Kruis: Facing O'Connell is a dream

England lock George Kruis admits facing Paul O'Connell was a "distant dream" when he joined the legions of travelling fans watching Ireland's talisman lead the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour.



Six years ago Kruis visited South Africa with a group of friends from Dorking Rugby Club, giving the 19-year-old his first opportunity to watch the player he must try to subdue in Sunday's Six Nations visit to Dublin.



While O'Connell was waging war across three brutal Tests against the Springboks, Kruis weighed just 14 stones five pounds - "less than our backs coach" - and spent a three-month sp…