Munsterman ready to rock

Donncha O'Callaghan arrived in New Zealand as the Lions fourth-ranked lock. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Lucky to get nought, so the story goes. "It's all that's talked about," says Donncha O'Callaghan, Munsterman and new Lions lock.

"It was before I was born but I could nearly tell you the whole team, that Christy Cantillon scored the try.

"It's just the way things are in Munster. That was our greatest victory."

This isn't Limerick and it isn't Munster, but O'Callaghan hopes he can add another chapter to the proud legend tonight, having been given his chance in the rejigged Lions second test team.

It is a reward for a player who arrived as the fourth-rated of the four locks. He had Irish mates Malcolm O'Kelly and Paul O'Connell, English World Cup hero Ben Kay ahead of him.

But O'Kelly was invalided home before playing a game and Kay and O'Connell failed to shine in the sleet in Christchurch last week.

O'Callaghan has taken his chances on tour, has been consistently impressive and now gets his reward alongside fellow Munsterman O'Connell.

It's a case of a player, who has been unable to crack a starting spot in his national side, growing in stature on a Lions tour.

"It does feel a bit strange," the engaging O'Callaghan said.

"I remember listening to Martin Johnson. When he came out on his first Lions tour he was 23 [to New Zealand in 1993]. He was picked for the second test and he'd only played a game against France before that.

"That's given me a bit of confidence. To get this chance is incredible really. It hasn't really sunk in."

O'Callaghan is Exhibit 1 in the case for the prosecution on last weekend's disaster in Christchurch.

That was a team picked on reputation. This is a team chosen on form and on that criteria O'Callaghan has to be in.

Whether he is good enough will be seen tonight. But he's certain of one thing: he'll do what he's been picked for, not try to be someone he's not.

"My approach, with all respect, is treat it as another game.

"I know the ante is massive here, as big as it could get. But I'm very keen to play my own game, play the game I've been selected to do, get the basics right."

Not having his Irish and Lions captain, Brian O'Driscoll, lead the team out will be an extra spur.

"I'm a huge fan and friend of Brian. It's just disappointing the fella's tour has been cut short and we didn't see the best of him.

"We've all lost out on that."

O'Callaghan is second youngest of four boys and one girl.

His mother and his girlfriend have been travelling around in a camper van, joined up with other Lions fans and have been "having a bit of craic".

"We're a very close family. I even woke up my brothers at home when the team was named. I think I got away with waking them at 3am."

Being the underdogs tonight is no problem. For a Munsterman "that's something that's in you. People writing you off and saying you can't do it".

When he stepped on the plane to come to New Zealand, O'Callaghan set the objective of wanting the respect of his fellow Lions.

"I wanted to come back having no regrets, saying I gave my all.

"This is a great honour. You dreamt about playing in these kind of matches."

DONNCHA O'CALLAGHAN

Born: Cork, March 23, 1979 Height: 1.98m

Weight: 110kg

Position: Lock

Test debut: v Wales, March 2003

Tests: 16

Club: Munster - It is one of the great All Black scorelines. Munster 12 All Blacks 0. Yes, that is the right way around ... at Thomond Park, Limerick, October 31, 1978.