TADHG BEIRNE has joked that he will do his best to help Johnny Sexton settle in as a Munster fan.
And he is convinced that the Lions can start to gel as early as Friday night when they face the Pumas.
Lions and Ireland assistant coach Johnny Sexton quipped earlier this week how he had bought a Munster season ticket.
That was in response to Leinster signing Rieko Ioane – who had taunted Sexton at the end of his last game before retirement, the All Blacks quarter-final defeat of Ireland at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
And Beirne – one of three players, alongside Connacht duo Finlay Bealham and Bundee Aki – is ready to help smooth Sexton’s transition.
Beirne laughed: “I was celebrating with him in the hotel yesterday. I was like, ‘aw brilliant, can’t wait to have you down’ and offered him a bed to sleep in for any of the late games.
“I’m looking forward to having him in the stands next year.”
The Kildare man was in jovial form as he prepares for his second Lions tour, replying that he had ‘probably gotten slower, put on a bit of weight’ when asked in what way he had changed as a player since 2021.
And he observed that Maro Itoje does not curse much when asked about the Lions skipper’s leadership style.
But he was more serious when asked if the Lions could be cohesive against the Pumas when still trying to adapt to a new system.
He said: “Why wouldn’t they be compatible? You’re talking about world class players here.
“The expectation we would have of each other is that you can adapt to any system you’re given. That’s the challenge of being a Lion.
“Every four years there’s going to be a new system, the coach is going to want to play a certain way and if you want to be a Lion, you’re going to have to adapt or you’ll get left behind.
“I would say if you came in here thinking that you could just play your club system or your country system, then you’re probably already at a loss.
“If you’re not floating ideas to players in your position, you’re already at a loss as well. We’re in such a privileged position to come into these environments and learn from one another.”
