Lions manager Irvine hails Warburton

British and Irish Lions manager Andy Irvine has hailed Wales captain Sam Warburton as “the northern hemisphere’s Richie McCaw”.

Warburton underlined his credentials to succeed Paul O’Connell as captain with the Lions in Australia next year by spearheading Wales’ first Triple Crown triumph since 2008.

Former Scotland full-back Irvine was at Twickenham to watch Warburton’s latest back-row master class, and put him alongside New Zealand’s World Cup-winning skipper McCaw and Wallabies openside David Pocock as the best sevens in world rugby.