O'Connell to lead Lions in South Africa

Paul O'Connell was on Tuesday named as the captain of the British and Irish Lions squad that will tour South Africa later this year.

The 29-year-old Ireland lock was handed the role ahead of his compatriot Brian O'Driscoll, the man who captained Ireland to their Grand Slam triumph in this season's Six Nations.

An aggressive ball-carrier and accomplished line-out operator with a reputation as the most feared second-row forward in the northern hemisphere, O'Connell will lead the 37-man squad named by Scot Ian McGeechan, who was also the Lions coach when they last won a series, in South Africa in 1997.

O'Driscoll was one of a record 14 Ireland players included in the squad but there was no place for the captains of England, Scotland and Wales, with Steve Borthwick, Mike Blair and Ryan Jones all missing out.

Wales provide 13 members of the squad, England will be represented by eight players while the Scots contingent will number just two.

McGeechan said he had opted for O'Connell as his captain against the world champions because of the leadership qualities he demonstrated in leading Munster to victory in the European Cup last year.

"Paul O'Connell has shown over his career that he is a natural leader both on and off the field," McGeechan said.

"He leads from the front on the field and as a quality international has the respect of his fellow players all over the world.

"As a member of the 2005 tour to New Zealand he played in five matches including three Tests so knows all about the ethos and challenges of Lions tours.

"I look forward to working with him and the entire squad over the coming months as we strive to develop a side that can add a successful chapter in the long history of the Lions."

O'Connell added: "To be selected for a second Lions tour is fantastic and to be asked to captain the squad is a tremendous honour. It is not only a great honour for me but an honour for Munster and Ireland.

"The tour to South Africa represents a huge challenge for the touring party as we will be playing against the world champions. However, I am confident we have the talent and attitude to represent the famous shirt to the best of our ability and to be successful."

Lions fans will be hoping O'Connell can provide the kind of leadership delivered by Martin Johnson, who had yet to become England captain when he led McGeechan's successful squad in 1997, and by the legendary Willie John McBride, another Irish lock who led the 1974 tourists to the Lions' first series win in South Africa when McGeechan was a centre.

Among the notable absentees from the squad were the England duo of Delon Armitage (full-back) and Tom Croft (blindside flanker) while Scotland's Chris Paterson, a world-class goalkicker, appeared to pay the price for not having a settled position with his national side.

Meanwhile the Irish duo of centre Keith Earls, capped just twice, and scrum-half Tomas O'Leary were among the surprise inclusions while McGeechan rewarded rising Wales wing star Leigh Halfpenny for a fine season for both club and country by selecting the 20-year-old.

Those players who are free of club commitments will gather for a pre-tour training camp in Granada, Spain in early May.

Tour manager Gerald Davies, one of the stars of the Lions side that won its first and so far only series in New Zealand back in 1971, said he believed the management had picked a squad capable of playing "smart" rugby.

"The very name Lions conjures up a great sporting event. It is the last great rugby adventure. I can think back to my time, green and wide-eyed, I played for the Lions on South African soil (in 1968).

"They love rugby with a fervour and a passion in South Africa but then, so do we," the legendary Wales wing added.

"I'd like to think the players chosen by us, under the leadership of Ian McGeechan will match all these qualities and not only that but also go a step further. I'd like to think they will play a smart game."

Defence coach Shaun Edwards, who works under McGeechan at English champions Wasps, added: "There's no doubt you've got to win the collisions on the advantage line against the South Africans. They are probably the best defensive unit in the world at the moment so we have to match them.

"It is unreasonable to ask our offence to score four or five tries against them. We have to keep those tries down to an absolute minimum."

The Lions will play ten matches in South Africa, starting against a Highveld XV on May 30 and culminating in the third and final Test against the Springboks on July 4.