Coach McGeechan's Lions masterplan
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:33
Pride of the Lions: Ian McGeechan
Lions fever is set to get started as soon as January as coach Ian McGeechan has outlined his plan to select a provisional squad of 60 players early in the New Year, before ultimately narrowing it down to a tour party of around 35 players.
McGeechan is looking to replicate his historic series win over South Africa in 1997 and says that the only way that will be possible is if they are able to take the best players, in terms of attitude as well as form.
While the Wasps Director of Rugby will name his first squad of 60 as early as January 2009 he says there is of course scope for players to impress in next years Six Nations competition as well.
"If someone's outstanding in the Six Nations and they're not part of that 60, we'll be flexible.
"It's just an indication of the sort of players we feel are in form at that point."
With such a busy timetable for many of the clubs and international sides ahead of the Lions tour next year the Scottish coach accepts that his access to the players will be limited, all he can do though is make the best with what time he can make with groups and individuals.
"When you've got a preparation week before we go away which includes the Heineken Cup final then we've got to make the most of the time
"What I'm trying to do is be as time effective as I can with the players that are likely to be involved.
"What I'm not doing is selecting a Lions squad straight after the Six Nations because I think there'll be six or seven players that we'll probably want to see more of post-Six Nations," he said.
"It's relatively easy to pick 25. It's the last 10 that often make the difference on a Lions tour. I think it's important to give ourselves time to really look at those final selections and those key players."
With experience on his side McGeechan has warned any potential stars that he will is looking for consistent top level performers and not flash-in-the-pan players who he may not be able to rely on at crunch time.
"If you are aspiring to be a Lion then you know you don't accept poor performances," he said.
"It's that consistency on a Lions tour that, ultimately, if you're going to do anything, will make the difference."
McGeechan's men have a tough schedule set for them againt the current World Champion Springboks and he was quick to dismiss any idea of country quotas and said, at the end of the day, it is his job to put together a squad that he believes can get the job done in the time frame they have been given.
"Getting the best group together, character-wise as well as talent-wise, is the thing,
"It's going to be, with all the background knowledge, the best group of players we think can come together and be successful."
No Lions tour has ever been considered an easy undertaking and, while they were successful in their last adventure in Africa against the Springboks, McGeechan says next years will be no exception.
"It's always been impossible!" he joked.
"That's why the Lions have only won four series in 130 years.
"The only thing that happened in the past was you're on tour for four months so you've got eight weeks to prepare for the first Test. That's just out of the window now."
