Hastings backs O'Driscoll for Lions captaincy

British & Irish Lions legend Gavin Hastings backed Brian O’Driscoll as the man to lead the Lions to tour South Africa in 2009.

Hastings said: “You have to pick someone who is respected by his peers and who is likely to have a regular starting berth in the team and, for me, Brian is that man.

“You need to pick players who are in form, and following his performance for Leinster at the weekend, if you were to ask me to pick a captain now, it would be Brian O’Driscoll.”

“If the Lions are to be successful this time around, you need players with strength of character and guys to lay down the law.

“If you look back at the last successful Lions tour in 1997, coaches like Jim Telfer and players such as Keith Wood were excellent at laying down what was required.

“It’s all about getting the best from the players and Brian would be a fantastic man to do that.”