Sir Ian McGeechan picks his five 'guarantees' for Lions XV

McGeechan was a player in South Africa on the victorious Lions tour of 1974, one of the greatest of all. He was coach of the victorious Lions tour in South Africa in 1997, another expedition that ranks in the highest echelon of rugby adventures.

He was coach again in South Africa in 2009, when his squad played some magnificent stuff, but went down 2-1 to the world champions.

In the last 46 years, the Lions have toured South Africa four times and McGeechan was heavily involved in three of them. You couldn't hope for a better travel-mate.

Check out five favourites Sir Ian McGeechan has to start for the Lions later this year.

McGeechan said: “Itoje is definitely one of them and I’d bracket him as a possible captain. He’s a hell of a competitor. When you watch him, he’s into everything. He reads things so well, he’s niggling, he leads by example. He’s a really intelligent lad and a really intelligent rugby player.”

DID. YOU KNOW? So far in his rugby career, he has won four English Premiership titles with Saracens, three European Rugby Champions Cup titles, and three Six Nations Championship titles

McGeechan said: “On form, I have to go with Sutherland. He’s been absolutely brilliant. He’s not just a good technical rugby player, he can play, he can run, he makes an impact. His story is an incredible one. I’d love to see him kick on.”

DID YOU KNOW? Sutherland came through the ranks with his hometown club and school sides before representing the Borders and Scotland at under-17 and under-18 in the back-row.

McGeechan said: "Fantastic consistency, tough, good set-piece performer, just a very solid character. He will take some shifting."

DID YOU KNOW? George has played for Saracens since 2009 after training in the Saracens Academy from the age of 14

McGeechan said: "A lot of people would probably go for Alun Wyn alongside Maro Itoje, but I wouldn't. Alun Wyn would be an outstanding off-field captain, a standard-setter, a senior figure, but with another year on the clock and some of the other talent that's out there I'd go somewhere else for Maro's partner. And that would be James Ryan - another very bright guy, another very hard and driven player with a massive work ethic.

"Those two could be unbelievable. They are two natural leaders and I'd be intrigued to see how their chemistry evolves on a Lions tour."

DID YOU KNOW? He is the Great Grandson of Irish Politician and Easter Rising Revolutionary James Ryan

Position: Winger

"I'd definitely have Watson. He's great under the high ball, has unbelievable feet and would be outstanding on hard South African grounds."