O'Connell poised to lead Lions to SAfrica

Long waits are not unknown at Heathrow but for 35 players it will all have been worth it when Ian McGeechan names his British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa at a Terminal Five hotel on Tuesday.

The burning question of which Irishman from Paul O'Connell and Brian O'Driscoll will lead the party appears to have been answered, with British media united in claiming that the Munster lock will got the nod ahead of the grand-slam winning skipper.

O'Driscoll was captain against New Zealand four years ago when the Lions were hammered 3-0. Having lost 2-1 in Australia in 2001 they are looking for their first series win since they triumphed 2-1 in South Africa 12 years ago when the hosts, as now, were world champions.

"The two Lions tours that have been won in South Africa were captained by second rows - Willie John McBride in 1974 and Martin Johnson in 1997 - so history would point towards O'Connell," Lawrence Dallaglio, a member of the victorious 1997 back row, told the Sunday Times.

LONDON, Reuters