Lions target McGeechan as mastermind coach for Springboks challenge

A major re-think of strategy post-World Cup has thrust the most decorated coach in Lions history into serious contention and the 61-year-old Scot won a thumping endorsement yesterday from the most decorated captain in Britain or Ireland, Martin Johnson.

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McGeechan (left) poses with the Heineken Cup which Wasps won in 2007

'Ian was, and still is, a fantastic coach,' said the former England captain before ruling himself out of returning in any managerial capacity for the Six Nations.

'If he is available, you would have to give him serious consideration.'

The Lions committee — Andy Irvine, Bill Beaumont, Noel Murphy and Gerald Davies, who will manage the tour — had earmarked Eddie O'Sullivan for the top job last summer before Ireland's implosion at the World Cup.

They see the three-Test series against the world cham-pions as a fitting climax to McGeechan's long career on the Test stage.

'Geech' has already been in charge of three Lions tours, most recently in 1997 when Johnson's underdogs beat the Springboks 2-1.

'The selection on that tour was outstanding,' said Johnson. 'I think it was the first time a Lions team had been picked from matches outside the Five Nations to include people like the uncapped Will Greenwood and John Bentley from the Second Division at Newcastle.'

Unless O'Sullivan can prove that the World Cup was too bad to be true by inspiring Ireland to the Six Nations title, the Lions will be tempted to hire the Anglo-Scottish alliance behind Wasps' success by going for McGeechan in tandem with his defence coach Shaun Edwards.

They broke with tradition six years ago by appointing a foreign head coach, New Zealander Graham Henry, then coaching Wales. His compatriot, Warren Gatland, starts work in Cardiff next month but Lions' policy emphasises the need for a British or Irish appointment.

Chief executive John Feehan, speaking at the launch of a multi-million pound shirt sponsorship deal with HSBC, said: 'There is a strong inclination to go for a home-grown coach. Put it this way, that would be a definite plus.

'The selection will not be made until after the Six Nations. We feel it's appropriate to give the potential candidates every opportunity to show what they've got.

'It will not be limited to the championship if it is felt that there may be a better candidate elsewhere.'

Johnson has no intention of adding his name to the Lions list by reappearing in a new capacity with England.

'This is not the right time for me to get involved,' he said, shrugging off the public clamour for his return. 'If I wanted to get into coaching, I don't think I'd try to go straight in at that level.

'It's one thing to have know-ledge and experience but coaching is about being able to impart it to other people. I'd rather do it with a bit of experience behind me. You've got to have passion and enthusiasm. There's no point doing it half-heartedly.

'Coaching and managing are very different. England have to make the right choice at a very important time of transition.'