Rugby: Johnson may retain Lions captaincy

Martin Johnson is set to make history tomorrow by retaining the Lions captaincy for this summer’s Australia tour.

The Lions have boasted some great leaders, but not even Willie John McBride or John Dawes achieved a feat now firmly within Johnson’s grasp.

No player has led the Lions on two tours, yet Johnson stands head and shoulders above any other candidate to take charge Down Under during June and July.

He skippered the Lions in South Africa four years ago, overseeing a 2-1 Test series triumph that tore up world rugby’s formbook.

Since then, he has masterminded Leicester’s formidable hat-trick of Premiership titles and currently captains arguably the best England team ever seen.

With Johnson at the helm, England have beaten world champions Australia, South Africa (twice) and posted record wins against France and Scotland during an imperious eight-match unbeaten run that started with victory over the Springboks in Bloemfontein last summer.

Other contenders like Keith Wood, Lawrence Dallaglio and Matt Dawson will undoubtedly have been considered by the Lions management, yet it would be a major shock if 62 times-capped Johnson is not appointed.

Given that English players will comprise probably more than half the 37-man squad and possibly two thirds of the Test team it seems a ludicrous move to look elsewhere.

England’s stunning season should be rewarded when the identities of this latest Lions party are unveiled in London tomorrow morning.

Most estimates hover around the 19 or 20 mark for English representation, with Wales set to have next-highest numbers, followed by Ireland then Scotland.

Bath pair Iain Balshaw and Matt Perry appear safe full-back bets, but Austin Healey looks the only certainty among a wing contingent where there are no other automatic selections.

England flier Dan Luger would have been, but will Henry take the fitness risk on a player whose last competitive action came more than 11 weeks ago when he suffered a neck injury during the Six Nations clash against Wales?

That said, Luger is a proven world-class finisher, and should make the June 1 flight to Perth, along with Ireland’s Denis Hickie, under-rated Welshman Dafydd James and a rapidly-improving Jason Robinson.

Ben Cohen looks like missing out, but a surprise selection could be Wasps’ Paul Sampson, a devastating counter-attacker from wing or full-back.

Brian O’Driscoll, Mike Catt and Will Greenwood must secure three of the probable centre slots, leaving Mark Taylor, Lions veteran Scott Gibbs, Gregor Townsend, Rob Henderson, Allan Bateman and John Leslie sweating on inclusion.

In this age of utility players, both Townsend and Bateman can cover other positions fly-half and wing respectively which might sway Henry, yet it would be rough justice on the consistent Taylor, especially, if he remained at home.

Gibbs provides a major talking point. Current form puts him behind other candidates, but he was a colossal influence on the 1997 South Africa tour and relishes big-stage rugby.

Jonny Wilkinson and Neil Jenkins have no serious fly-half rivals, and if Henry opts to take a third scrum-half, then exciting 21-year-old Gareth Cooper could be the man to accompany Rob Howley and Matt Dawson.

The props and hooker surely pick themselves although the choice of third hooker threatens a close call between Scotland’s Gordon Bulloch and Welshman Robin McBryde with Johnson heading a fearsome second-row quartet comprising himself, Danny Grewcock, Scott Murray and Malcolm O’Kelly.

Martin Corry’s second-row/back-row versatility seems a priceless asset, with Richard Hill, Neil Back, Colin Charvis, Lawrence Dallaglio and Scott Quinnell definite choices.

The remaining back-row spot sees Ireland’s David Wallace, Scotland skipper Budge Pountney, Welsh openside Martyn Williams and the durable Martin Leslie all boasting quality credentials, but the battle-hardened Pountney might just shade it.