Ronan O'Gara's Tour DiarySo much for my forecast for the first Test; a bit like my tips in racing. Actually, as they say in racing, the jockey is the worst tipster, and in rugby the player seems to be the worst tipster as well.

After the Southland game, we trained again on Wednesday, then Thursday was a day off for everybody. On Friday the Midweek Massive had weights. That's what we're called under Ian McGeechan. Don't know why. Just seems to be a good name for us. There's a good buzz in that team.

On Saturday we had a busy session, then lunch and headed back to the hotel.

I just called into Drico's (Brian O'Driscoll) room and had a good chat with him. He said he was feeling very nervous. He hadn't felt like it in years. Time passed quickly and when the lads headed away we had something to eat before going to the ground.

Watching an unpleasant night unfold was hard to take, to be honest. In the first few minutes I saw Brian on the ground, then I saw the video replay and it looked really innocuous. They didn't capture the spear on television. My girlfriend texted me - she'd have a soft spot for Brian as well - I asked her what happened and Sky hadn't said. They didn't know.

Jeez, I thought that doesn't sound good going off on a stretcher; it could be a neck injury. They wouldn't say it unless family were notified, but then we got confirmation at half-time that it was a dislocated shoulder - word had filtered up from the dressingroom.

It seems to be a popular injury in Ireland lately. Mike Prendergast has done both shoulders, Alan Quinlan had heartache with his, David Wallace had unbelievable trouble - he was allergic to the stitching that they used in the operation. They basically had to redo the whole thing.

So I think it's a painful road back for Brian, not that he's often thought that far ahead. The Lions would have expected the captain to play in every minute of every Test, and I don't think the Lions are as covered in that position as they probably felt they were before the tour, what with Tom Shanklin getting injured as well. A key man gone, on top of Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill, is bad.

But that's the rugby side of it. For Brian himself it's disappointing. He was looking forward to this. He'll always view it as unfinished business whatever happens.

He feels lucky that nothing serious happened, and I think that's a good mindset to have. It could have been horrific. Back at the hotel after the reception I called up to him again, we had a bit of room service. He hadn't seen any of the match and he didn't want to watch it that night or the following night. But I think he's coming round now.

As for the incident itself? My view is if that's a clean out at a ruck when Brian could have landed on his head and neck, we're going down a bad road.

I can't remember ever coming on (against Manawatu) with the team leading 64-6. It didn't start too well; two kicks that barely went 20 yards. I nearly ripped my hamstring. I was lucky. Warmed up, I was flying, great, kicked really well then stopped and had about 50 inactive minutes when I was told I was going on. I just couldn't get a second wind. I was blowing hard.

Basically, it seems myself and Charlie Hodgson are sharing the midweek games. While that's disappointing, that seems to be our role and we've just got to get on with it. As long as you're playing well you'll be happy with yourself and that's been the case so far on the tour.

There were still plenty of positives to take from Tuesday night's game, not least my first tries for the Lions. I can't remember when I scored two tries in a game, but I can remember I was an inch short against Western Australia for a try on the last tour and Austin Healey made up a song about me. I would have been the top scorer ever in a Lions game. I had 26 points, 13 conversions, but I never got a try and he ripped me apart for a week.

It was good to throw the ball out in front of the lads and get them to run onto it. Ever since I came back from that injury, and the work I did with Ger Hartman in getting my knee right, I just feel more composed moving the ball. So it's been good, I feel sharp attacking-wise, but basically you've got to wait for your chance. That's all you can do.

But as I say if you're playing well then life is good. If you weren't playing well and you were third or fourth that would be doing my head in.

It's great for someone like Donncha O'Callaghan. He hasn't fully established himself in the Irish team but he has a Lions Test cap, so it just shows what can be achieved.

Simon Easterby is obviously a really hard worker, he's done brilliantly since he came out on the tour and it's great for him and his family. Guy (his brother) will be happy for him. They're a nice family.

I was impressed with the All Blacks last Saturday. Tana Umaga's pass to Sitiveni Sivivatu on the run; 20 yards right to left! Perfect. But I think this weekend is a cup final. If we lose, it's all over.

No second chances. So I hope we get a truer reflection of what we're about.