'I knew a s***storm was coming when Lions picked me over Ireland talisman'

Daily Mirror

08-05-2025

The British and Irish Lions will head back to Australia for the first time in 12 years this summer - with their last visit including the historic call to drop Ireland great Brian O'Driscoll
British and Irish Lions icon Jonathan Davies knew a "real s*** storm" was coming when he was told he would play ahead of Brian O'Driscoll the last time they headed Down Under. In one of the most controversial selection calls ever the Welshman found himself caught in the fallout.
The last Lions victory came 12 years ago when Warren Gatland led the team to success in Australia after a Third Test decider in Sydney. The build-up though was dominated by the decision to axe O'Driscoll for the do-or-die game.
The Irishman, regarded as among the greatest Lions of all-time having gone on four tours, was overlooked for a Welsh pairing of Jamie Roberts and Davies. The latter was on his first tour but was backed by his national boss - which caused even more of a stir amid accusations of bias.
Davies, who would be named the Player of the Series four years later in New Zealand, decided to get on the beers in the week before the Third Test as he expected O'Driscoll to get the nod ahead of him, only to play down his antics when he clocked he was getting the nod.
He told Genting Casino: 'I remember getting called to the coaches' office on the Wednesday morning and I was thinking 'here it comes'. Then they started talking to me saying 'how's your past couple of days been?' and I was pretending I hadn't pushed the boat out at all on the Sunday.
'Then they kept chatting away and said 'you're going to have to learn the role for the 13 move, you need to know what you're doing in the 13 shirt'. I was like 'alright' and Gats was like 'do you know what I'm saying?' - I was like 'yep' and thought that there was going to be a real s*** storm happening pretty soon."
The backlash, especially in Ireland, was massive as fans and pundits were stunned to see O'Driscoll, who was in the midst of what would be his final Lions series, getting the boot as he was forced to watch from the stands in Sydney and lift the trophy in a suit, not his Lions jersey.
Age meant that this was going to be O'Driscolls fourth and final Lions tour, but he remained a team player and held no grudge against Davies. The Wales centre knew he had huge shoes to fill and Gatland made it clear that losing wasn't an option.
He said: "After Captain's Run on the Friday (before the third test), Gats asked me 'how's it been?'. I said 'it's been eventful' then he goes 'yeah? just make sure you win now tomorrow and we'll be okay.'
'It was a load of pressure, but I wouldn't change it because I think it made me perform at a better level as well. But it was something people always want to talk about for some reason - I don't know why. The team was announced to everyone and then we went straight on the bus to training. You know how the bus works, with senior boys at the back, so I was near the front at this point. Brian walks past, shakes my hand and carries on up to the back of the bus."