Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien is playing down Ireland's win over the All Blacks in November as the Lions tour approaches.
The loss to Ireland in Chicago is New Zealand's only loss since 2015 but the "Tullow Tank" insists it counts for little when the tourists take on the back-to-back world champions this summer in their own backyard.
Ireland's Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan, Simon Zebo, Conor Murray and CJ Stander celebrate winning. Image: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Speaking ahead of the series, he said: "We played exceptionally well that day in Chicago and obviously the All Blacks came back a good bit at us that day as well.
"That Irish win counts for nothing going over to tour New Zealand in a few weeks, it's just about going out there and expressing ourselves as a group, as a Lions group, not on what's gone before."
The British & Irish Lions squad for the 2017 Tour to New Zealand!#AllForOne #LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/36M5uCtPbl
— British&Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 8, 2017
The Kiwis are sweating on a host of injuries ahead of the tour but O'Brien has backed their deep talent pool to pull through saying: "with the strength and depth the All Blacks have and the type of players and back rowers they have over there I'm sure they won't struggle in that department."
The tour kicks off on the 3rd June when the Lions face a Provincial Barbarians selection.
