in 2013.
When the former Irish international was replaced by Jamie Roberts for the final test against Australia he also did not make the 23 man panel for the match.
Gatland took a risk that paid off after his side beat Australia that day and if he achieves the same result on Saturday dropping O’Mahony will have been a risk worth taking.
You can view the team to start against New Zealand on Saturday here.
