LONDON—British and Irish Lions captain Paul O'Connell believes the winning experiences shared by the 2009 squad makes them much better placed to succeed than their predecessors four years ago.
In 2005 Clive Woodward's Lions were thumped 3-0 by New Zealand when O'Connell played in all three tests in the second row but failed to make an impact.
Now, as the new squad got together for the first time on Monday, O'Connell said he was ready to make amends in South Africa next month.
"We need to do justice to the Lions jersey, I don't think we did that in 2005," the Irishman told reporters. "We need to do the Lions proud over there and see what happens after that.
"First and foremost, the talent is here. The coaching staff have very good ideas on how we want to play and how we want to perform. I think all those bits are going to be ticked off so it's about us coming together as a team.
"We don't have a lengthy time frame so we don't have time to suss each other out. We really have to work on coming together as a team in a short space of time. If we can do that then we'll have a very good chance."
O'Connell was in the trenches as Brian O'Driscoll led Ireland to their Six Nations grand slam this year and it is that success and that of Munster in the Heineken Cup that he thinks has given the squad some extra steel.
"We have a lot of players who have been a bit more successful," he said. "Ireland got the grand slam at last, the Welsh have two. For a lot of those players being on a successful Lions tour is the next level."
O'Connell twice tasted glory with Munster in the Heineken Cup but will be watching this year's final on TV after losing to Leinster in the semi-finals.
"It was a huge disappointment but these things happen and hopefully it keeps a nice bit of bitterness in the bank for the tour." he said.
"I'd say if we were heading off (with Ireland) on a tour of America and Canada after the last few weeks it would be very tough and it would weigh heavily on our minds but coming into the Lions it's a real focus.
"It's a great way to move on and focus on the next goal."
O'Connell said that the more he had read about the history of the Lions the more he warmed to the concept.
"When people like Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Johnson say winning in 1997 was the greatest moment in their careers, and they've won the World Cup, well they don't say that lightly," he said.
"I've been on one tour but it would be an amazing experience to win it this year."
