Pride of the Lions

Few understand what makes the British and Irish Lions tick more than Ian McGeechan. He told Charlie Mulqueen why chemistry and character must come before talent to help one of world sport’s greatest brands to continue to thrive.

Ian McGeechan insists he is satisfied Paul O’Connell was the right man for the Lions captaincy despite the success of Brian O’Driscoll as Irish skipper. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

It was critical for me that we were competitive in the Test series. In the end, we got so close in the first two that it would have been criminal if we hadn’t won a Test. Even with eight changes, what we did in the third Test was a really satisfying finale