McGeechan backs Lancaster for Lions

Lions legend, Sir Ian McGeechan, has been quoted as saying he would be “very surprised” if current Leinster head coach Stuart Lancaster will not be part of Warren Gatland’s coaching staff when the Lions travel to South Africa in 2021 to take on the World Champion Springboks.

In a recent interview with BBC Radio Ulster's Sportsound Extra Time, McGeechan conveyed that Lancaster has revealed himself as a master tactician during his four years at Leinster, who are current favourites to take the Pro14 title.

"Stuart Lancaster coming to Leinster is doing what he's best at, what's he's good at, [which is] his coaching and his tactical work - particularly attacking wise," McGeechan said.

"I just think over the last two or three years, we've seen the real quality that he has as a coach and probably he got tied up in other things which were non-coaching and non-rugby things which took him away from what he was outstandingly good at.

"The Leinster environment has shown that if you get that right, you can see what comes out of the individual."

McGeechan has been part of the last three Lions tours to SA, as a player in the famous and victorious 1974 side captained by Willie John McBride, and as a coach in 1997 and 2009.