Teague backs O'Connell to captain Lions

Former England flanker Mike Teague has backed Ireland's Paul O'Connell to captain the 2009 British & Irish Lions squad to South Africa this summer.

"When you look at Willie-John (McBride) and Martin (Johnson) it is easy to see why their opponents feared them and their team mates wanted to follow them," said Teague, who was part of the 1989 Lions win the Test series in Australia.

"I see Paul O'Connell in very much the same mode - a big man and a big player. When you look at his set-piece play, his work rate and the way he carries the ball he has all the makings of a great player.

"He is certainly the sort of player that I would have wanted to play with and I'm sure he can be a force with the Lions this summer."