Brian O'Driscoll reveals why Ireland and Leinster star will have to ‘disconnect himself' during the Lions Tour
BRIAN O'DRISCOLL reckons Caelan Doris will try to shut off from rugby altogether during this summer's British and Irish Lions tour.
The
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Brian O'Driscoll offered some advice to Caelan Doris after he missed Lions selection due to a shoulder injury
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Caelan Doris of Leinster leaves the field after being replaced during the Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster Rugby and Northampton Saints
The Ireland captain was ruled out of selection for the summer trip after suffering a serious shoulder injury in
27-year-old Doris was among the favourites to skipper
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'He tried to put a brave face on it like any champion would, but you could see the disappointment. Everyone's feeling it for him.'
'He's right at the top of his game. He's 27, he's just captained Ireland. We'll never know if he'd have been captain of the Lions, but he was right in the mix.
'Him, [Maro] Itoje and [Dan] Sheehan - those three felt like nailed-on starters.'
It's Doris' second Lions heartbreak after missing the 2021 South Africa tour, and former centre O'Driscoll reckons the best thing for Doris would be to disconnect from the game over the summer.
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He added: 'For that all to be gone, it's bitterly disappointing.
'It'll be a hard couple of months for him. He'll take time to get over it.
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'He'll wish the lads well, of course, but I'm sure he'll try and disconnect.
'Ignorance is bliss - but it's very hard now with phones, with people talking about it all the time.
'It'll be impossible to escape. I'm genuinely so disappointed for him.'
Ireland players included in Andy Farrell's Lions squad:
Jamison Gibson-Park
Garry Ringrose
Bundee Aki
James Lowe
Mack Hansen
Dan Sheehan
Josh van der Flier
Jack Conan
Tadhg Beirne
Tadhg Furlong
Andrew Porter
Hugo Keenan
Ronan Kelleher
Joe McCarthy
James Ryan
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