PREVIEW

BRITISH LIONS

that the great Scot knows how to run a Lions tour – he has been there and done it! If the Lions are to have a genuine chance of defeating the world champions, they need a squad that are battle hardened yet still have gas in the tank. Balance within the squad is vital. McGeechan knows the pitfalls of a clearly segregated midweek ‘dirt-tracker’ team forming before the Test matches and he will not allow it: “You need to look at the

chemistry of players and what combinations will work.” He is a master of the basics and he understands the importance of spirit and camaraderie created from simple devices such as the players rooming together. It is strange to think that two players who will look to obliterate one another in March could share a room in May but it is these partnerships that become
so fundamental in the
embodiment of a
touring unit.

To add to their dominance in the
2008 Six Nations,
Wales were the only nation to claim a Southern
Hemisphere scalp in the Autumn internationals, placing their players in the spotlight for Lions selection, but McGeechan recognises that it is not the form of a team under scrutiny, though it is easier to play well in a winning team.

On paper, the Lions are capable of beating the world champions – Wales and Scotland came within five and four points of doing so respectively – but paper does not reflect form and does not indicate who will step up to not only claim their shirt, but lead by example. The management team will use a lot of paper, a lot of pencils and a lot of erasers before naming the final squad. Lack of injuries permitting, there is one place in the back three up for grabs,

Armitage, Halfpenny,

Sackey and the

Lamont brothers all put forward a good case. Brian O’Driscoll needs a partner in the centres – Gavin Henson is the class act but whether he will be physically and mentally prepared only he knows. Mike Blair is one
of a clutch of excellent scrum-halves but there are question marks over who

wears No. 10. James Hook and Danny Cipriani have the talent but do they have the temperament? Ronan O’Gara and Stephen Jones are more reliable but do they have the necessary X-factor?

In the back row, Ryan Jones is a certainty and will be vying for the captaincy with O’Driscoll. James Haskell, Andy Powell and Jason White will all be competing for spots. The giant Irish pairing, Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan, are favourites at second row, while Andrew Sheridan is one of the few Englsh forwards almost certain of a place on the plane.

Whoever wears the Lions’ red, they are sure to treat it with the respect it demands and give the effort of their lives to what is a monumental challenge.

After two tours as a player and four as a coach (he coached the midweek side in 2005), McGeechan knows what it is to be a Lion: “In my opinion, you cannot be a legendary rugby player if you haven’t been a Lion. You can be a very good international player and have done some good things, but when you’re talking about legendary rugby players they have made their mark as Lions.” n

Top Wales’ Ryan Jones is a leading candidate for the captaincy

Above

Unforgettable moments from the 1997 Tour:

John Bentley flattens a Bok and Jeremy Guscott slots a drop goal to win the Second Test

52 / CLASSIC SPORTS SERIES