"He offers something different" - Sir Ian McGeechan picks his five Lions bolters

Friday, 23 April 2021 at 09:02

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byRugby Rucker

Here, legendary coach Sir Ian McGeechan runs down his five players to come from nowhere to make the 2021 British & Irish LIons squad to face the Springboks.

1. Danny Care

MCGEECHAN SAID: "At scrum-half, Conor Murray is the clear favourite to be Test starter, but my bolter would be Danny Care. He offers something different from virtually every other No 9 and is in cracking form."

DID YOU KNOW? t age 11 he was invited to join the Academy at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club which meant giving up club rugby for a few years

2. Simon Zebo

MCGEECHAN SAID: " In the backs, I'd look at Racing 92's Simon Zebo, who plays with a joyous freedom and would make a great tourist."

DID YOU KNOW? His older sister, Jessika Zebo, is a project co-ordinator who has represented Ireland as a hurdler.

3. Joe Marler

MCGEECHAN SAID: "Up front I'd coax loosehead Joe Marler into touring. He's been there, done it and is a perfect tourist."

DID YOU KNOW? Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees

4. Sam Simmonds or Alex Dombrandt

MCGEECHAN SAID: " I worry slightly about Simmonds' size, but if he played alongside a big six like Tadhg Beirne or moved to 6 himself, with his speed he could be a really effective performer on the hard grounds of the high veldt. Ditto Dombrandt, who has amazing mobility and ball-carrying ability for a big man. I would be tempted to take one or the other alongside Taulupe Faletau and CJ Stander."

DID YOU KNOW? He played for Wales under 20s in the 2017 Six Nations, qualifying as a resident student at a Welsh university. However he has no birth, family or residency qualifications to play for Wales at Test level

5. Paul O'Connell

MCGEECHAN SAID: "Finally, I'd also have a coaching bolter. Paul O'Connell is a former Lions captain who has proved that he can bring an immediate and dramatic improvement to a lineout. His transformation of the Irish forwards was hugely impressive so he'd be one of the first names in my coaching group."

DID YOU KNOW? He attended the Model School and Ardscoil Rís, Limerick where he initially excelled at swimming and only started playing rugby at the age of 16