Rugby Betting: O'Driscoll the obvious choice to lead Lions

British Lions / Ralph Ellis / 26 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

Ralph Ellis believes there is only one man to lead the British Lions in South Africa this summer. However, influential former players have been arguing otherwise.

The last time the British Lions went on tour, Brian O'Driscoll's reign as playing captain lasted all of a minute. That was how long it took for the Irish centre to be hit by that infamous spear tackle from Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu. And while he might have stayed in New Zealand as the squad's leader off the field, it's hardly the same.

Four years later and O'Driscoll is the obvious choice to lead the Lions again - this time to South Africa. The 30-year-old is in prime form again for his club Leinster, and has just led his country to their first Grand Slam in 61 years. He scored a try in all but one game of the RBS Six Nations, and is expected today to be named Player of the Championships for a third time. Unsurprisingly he's [1.26] favourite to get the job.

But here comes another spear tackle - albeit this time a verbal one - to suggest that it may not be so cut and dried. And the man doing the hitting is Lawrence Dallaglio, whose links with Wasps and therefore to Lions coach Ian McGeechan make his view a powerful one.

Dallaglio has told today's Daily Mail that the Lions will need an imposing forward figurehead to face down the Springboks in the same way Martin Johnson did in 1997. He says: "Going to South Africa, you would expect the captain to be a forward. The names of Paul O'Connell - who has hit some great form and would be a natural choice - Phil Vickery and Ryan Jones are the ones that come to mind. They are the obvious leaders.

"Clearly they need someone who is suited to the role and someone who is a natural choice. But when Martin Johnson was made captain of the Lions back then he hadn't captained England before. It's not an absolute requirement."

The second part of the spear tackle comes from Lions legend Jim Telfer, a long time friend of McGeechan following their time together with Scotland and as coaches on that successful Lions trip in 1997. He's told the Belfast Telegraph: "He'll go with O'Connell. O'Driscoll is an inspirational player but when I watch Ireland it looks to me as though O'Connell and Brian O'Gara run the team. Ian likes big men as a captain, he likes forwards."

McGeechan is due to name his squad on April 21, and has not yet made it clear whether he'll appoint his captain before then. Munster lock O'Connell has shortened to [1.5] in the betting, with Wales captain Ryan Jones [2.34].

Five things you might not know about Brian O'Driscoll

1. He was born in Clontarf in North Dublin, and got a diploma in sports management from University College Dublin

2. His uncle John played for the Lions against South Africa in 1980, and his cousin is Arsenal club doctor Gary O'Driscoll

3. He is Ireland's record try scorer with 36, but went through all of last season without scoring a single try for his club Leinster

4. He's believed to be dating actress Amy Hberman, who stars in the RTE production of The Clinic

5. He's been shortlisted for the Sports Quote of the Year with his assessment of Martin Johnson's management: "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad."