Lionising McGeechan

THE LIONS coach for the 2009 tour to South Africa will be announced at a ceremony in London this Wednesday with Ian McGeechan all but unbackable to land the top job. His appointment has been widely anticipated in the international press and, presuming it happens, it would crown a remarkable career for the Yorkshire-born Scot whose long association with the Lions stretches all the way back to 1974. That was the year that McGeechan experienced his first ever Lions tour, as a player, and he follow

His expected appointment would be an unprecedented honour for the man who is held in high esteem almost everywhere outwith his own country. His second tenure as Scotland coach from 1999-2003 was not notably successful, ending with a shambolic World Cup campaign in Australia and the disastrous appointment of Matt Williams as national coach. If McGeechan blotted his copybook in Scotland he is hailed almost everywhere else as a technical and tactical genius, the Bobby Fisher of the rugby world. No other coach has led the composite side more than once but McGeechan looks certain to make his fourth appearance as head coach after filling the same post in Australia 1989, New Zealand 1993 and South Africa 1997, the latter being the last time the Lions won a series.

Gregor Townsend played in two Test matches the last time the Lions toured South Africa and the former Scotland fly-half knows McGeehan better than almost anyone else, having worked with him at club level with Northampton, at international level with Scotland and with the 1997 Lions.

"I think that his appointment would be a widely popular choice," said Townsend last week. "He has vast experience of coaching the Lions and he is probably the only successful Lions coach of the last 20 years. He is an inspirational coach and an intelligent one too; very much a big picture person. The better the players he is working with the better Geech seems to operate."

This will prove an important tour for the Lions who have left their supporters disappointed after losing the series 2-1 to Australia back in 2001 before being "blackwashed" 3-0 in New Zealand where, apologists will insist, the composite UK and Ireland side was unlucky to meet the All Blacks at their devastating best. The Lions "brand" could become tainted if they fail again in the country where they last registered a series win over the world champion Springboks in 1997. The South Africans are world champions again, it could be a good omen.

"We were lucky in that we had a very good management team for that tour," recalls Townsend. "Jim (Telfer] was the forwards coach and Fran Cotton was manager. Geech proved himself by selecting attacking players but he blended in a hard edge with some boys from rugby league who brought real solidity in defence. The selection and the tactics were spot on with a real physical edge to the squad.

"For someone that does not shout and scream much Geech was a fantastic motivator. He spoke quietly but from the heart and he had everyone playing for the team and each other."

It was not quite like that last time out and the Lions will be keen to banish memories of their trip to New Zealand. Although McGeechan toured he emerged with his reputation largely intact after being given responsibility for the midweek team that went through the trip unbeaten.

Led by England's World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward, the last Lions tour was roundly criticised; the unwieldy management team that travelled was only bested by the huge number of players. This time the touring party will be far more streamlined. Welsh assistant coach Shaun Edwards is widely expected to travel as a backs/ defence expert under the man he works with at London Wasps and they will likely be joined by Kiwi Warren Gatland after his efforts in turning around the Welsh side from no-hopers to Grand Slam heroes in his first season as coach.

According to sources in Wales the WRU initially resisted any move to appoint Gatland as head coach, mindful of what happened to Graham Henry's relationship with his Welsh players after the tour to Australia. However the Cardiff suits were comfortable with their prized possession travelling as a back up to the main man. Gatland is thought to have been keen to test himself at the very highest level and gain some insights in the process.

The last two tours, under Henry and Woodward, were both criticised for taking an abundance of Welsh and English players respectively; a problem that should not arise when the principal selector is a club rather than an international coach. The Scots in particular had a dismal showing in New Zealand. Gordon Bulloch's brief appearance in the third Test, the only Scottish player to take the field against the All Blacks, was greeted by an ironic rendition of 'Flower Of Scotland' in the press box. At least the Scottish players should get a fair crack this time.

McGeechan will be 62 when the tour takes place next summer so it will probably be his swan-song. If so, it is only appropriate that his final tour takes place in the country that witnessed his Lions debut 34 years ago and his greatest success as a coach in 1997. Back then he famously shaved his head after winning the series. Lions fans will hope he packs the hair clippers next May.