England provided the spine of the British and Irish Lions test team that defeated world champions South Africa in 1997 but it won't be the same this summer.

The English contribution to the 2-1 series victory 12 years ago was huge, with the team captained by lock Martin Johnson, the pack featuring a back row of Lawrence Dallaglio, Tim Rodber and Richard Hill while Matt Dawson at scrum-half and Jerry Guscott at outside centre provided the guile.

The South Africans are again world champions and are desperate to gain revenge for the years of hurt left by that series disaster against Ian McGeechan's expertly coached squad.

When McGeechan names his 35-strong Lions party on 21 April, England's influence will be limited despite Johnson's men finishing second in the Six Nations thanks to their gradual improvement as the tournament went on.

Grand Slam champions Ireland and last year's winners Wales will provide the bulk of the leading candidates and England's major hope of getting into the mix comes down to London Wasps.

McGeechan, the Wasps director of rugby, is taking the club's head coach Shaun Edwards with him to South Africa along with Warren Gatland, the club's former director of rugby and Rob Howley, their ex-scrum half.

No one is suggesting it will " jobs for the boys" but Wasps players will figure strongly in the final selection debates with Paul Sackey, Riki Flutey, Danny Cipriani, Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley, Tom Rees and James Haskell all warranting some support.

It would be natural for McGeechan to opt for a player he knows well if it's a close call for very practical reasons. The modern Lions tour does not allow the coaches time on foreign soil to see how players react to the conditions, the opposition and the unique demands of being one of Home Unions' elite.

For example, Shaw, having been part of two previous Lions tours, is well qualified to fill one of the front jumping, mauling forward roles needed against the intensely physical Springboks.

Away from Wasps, the chances for England players making the tour are limited, although Harlequins' Delon Armitage's case is bolstered by his versatility and the real fear among the Lions management of the kicking game in attack of Butch James, the Springbok No10. Defending the high cross kick is going to be vital and with Shane Williams on one wing, the Lions cannot afford to have another small player on the other flank.

With Wales full-back Lee Byrne a certainty at No15, there would be a strong case for moving Armitage to the right wing, with the knowledge that he is totally secure under the high ball and operates with the kind of pace needed on the wing at the highest level.

Up front, Sale prop Andrew Sheridan continues to be maddeningly inconsistent but will tour while lock Nick Kennedy deserves consideration because of his line out expertise, as could Tom Croft for similar reasons.

However, there will be no repeat of the English influence on Sir Clive Woodward's 2005 disastrous trip to New Zealand when he picked 20 England men in the huge initial 44 strong party with three more arriving as replacements. Those days are gone - along with England's reputation as world beaters.