Who will get the Lions' share?

With the Lions tour in South Africa looming, opinions of who will face the Boks in the opening test are now making the headlines. The curtains on the RBS Six Nations stage are now closed and since this is the last of the international action to be seen before McGeechan’s squad is announced, the temptation is far too great not to put pen to paper and list a possible Lions starting fifteen.

Incidently, this will be the first Lions tour to be played under the new experimental law variations, and if they are to have any of the effects we have seen in the Guinness and Magners leagues this season, I would be packing a few spare kickers ahead of the tour. If the side is going to put emphasis on the non-running game witnessed over the past seven months, the Lions analysis team may need to borrow John McEnroe from the Wimbledon scene in the game’s current tennis like state.

The decision for who plays at outside-half may be decided simply on whether Phillips is at nine. Jonny Wilkinson’s name has cropped up again as Jeremy Guscott controversially makes him top number ten. But, with the lack of game time and the unpreditability of his fitness, England’s world cup winner will surely not be packing his boots for South Africa this summer.

The Irish success in Cardiff at the weekend will hopefully see O’Gara at the forefront of McGeechan’s plans, but considering the past McGeechan teams, the Wasps Director of Rugby will not be putting all his eggs into one basket. Three stand-offs that spring to mind will obviously be a combination of Rog, Stephen Jones and a more muscular looking James Hook. McGeechan likes to have a side all competing for test places, and there is not much more than a few caps that separate the three men mentioned above.

Illusions of grandure are again striking the hopes of England supporters who will now believe the Lions can include more Englishman after all. However, without condemning the team’s efforts in this term’s Six Nations championships, I will like to opt out of this fantasy as the combination of an Ireland and Wales starting line-up looks a more appetising prospect.

Henson and O’Driscoll may well be the centre partnership that should have been in '05, even though Roberts and Shanklin are a pairing that have brought Welsh rugby to life in the past 12 months. Or will Riki Flutely be the first player to play for and against a Lions setup? The hot-stepping Maori turned try-machine Pom may be making a case for the number 12 shirt, especially if he starts producing the goods under McGeechan at Adams Park.

The back three is also not as clean cut as many make out. Lee Byrne is almost definite to play at fifteen, but, although Shane Williams is a likely starter with the season he has had, is he good enough when up against the Habanas and Pietersens of the world? Maybe a stronger wing-partnership in defence will be appointed with maybe a bit more height to handle the high ball from Percy and co. The pace of Scotland’s Thom Evans could frighten even the cheetah racing Habana, and even the illusive feet of Bowe may feature at some point. Time will have to tell.

Captaincy? The easiest choice ironically. Although O’Driscoll is a great talisman in the Ireland dressing room, on a Lions tour that will only last six weeks, McGeechan should revert back to his old philosophy – big and intimidating for the prematch coin toss. Only one name fills that description, and that name is unfortunately Martin Johnson. One can only wish the man was twelve years younger however, so we’ll have to settle with Paul O’Connell to clutch the Lions’ Hallmark teddy when leading the side out.

The back row is also a head-scratcher. Ryan Jones playing at six for the most part of the Six Nations will create most problems. Were he to be wearing the number eight shirt again come June 20th, would Andy Powell or Jamie Heaslip have something to say? If only it was as easy as making the Lions a five nations side just so Italy’s Sergio Parrise would join the tour.

Joe Worsley and Martyn Williams are fighting for open-side. Although Williams has the edge with his ball stealing capabilities at the breakdown, Worsley can leave a few Boks stung in the tail in the loose.

The tight five will be instrumental in deciding the Lions’ fate also. Composure as well as strength up front has been lacking throughout the Six Nations, and as the boot of Montgomery and François Steyn will be a threat from anywhere on the pitch, the tight five will have to be disiplined as well as ruthless at the breakdown. Personally, I know as much as referees do when it comes to what goes on in the front rows, so an expert opinion will be needed to enlighten us on that front. Maybe Keith Wood can be a better judge of character? Over a cup of tea of course.

O’Connell and O’Callaghan makes it a double-0 in the locks. Alun Wyn Jones could pip Donnacha for the partnership, but with the formidable Irish pairing dominating in both the red of Munster and the green of Ireland, it's likely McGeechan will keep them at the spine of the side. While O’Callaghan continues to reek trouble in the loose, O’Connell will hopefully be causing toil at the set-piece.

Past Lions tours have seen many surprises. Martin Corry in 2001. Ryan Jones in 2005. The question shouldn’t be who is going to start, but who is going to rise above all expectations and become the ace in the Lions’ pack? Possibly an under-rated six hiding in the ranks?

It all sounds very glamourous picking a favourite combination of players from a power of four. The idea of predicting the player who will kick the winning points in the tour’s climax is indeed very awe-inspiring. Who wouldn’t want a Jerry Guscott style finish to spoil the world champions’ hopes of redemption? I know I would. But much more rugby is to be played between now and June, so in the aim to keep our tour dreams alive, lets keep the Boks second guessing.