Tap on the shoulder that left O'Driscoll 'wounded'

IRELAND legend Brian O'Driscoll has opened up on the darkest moment of his rugby career, when he was dropped by Warren Gatland for the third Test of the British & Irish Lions' last tour of Australia in 2013.

- JOHN JONES

After captain Sam Warburton was injured in the second Test that summer, O'Driscoll was expected to skipper the side in their final clash with the Wallabies, with the iconic centre bringing a wealth of experience to the squad having also been part of the 2001, 2005 and 2009 tours.

It looked certain that he would be handed the captaincy in Sydney as he was put up by the Lions management to do a press conference in the week leading up to the clash which would decide the series, which at that point was tied 1-1.

However, in a move that stunned the rugby world and provoked fury back home, O'Driscoll was not only overlooked as captain, but left out of the matchday squad altogether, as he was dropped for the first time in his glittering career.

With Wales star Jonathan Davies picked ahead of him, the Irishman was left reeling by the omission, which he admits left him “crying on the inside” and took him two years to get over.

Having returned to Sydney 12 years on to watch Andy Farrell’s side see out the current series, O'Driscoll has reflected on the crushing moment he found out he had been dropped, which came through a tap on the shoulder from Lions assistant coach Rob Howley.