Brian ODriscoll believes the reappointment of Andy Farrell to Warren Gatlands British and Irish Lions coaching team would be welcomed by players.Farrell is favourite to reprise the defence role he performed with distinction in 2013 when Australia were dispatched 2-1, with Gatland scheduled to announce his assistants in Dublin on Dec. 7.ODriscoll, a veteran of four Lions tours, insists the players were inspired by the passion displayed by Farrell three years ago.Farrell is good man manager and motivator and we got excited when he started talking. Kick chase became exciting, ODriscoll said.I would imagine if he is brought in the players will continue to be excited. He talked about getting off the line, about no logs on the ground, about making sure youre back on your feet.It was all about energy. The way Farrell talks, he really gets into it. And if he was on the coaching ticket I think he would be a really great addition.Farrell was Englands defence coach until the hosts demise in last autumns World Cup, but has since been recruited by Ireland.Former Ireland captain ODriscoll believes his imprint was stamped all over the historic 40-29 victory over New Zealand in Chicago on Nov. 6.Andy has been incredibly influential. I have spoken to the boys and the very first session that he took they were incredibly excited about what he was saying, the enthusiasm that he had, ODriscoll said.The boys who were on the Lions Tour in 2013 said he has brought his coaching to another level since then.When I was playing we were all relatively organised defensively as a team, but it was probably one cog that we missed because [head coach] Joe Schmidt was taking it and he had everything to think about.When you give responsibility for defence to one person, I think it only adds value to the team because they are so focused. You have seen it with Wales for many years with Shaun Edwards.Now the players get excited about how their defence goes. Attack for them is an added bonus, but how their defence responds in a game is how they earn their crust.Irelands victory against New Zealand in America was their first taste of success against the world champions in 111 years and on Saturday they face a rematch at the Aviva Stadium.ODriscoll backed Ireland to beat the bookmakers spread of winning by plus 23, winning a couple of quid, nothing life changing but enough to add to a good weekend, and insists they can do it again.Its obviously a bigger challenge because theyve poked the bear. The bear will be not happy about that, ODriscoll said.They wont have the unforced error count that they had. They will be raging from their defeat. Its a black mark on [captain] Kieran Read and [coach] Steve Hansen.Theyve got lots of good marks, dont get me wrong, but the first team to lose to Ireland, they wont want to lose back-to-back games, thats for certain. Conor McGregor suffered a humbling submission loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196 in Las Vegas. The Irishman was badly hurt by a series of punches from Diaz in the second round and attempted a takedown as a result, but the American finished him off on the ground with a choke.McGregor, the featherweight champion who voluntarily stepped up 25lbs to make his welterweight debut, now faces a decision regarding his long-term weight division after losing at short-notice to Diaz. McGregor (right) was damaged on the feet before being finished on the ground McGregor was clearly at a size disadvantage against the taller and rangier Diaz but likely won the opening round with clever head movement to edge the lions share of the punching exchanges. His dangerous left fist drew blood from above Diazs eye, and a series of kicks to the Americans lead leg also interrupted his rhythm.But that range differential suddenly became a bigger issue in the second round. Diaz, whose trademark trash talk had been conspicuous by its absence, found his swagger after buckling McGregors legs with a straight left hand.With the Irish fighter quickly becoming a sitting duck, he attempted to take the fight to the ground, but Diaz established a dominant position and forced the submission after 4:12 minutes of the round.dddddddddddd McGregor (right) landed some powerful shots in the first round I took the chance, McGregor (19-3) said. I thought I took the first round, I was inefficient with my energy. I respect Nate, he took the punch. These things happen in MMA. I took a chance and it didnt work out.Diaz (19-10) added: If Im not in the best shape, Ive got to start slow, save my energy, and then pick it up.Earlier, Holly Holm lost her womens bantamweight championship with a submission defeat to Miesha Tate.Holm, who won the belt in shocking fashion from Ronda Rousey in November, struggled on the two occasions that the fight went to the ground and was put to sleep by a choke in the fifth round.Tate, who has two defeats to Rousey on her record, almost won the title with a second-round choke but Holm valiantly refused to quit. The defending champion edged the first, third and fourth periods with her more accurate punches and kicks from a standing position but never looked likely to put Tate away.In the fifth, the challenger dragged her back down to the canvas and sunk in a choke which forced the referee to step in and save Holm.I knew I had to finish the fight, said Tate. I knew I had to be perfect in the fifth round. ' ' '