SCHOOL SPORTS DEBATE: STEVEN BRINNfrom Ardscoil Ris in Limerick says the Lions will need a leader from the front in South Africa , while HELEN LAVERY, 15, from the Wallace High School in Lisburn says the Lions need a leader who is world-respected 

O'CONNELL

"COMETH THE hour, cometh the man."

Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell would both make truly great and winning captains. Their performances this season were outstanding. However, as this Lions Test series will be played in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban where forward dominance will be essential, the selectors must not look beyond the iconic, charismatic and dynamic son of Munster, Paul O'Connell.

History is on O'Connell's side. The Lions have already been led by an Irishman, the teak-tough son of Ulster, Willie John McBride, who captained the Lions on the 1974 tour to South Africa. There, three Tests were won and one drawn, as well as winning all the provincial games. McBride's legacy was a team bonded by belief and a never-say-die spirit, traits Paul O'Connell has in abundance and will doubtless bring to the Lions series should he captain the side.

This series will be decided up front in the forwards and there is no one better to lead from the front than the red-headed predator. Paul's infectious enthusiasm and great experience will bring that dynamic factor to the captaincy. When it comes to trench warfare O'Connell knows how to win with two Heineken Cup victories to his credit. He played the three Tests in the New Zealand 2005 Lions tour.

On the field he is the ever present leader, cajoler, mentor and aggressor. Where the real business is done his controlled aggression, superb example and peerless leadership is a priceless asset.

Modern rugby demands a media friendly spokesperson, a captain at ease with camera and microphone. Paul O'Connell's articulate and incisive analysis, combined with his wit and humour, makes him the Lions dream captain.

Ian McGeechan, Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards have sufficient savvy to realise that Paul is the man best equipped to exploit the full potential of this squad. McGeechan, by choosing O'Connell as captain will free Brian O'Driscoll to utilise his attacking and defensive skills and to exploit any openings in the South African defence. Paul and Brian will have a huge influence on the outcome of the series, yet Paul's ability to be a talisman in the hot bed atmosphere of the high veldt demands he be the Lions captain.

Bring on Paul - the Lion King!
- Steven Brinn

O'DRISCOLL

I THINK Brian O'Driscoll should, without a doubt, be the Lions captain.

Firstly and foremost he has rediscovered his best form this season. For several months those less loyal among his supporters doubted if his seemingly sluggish form would ever reach the heights of pre-2008. However, this Six Nations he has shown immense strength of character and gotten himself back to his magical best - and when he is at his best there is no one better.

His leadership has been unshakeable. He has led Ireland from the front in every match, the first to produce a moment of match-turning brilliance for his team, as well as the first up to pat his team-mates on the back. When someone needed to take the match by the scruff of the neck against England it was him. When a try was needed against Wales, it was him. And when someone needed to stop Scotland from scoring once again it was Brian who provided the match-defining tackle.

Yes, Ireland is blessed with a number of exceptional leaders, but Brian is the one who produces the moments that lead the team to victory, the one the whole team looks to to lead them to victory.

He is the all-round player. Not only an attacking inspiration, but a defensive one too. Consistently brilliant at that, as Tommy Bowe said "the whole team has been lifted by his performances".

He is world-respected. The person who captains the Lions must be someone the team will listen to, someone who has earned everyone's respect, someone every member of the team can look to and admire.

He knows how to win matches and loves a challenge, leading the Lions would bring out his best because he is a champion. As Denis Hickie said "Brian has what I have only seen in very few players. He has an ability to produce really big performances at crucial times in really big games. When the pressure's on, he's always delivered".

He deserves a chance to captain the Lions again. He never got the chance to show what he could do the last time and would relish the opportunity, he has fallen back in love with not only the game but being captain this year, and has the experience, determination, presence and pure excellence to guide them to victory.

He lets other leaders lead too, lets others breathe, express their opinions, and yet he leads the leaders very, very well.

He has captained Ireland to a Grand Slam and is only the second Irishman to do it. Yes, it was a marvellous team effort, as it had to be, and everyone played a massive part - but none more so than O'Driscoll.

He was the one who not only rallied the troops at half-time but, more importantly, got the points on the pitch. Without him as captain I do not think we would have done it. We have seen so many times Ireland fall just short of victory when their captain has not been on the pitch (France at Croke Park, 2007). He really is the difference between Ireland just losing or just winning.

It is O'Driscoll who the players look to to keep calm, to inspire the team to victories and the Lions are the sort of players who feed off such inspiration. Surely the provider of them for so long should be captain too? In Brian O' Driscoll we have been in the presence of sporting leadership and excellence, Ireland's captain fantastic - and he should be the Lions' captain fantastic too.

'This series will be decided up front in the forwards and there is no one better to lead from the front than the red-headed predator. Paul's infectious enthusiasm and great experience will bring that dynamic factor to the captaincy. When it comes to trench warfare O'Connell knows how to win.           - Helen Lavery

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