O'Connell set for Lions captaincy

Paul O'Connell is set to be unveiled as captain for the Lions tour to South Africa tomorrow.

It is understood that O'Connell was scheduled to arrive at Heathrow late on Monday evening after edging Brian O'Driscoll in the all-Irish race for the position.

The 29-year-old lock will be presented to the media at lunchtime on Tuesday once the squad has been announced, becoming the 10th Irishman to lead a Lions tour.

He emulates England's Martin Johnson, who was selected to captain the 1997 trip to South Africa despite not being national skipper at the time.

Favourite for the Lions job during the Six Nations, O'Connell was supplanted in the betting by O'Driscoll after the thrilling climax in Cardiff.

A crucial insight into the way head coach Ian McGeechan was thinking was provided by his former Scotland coaching colleague and Lions legend Jim Telfer.

"Ian will go with O'Connell. O'Driscoll is an inspirational player, an outstanding player," said Telfer. "But when I watch Ireland it looks to me as though O'Connell and O'Gara run the team.

"You want somebody to sit there grim-faced and mean. That's what Johnson did."

McGeechan, who picked the intimidating figure of Johnson in 1997 because of the message it conveyed, hinted last autumn that he was already leaning towards O'Connell.

"It's your pack that sets the tone. If there isn't an obvious captain there I won't force one. But if there is, then I think it has merit," he said.