McGeechan: 'Seniors to set example'
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:31
British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan feels that senior squad players are vital to keeping younger players in check during publicity-laden tours.
The England players arrived at Heathrow airport on Monday, no doubt ducking for cover and looking forward to avoiding the public eye in the aftermath of the Hilton sex scandal.
In light of a new England squad to be announced by England manager Martin Johnson next week, British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan insisted these problems may have been avoided had he been on the tour.
"Martin knows what it takes to win games, and he could relax in the right way. He would set an example where he would not allow this environment to develop," McGeechan told the Telegraph.
"The younger players look to the senior players to set the example. Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio, I can think of two, just would not have let this happen when they played."
"The best way to avoid those headlines is to have a strong code of conduct the players are part of. With the Lions or any group of players you have to respect everything you do on and off the field. That discipline is second to none.
"You respect your team-mate, and also with a Lions tour you become part of a country as you are there for longer. So you respect the people of that country and cannot afford to lose that respect. That discipline and that behaviour is important to me, you don't just turn it on when you cross the touchline.
"If you agree it then it's black and white, and there are no grey areas. I don't think there's any reason not to say 'this is what we are buying into, what we accept, and if we don't behave that way there will be consequences'.
"The media is very much part of the professional age, we have been professional for 11 years and the players have to take on board all the things that go with that," McGeechan added.
