PAUL O’CONNELL looks set to be named as captain of the Lions by Ian McGeechan when the 35 or 36-man squad is announced at a Heathrow Hotel on April 21st. It is believed that O’Connell’s on-field presence in the secondrow and leadership are seen by McGeechan and the Lions management as ideal to lead the tourists against the Springboks this summer.
Brian O’Driscoll captained the Lions in New Zealand four years ago before his tour was cruelly cut short in the opening moments of the first Test, and he did nothing to damage his chances of captaining them for a second time in leading Ireland to a Grand Slam. Indeed, O’Driscoll was yesterday named as the Player of the Six Nations, but McGeechan is expected to plump for the 29-year-old Munster captain.
As the rumours and bets on O’Connell have intensified some bookmakers have already suspended betting on the captaincy.
Meanwhile, the British and Irish Lions players will receive €40,873 per man as a basic stipend for this summer’s tour to South Africa. It is nearly double the tour fee of €23,558 paid to the Lions squad for their ill-fated trip to New Zealand in 2005.
A source close to the players confirmed the win bonus is a relatively modest €2,151 going up to €4,307 for a second Test success. There is believed to be no additional bonus for winning the series 3-0. The players will also benefit from certain commercial commitments with in the region of €107,522 available in a central fund for the squad.
To realise their playing and financial goals will be a difficult assignment in the backyard of the current world champions, South Africa. The Lions can, however, take heart from the fact that they have managed to win a series there twice in the past, 1974 and on their last visit in 1997.
O’Driscoll’s role in leading Ireland to their first Grand Slam in 61 years was recognised yesterday when he won the Player of the Championship award for the third time in four years.
The Irish captain scored pivotal tries against France, England and Wales, also captured the award in 2006 and 2007. His centre partner Gordon D’Arcy is also a former winner.
The 2009 award was decided following a public vote, hosted on the official website of the Six Nations Championship.
Former international players Jason Leonard, Keith Wood, David Sole, Ieuan Evans, Philippe Saint-Andre and Alessandro Moscardi each put forward their three recommendations in order of preference and these were combined to create the shortlist.
England’s Delon Armitage, Welsh fullback Lee Byrne, Irish number eight Jamie Heaslip, second row Paul O’Connell, centre O’Driscoll and Italian backrow Sergio Parisse were all in the running for the award.
“It has been such an immense week already and to be named the RBS Player of the Championship is a fantastic end to what has been a phenomenal championship,” said the Irish captain.
“This year’s RBS Six Nations has been a special tournament for me and the team for lots of reasons – it’s been fantastic for Irish rugby and for the whole country. To be voted RBS Player of the Championship by the fans makes it extra special but I’m really proud of our team effort right the way through the tournament and I would not be in this position if it was not for my team-mates.
“The support of the fans throughout our campaign has been unwavering and a huge part of the team’s success on the pitch – I’m just glad we could reward them too by bringing home the Grand Slam.”
Over 24,000 fans cast their vote in the online poll. O’Driscoll got nearly 30 per cent of the votes cast. Like last year, Parisse (27.9 per cent) was ranked in close second, with Irish vice-captain O’Connell finishing third.
