Irish rugby's boy wonder Brian O'Driscoll will launch his Lions career as a full-back after coach Graham Henry sprung an immediate selection surprise today.
Gifted centre O'Driscoll has been handed the number 15 jersey for Friday's tour opener against Western Australia in a side skippered by fellow Irishman Keith Wood.
Will Greenwood and Mark Taylor form the midfield combination, with Henry taking an early opportunity to assess options ahead of the Wallabies Test series, which starts on June 30.
The exercise is aimed at discovering whether O'Driscoll could ultimately switch successfully from centre to full-back, if required, during a Test match.
"It would be difficult to do that if Brian hadn't previously played in the full-back position," said Henry.
"The major reason is that we are looking for options in a 22-man Test squad if we didn't have another full-back apart from the number 15 that was playing.
"He's got all the attacking attributes and characteristics to play there."
O'Driscoll burst on to the international scene with a stunning hat-trick of tries during Ireland's Six Nations Championship victory over France in Paris last year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article