McGeechan named new Lions coach

McGeechan will embark on his seventh Lions tour and his fourth as head coach after being confirmed as the unanimous choice of the selection committee on Wednesday morning.

The 61-year-old Scot is determined to honour Lions traditions by dispensing with the bloated touring party assembled by Clive Woodward four years ago.

Woodward used 51 players and a giant backroom staff of 26 for New Zealand, splitting them immediately into two groups with McGeechan in charge of the unbeaten midweek team.

Former England boss Woodward hoped that it would set the blueprint for all future Lions trips, but, instead, it ended in a desperate 3-0 Test series whitewash.

For Wasps director of rugby McGeechan, squad unity is key to a successful tour.

He said: "The Lions are special and unique. You can't compare them to anything else you'll do as a player or coach.

"I have a strong philosophy and principle in what the Lions should be trying to do.

"Because the Lions are so unique, the preparation has to be unique. Ten games in eight weeks is a unique challenge.

"I firmly believe you need a very tight group - players who can work together as a group with each other and the coaches.

"As far as I'm concerned, everything in preparation and during 2009 will be about one group working closely together.

"What I think is very important is the bond that develops if you're coaching one group of players every day of the tour.

"There will be one coaching team and one group of players. That unity, the need to draw together very quickly, is critical for the Test series.

"Everyone will get the opportunity to make their mark. From day one, everyone must understand what we're about.

"The fact South Africa are world champions again will make it a very special tour."

Wales coach Warren Gatland and his assistant Shaun Edwards are expected to be appointed to the coaching staff for South Africa next year.

McGeechan, who masterminded a famous series victory over the Springboks in 1997, insists that he will finalise his backroom team as soon as possible.

He said: "The Lions tour starts from today for me and team manager Gerald Davies. We intend to spend time together and talk things through.

"We have certain beliefs and philosophies about the Lions and, hopefully, over the next two months, the management and structure will be in place."

The Lions have 10 matches scheduled in South Africa, including Tests against the Springboks in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg between June 20 and July 4.

Other fixtures include appointments with the Emerging Springboks, Western Province and the Sharks and the tour opens on May 30 against a Highveld XV in Rustenburg.

McGeechan added that there would be no conflict between his duties for Wasps and Lions, insisting: "I will continue to coach Wasps."

He also expressed his desire to get to grips with the experimental law variations (ELVs), which are a proposed set of amendments to the laws of the game that are under consideration by the International Rugby Board (IRB).

The IRB has developed a system for proposing, giving trials to and implementing ELVs, which will result in two or three minor changes every few years to certain rules within the sport, such as the way that scrums are set.

McGeechan said: "That's important. I want to be hands on at Wasps, especially with the experimental law variations coming in.

"I need to understand what the applications of the ELVs are and you can only do that if you do hands on coaching.

"The arrangement does allow me flexibility. The club are very comfortable with the situation."