McGeechan set for Lions leadership

5:38pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan is expected to be confirmed as head coach of the 2009 British and Irish Lions on Wednesday - and dissenting voices are impossible to find.

McGeechan, 61, is synonymous with the Lions having been involved in a record six tours as a player (1974, 1977), assistant coach (2005) and head coach (1987, 1993, 1997).

The Scot's seventh would see him lead the Lions' assault on world champions South Africa and attempt a repeat of his famous 1997 triumph over the Springboks.

Without being a slight on McGeechan's own qualities, he was the outstanding candidate in what very quickly became a one-horse race.

Wales' Grand Slam-winning coaching team of Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards could well be appointed assistants but neither were in the running for the top job.

The Welsh Rugby Union had their fingers burned in 2001 when Graham Henry took charge in Australia, a stint which affected his relationship with some Welsh players.

The WRU chose not to nominate their own head coach for the Lions role, while England and Ireland have both only recently appointed new men in charge and Scotland's Frank Hadden never entered the equation.

South Africa's World Cup-winning coach Jake White initially voiced an interest in leading the Lions against his own country but McGeechan was always the cast-iron favourite.

"And rightly so," said Lions legend Gareth Edwards, a team-mate of McGeechan's in 1974. "He has all the credentials. What is vitally important is that at a time when there are still questions asked about Lions tours - are they necessary? - he knows the very ethos and the meaning of a Lions tour."

Gavin Hastings, captain under McGeechan in 1993, added: "It just feels right that in this instance 'Geech' is there. He is a very astute, clever and experienced man. He commands huge respect."

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