“They’ll be coming to try and hurt us, won’t they? To try and physically impose themselves on us… We all know what’s coming on Saturday.”
Sean O’Brien may have know it was coming but it still hurt like hell when it came.
The Lions flanker arrived, first on the scene, when Kieran Read and Anthony Watson clashed, midway through the first half.
Getting set at pillar, O’Brien was absolutely creamed in a massive clear-out by Jerome Kaino. Like so much of what transpires on the rugby field, it was borderline and it was painful but it was ‘play on’.
Credit: Sky SportsKaino has just nailed O'Brien at a breakdown. Looked legal and savage.
— David Flatman (@davidflatman) July 8, 2017
As Read got treated by the New Zealand medics, O’Brien got the full service from the Lions’. Some-miraculous-how, both played on a further 10 minutes and made it into the sheds for half-time.
‘The Tullow Tank’ did not emerge for the second half and, following the game, his left shoulder appeared to be in a sling. We’ll await the Monday morning medical report but he could be out of action for a while.
With the series split at 1-1 and the trophy held aloft by both Read and Lions captain Sam Warburton, it was heartening to see O’Brien and Kaino chatting together on the pitch. Two fearless Trojans of men.
Great to see Kaino and O'Brien catching up after the game pic.twitter.com/09Nf0avden
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) July 8, 2017
No hard feelings.
Just two hard rugby men who went even harder at it.
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