O'Connell set to lead Lions
Monday, 20 April 2009 23:32
Paul O'Connell arrived in London tonight in preparation for his unveiling as Lions captain for the summer tour to South Africa.
O'Connell, who has edged Ireland team-mate Brian O'Driscoll in the race for the most prized job in British and Irish rugby, refused to answer questions upon touching down at Heathrow.
The 29-year-old lock will be presented to the media at lunchtime on Tuesday once the squad has been announced, becoming the tenth Irishman to lead a Lions tour.
He emulates England's Martin Johnson, who was selected to captain the 1997 trip to South Africa despite not being national skipper at the time.
An aggressive ball-carrier and accomplished line-out operator, O'Connell is Europe's most feared second row with his style inviting comparisons with Johnson.
He has led Ireland on four occasions, each time deputising for O'Driscoll, and was at the helm when Munster were crowned Heineken Cup champions last year.
Opinion over the best candidate for the Lions captaincy had been divided in the wake of Ireland's first Grand Slam triumph since 1948.
A groundswell of support developed for O'Driscoll after the skipper of the 2005 tour to New Zealand finished the RBS 6 Nations finale against Wales as man of the match.
It was the last in a string of high-class displays by O'Driscoll who looked close to his best after his form had deteriorated during several injured-plagued seasons.
Former Lions Gavin Hastings, Jason Robinson and Dean Richards were among those to back him, but McGeechan's preference for a forward operating at the coalface has proved critical once again.
O'Connell was also outstanding throughout the Six Nations and at times it appeared as though Ireland's vice-captain and go-to man up-front was leading the team on the pitch.
Favourite for the Lions job during the tournament, he was supplanted in the betting by O'Driscoll after the thrilling climax in Cardiff.
It was feared O'Connell may have damaged his chances of landing the captaincy when he criticised Warren Gatland immediately after Ireland had prevailed at the Millennium Stadium last month.
He told Gatland to keep his ego in check in response to inflammatory comments made by the Wales and Lions assistant coach in the build up to the Test.
But far from riling Gatland, O'Connell's honesty and belligerence may ultimately have convinced McGeechan he is the right person to spearhead the challenge against the ever-physical Springboks.
Any remaining competition for the position has evaporated in recent weeks, Wales skipper Ryan Jones suffering a collapse in form that now even threatens his place in the squad.
With O'Driscoll and Jones beaten to the job, the stage is set for O'Connell to follow in fellow Irishman's Willie John McBride by leading the Lions to a Test-series victory against South Africa.
