Neil Back

Neil Back

O'Driscoll would be my captain

Fri Apr 03 01:30PM

There is a school of thought that argues that because Martin Johnson captained the 1997 Lions to victory in South Africa, then the job this time round should go to another lock, Paul O'Connell.

I don't subscribe to that theory. Don't get me wrong - O'Connell is a fantastic player and a shoe-in for the Test side but my choice for captain would be his Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll.

There is a lot different between the 1997 tour and this year's trip, and Jonno was selected because he was the right man at the right time.

Rugby had only just turned professional in 1997 and at the time the Springboks had a very big side - much bigger than us Lions.

Geech wanted a big man who could face the Boks down in the dressing room and out on the pitch.

Obviously Jonno was a great player, and who would not want a 17 ½ stone, furrow-browed monster to the lead the side? It was an inspired choice by Geech and history has shown that it was the correct one.

But this year there will not be much difference in the size between the Lions and their hosts, so the criteria for the captaincy are different.

Players are slighter in the modern era and the Boks will not have the same physical advantages.

O'Driscoll has done a great job for Ireland over the passed few years, especially this season when he led them to a Grand Slam.

I was part of the 2005 squad and I know from that trip that he had the respect of players and coaches from around the world. It will be the same in South Africa this summer.

O'Driscoll is intelligent and articulate, he comes across well in the media and he has that touch of arrogance that helps stand him apart.

He proved during the Six Nations that he reads a game well and has what it takes to change the course of a match, which he did with tries against France, England and Wales. He also touched down against Italy and was the tournament's joint leading try scorer.

O'Driscoll's tour may have been cut short by that infamous spear tackle in the first Test in New Zealand, but he will have gained some useful captaincy experience from the early part of the tour. That could prove an advantage.

The Lions are fortunate to have two such strong candidates for the captaincy, but for me they need look no further than O'Driscoll.

  • Comments1 - 8 of 8

  1. Well said Backy......

    chilledout47From chilledout47 on Fri Apr 03 03:53PM

    Report abuse

  2. LET'S HOPE HE CAN BRING ABIT OF IRISH LUCK TO THE TOUR. GOTTA FEELIN WE'RE GOING TO NEED IT

    aengusdeburcaFrom aengusdeburca on Fri Apr 03 07:43PM

    Report abuse

  3. BOD good player, good ambassador and statesman....but not a Lions Captain! That roll would distract him for what he does best. The captaincy needs to be in the Engine Room....sorry BOD!

    alsmith908From alsmith908 on Sat Apr 04 04:43AM

    Report abuse

  4. BOD good player, good ambassador and statesman....but not a Lions Captain! That roll would distract him for what he does best. The captaincy needs to be in the Engine Room....sorry BOD!

    alsmith908From alsmith908 on Sat Apr 04 04:43AM

    Report abuse

  5. World player of the year, you must be joking! A nice guy that plays well against most team but never against the best-N.Z. Backy you are well off the place if you think he should captain the Lions! terrible article.

    tmarshall48From tmarshall48 on Sat Apr 04 04:11PM

    Report abuse

  6. Hello, my fans. Come on. I'm an open minded girl from UK. I
    like this team very much. I have a blog on __T a l l m e e t
    . c o m__ I like to share the funny things with you guys~~

    ada.yuanFrom ada.yuan on Sat Apr 04 07:07PM

    Report abuse

  7. I don't think its as simple as saying O'Connell should captain as it's a "lucky position" for the Lions. Also I think captaining is not about the off field elements. I expect O'Connell to get the captaincy. I hope so.

    neil9365From neil9365 on Sun Apr 05 05:59AM

    Report abuse

  8. When I was growing up playing the game, we always had a captain and a pack leader, BOD for captain POC for pack leader. Only 1 can talk to the ref but you need more than 1 man to be a voice on the pitch and BOD will not be in the rucks, mauls, scrums and lineouts which is where POC can inspire his troops.

    geraldpatrickbyrneFrom geraldpatrickbyrne on Wed Apr 08 07:15AM

    Report abuse

    Comment on this article

    Please sign in to add your comments.