McGEECHAN NAMED AS NEW LIONS COACH
The British and Irish Lions have appointed the "Sir Alex Ferguson of rugby" to lead next year's tour of South Africa.
London Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan, who takes charge of his fourth Lions tour, has been compared to the Manchester United manager by Lions chairman Andy Irvine because of his success in rugby.
And the Scot, who was also the Lions' head coach in 1989, 1993 and 1997 and was assistant coach in 2005, says he is thrilled to be back in the hot seat.
"The perennial bad penny just keeps turning up, doesn't he?" the 61-year-old joked. "I'm delighted - it is an honour and a privilege to be given this fantastic opportunity again.
"Having had a scent of it three years ago [as assistant] I realised how important it is to me. In 2005, a lot of Lions players were coming off their peak, but this time they are coming up to their peak.
"The Lions are special, they are unique - you can't compare them to anything else you ever do. Ten games in seven or eight weeks is a unique challenge. If I hadn't been coaching full time at Wasps I would not have considered it.
"The fact that South Africa are World Champions makes it a very special tour. It will be three World Cup finals, and I am looking forward to that challenge."
Irvine, a full-back who won 51 caps for Scotland in his playing days, thinks that McGeechan is the only man for the Lions coaching job, and will improve on the 2005 tour to New Zealand, when the Lions lost all three Tests under Sir Clive Woodward.
Irvine, a Lion in 1974, 1977 and 1980, said: "From day one Ian was very much in our thoughts. We wanted someone who could share the ethos and spirit of the Lions, and he fits the bill.
"If you look at Geech's record, it speaks for itself, and he is still actively coaching. The big question was 'did he still want it?'; 'was the hunger still there?'; 'was the desire still there?'. I'm pleased to say that he is possibly as fired up as he has ever been.
"There are similarities between Geech and Sir Alex Ferguson. Not just because they are both Scottish, but because their desire and hunger are insatiable. Ian is a fantastic, innovative thinker and one of the best coaches of all time.
"If you had a straw poll of all the players that would come into Lions contention and asked them who their dream coach would be I think Ian would get the majority of the vote - and that is very attractive.
"He's a very young 61-years old - he is as fit as a flea. He loves the Lions to bits and he can see the potential.
"He is already extremely excited about some of the young talent coming through and he is as enthusiastic now as I have ever seen him."
McGeechan also toured twice with the Lions as a player, in 1974 and 1977. Tour manager Gerald Davies added: "The statistics tell you all you need to know - I'm not sure his achievements can be matched again.
"When Ian first took over that role as Lions coach, I'm not sure he would have thought that 20 years down the line he would still be doing it and still be the best at his game. It is Ian McGeechan who sets the benchmark - you can't better him."
The British and Irish Lions have appointed the "Sir Alex Ferguson of rugby" to lead next year's tour of South Africa.
London Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan, who takes charge of his fourth Lions tour, has been compared to the Manchester United manager by Lions chairman Andy Irvine because of his success in rugby.
And the Scot, who was also the Lions' head coach in 1989, 1993 and 1997 and was assistant coach in 2005, says he is thrilled to be back in the hot seat.
"The perennial bad penny just keeps turning up, doesn't he?" the 61-year-old joked. "I'm delighted - it is an honour and a privilege to be given this fantastic opportunity again.
"Having had a scent of it three years ago [as assistant] I realised how important it is to me. In 2005, a lot of Lions players were coming off their peak, but this time they are coming up to their peak.
"The Lions are special, they are unique - you can't compare them to anything else you ever do. Ten games in seven or eight weeks is a unique challenge. If I hadn't been coaching full time at Wasps I would not have considered it.
"The fact that South Africa are World Champions makes it a very special tour. It will be three World Cup finals, and I am looking forward to that challenge."
Irvine, a full-back who won 51 caps for Scotland in his playing days, thinks that McGeechan is the only man for the Lions coaching job, and will improve on the 2005 tour to New Zealand, when the Lions lost all three Tests under Sir Clive Woodward.
Irvine, a Lion in 1974, 1977 and 1980, said: "From day one Ian was very much in our thoughts. We wanted someone who could share the ethos and spirit of the Lions, and he fits the bill.
"If you look at Geech's record, it speaks for itself, and he is still actively coaching. The big question was 'did he still want it?'; 'was the hunger still there?'; 'was the desire still there?'. I'm pleased to say that he is possibly as fired up as he has ever been.
"There are similarities between Geech and Sir Alex Ferguson. Not just because they are both Scottish, but because their desire and hunger are insatiable. Ian is a fantastic, innovative thinker and one of the best coaches of all time.
"If you had a straw poll of all the players that would come into Lions contention and asked them who their dream coach would be I think Ian would get the majority of the vote - and that is very attractive.
"He's a very young 61-years old - he is as fit as a flea. He loves the Lions to bits and he can see the potential.
"He is already extremely excited about some of the young talent coming through and he is as enthusiastic now as I have ever seen him."
McGeechan also toured twice with the Lions as a player, in 1974 and 1977. Tour manager Gerald Davies added: "The statistics tell you all you need to know - I'm not sure his achievements can be matched again.
"When Ian first took over that role as Lions coach, I'm not sure he would have thought that 20 years down the line he would still be doing it and still be the best at his game. It is Ian McGeechan who sets the benchmark - you can't better him."
Labels: Ian McGeechan, Lions, rugby union
