The Boks hoping to beard the Lions

WITH LESS than three weeks to go before Ian McGeechan announces the Lions squad to tour South Africa, every amateur pundit in Britain and Ireland is choosing their favourites to don the famous red jersey.

It is one of the great debating points that dominate rugby folk once every four years. I found it quite interesting and amusing at times to see the make-up of potential squads by respected journalists and former players when I was in possession of insider knowledge in 2001.

That said, the practice of second-guessing a Test team is frivolous in most instances as player form is a movable feast, and performances on tour both in training and in the warm-up games is paramount in selecting the side. That is even more significant on this tour as, with the exceptions of Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, Lee Byrne and possibly Gethin Jenkins, selection for the first test in Durban on June 20 is wide open.