Lions life reinvigorates O'Driscoll
| 18 Jun 2013 10:10 |
| Brian O'Driscoll feels being on this year's British and Irish Lions tour is helping to keep him young. |
| The 34-year-old Ireland centre, who has been involved in three previous Lions tours, was the oldest member of the squad in Australia until ex-Wales winger Shane Williams, 36, was called up ahead of today's match against the Brumbies. |
| And regarding his younger colleagues within the 2013 party, O'Driscoll told the Radio Times: "I have 12 years and more on some of these guys. |
| "(Scotland full-back) Stuart Hogg is the youngest guy in the squad at 20. I'm 34, so I've got 14 years on him. That's a frightening thought - 12 years ago he was in short pants! |
| "It keeps me young, though. I go into training every day and the level of conversation definitely keeps me young." |
| At the same time, there is a significant effect an elder statesman like O'Driscoll can have upon the new generation in terms of aiding their maturing process, and the Dubliner is very much keeping in mind that he is a thoroughly seasoned campaigner mixing with plenty of players for whom the Lions environment is entirely new. |
| "There are guys on a completely different level to you, in their early 20s and on a massive learning curve," he said. |
| "I'm far from knowing it all, but I've seen a lot of things now in my professional career." |
