Summary Sexton said O'Driscoll's story had been an inspiration for his teammates this week.
MELBOURNE (AP) - Australia captain James Horwill and his battered Wallabies have had an unusually tumultuous week leading into Saturday's must-win match against the British and Irish Lions.
Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor, two of the main protagonists in the 23-21 first-test defeat last Saturday, got into strife for staying out until 4 a.m. on Wednesday; then the International Rugby Board took the unprecedented step of appealing Thursday against its own judicial member's decision to clear Horwill of a stamping charge; and of course there was the litany of injuries.
Horwill says the scene couldn't be better set for a classic against-the-odds performance from his Wallabies in the second test this Saturday.
"Australians in general like to ... prove people wrong across the board," the towering Australia captain said. "Some of the best performances are when the chips are down and people stand up where they weren't expected to."
Brian O'Driscoll reminded his Lions teammates of that this week. The 34-year-old center is the only player in either squad for Saturday's test who was involved in the 2001 series, when he helped the Lions to an emphatic victory in Brisbane before the Wallabies seized momentum after Joe Roff's intercept try just after half time in the second test in Melbourne and went on to claim their first test series win over the combined British and Irish team.
That was the first of three consecutive series defeats for the Lions, who haven't won a series since the 1997 tour to South Africa.
O'Driscoll, who made his debut in the '01 series, will be lining up at outside center in a starting lineup containing five changes
two enforced by injuries to the team which won in Brisbane. His Ireland teammate Tommy Bowe is making a remarkable comeback after breaking his hand just three weeks ago to take his place on the wing in place of Alex Cuthbert.
With Jonny Sexton at flyhalf, Ireland has three backs in the starting XV. The Welsh representation dropped to three after England's Ben Youngs replaced Mike Phillips at scrumhalf.
Sexton said O'Driscoll's story had been an inspiration for his teammates this week.
"We've spoken about this being a once-in-a lifetime opportunity and we have a chance to do it tomorrow," Sexton said Friday. "Brian put it into perspective when he said that 12 years ago the chance slipped him by. He thought 'I'm only 21 and I'll get more opportunities.'
"Twelve years later this is his next opportunity. It's not something that comes along too often and is something that all the lads really want to grasp while they can."
Lions coach Warren Gatland has prepared his squad for the weight of expectation that comes with being potentially only 80 minutes away from a drought-breaking series win.
"You can't let that weight of expectation dominate your performance," he said. "It can't consume us, and it is important it doesn't do that.
"We have to make sure we get the balance right between identifying that, talking about that, but also giving the players the freedom to play, to go out there and express themselves and win this series."
Robbie Deans knows his job as Australia coach is on the line. His precarious position hasn't been helped by events since Beale missed two penalty attempts in the last five minutes that would have won the game in Brisbane, including a long-range effort as the siren sounded and he slipped in the greasy conditions.
Deans said it was remarkable that his team was still in contention at Brisbane after four backs left the field injured, including new cap Christian Leali'ifano in the first minute.
"We were close last week but fell short," he said. "We have to win on Saturday and will go toe to toe again."
O'Connor also missed three shots at goal and, combined with Beale's low percentage, the Wallabies missed out on 14 potential points in the first test. Lions placekicker Leigh Halfpenny landed five from six.
The Melbourne-based pair put their disappointment aside and went to watch their Rebels club mates in a 35-0 loss to the Lions on Tuesday night, then went out and were photographed with a British fan at fast-food outlet about 4 a.m. The images were published a few hours later in an English tabloid newspaper.
Deans selected both players in his starting lineup, confidently predicting O'Connor and Beale would be better for their recent experiences on and off the field.
"Everyone will be a lot better for having played that first test," he said. "It was fast and furious last week and will be the same again on Saturday. It's going to be a ripper."
Horwill was cited for stamping Alun-Wyn Jones in the third minute, later claiming it was an accident and he didn't even know he'd made contact with the Lions lock's head until after the match. After a long hearing on Sunday night, he was cleared by a New Zealand-based, IRB-appointed judicial commissioner.
The decision sparked outrage in Britain, and the IRB announced it would appeal. So another hearing has been set down for after the second test, and potentially means Horwill could miss the third test in Sydney on July 6.
The Wallabies lock wasn't happy about having his integrity questioned, but said he wasn't thinking about anything other than winning the second test.
"We're certainly very determined no matter whatever happens," he said. "We're 1-0 down in the series, this is a must-win game to keep the series alive and we want to retain the Tom Richards Cup. That's been our focus all this year."
