By Tournament / British and Irish Lions

Ian McGeechan will be confirmed as head coach for the 2009 British and Irish Lions on Wednesday morning.

It's been rugby's worst kept secret since Martin Johnson dismissed any interest with working in the England setup, but given Eddie O'Sullivan's capitulation then sacking as the Irish top dog and Brian Ashton following O'Sullivan out the door albeit in much darker circumstances, it left Gerald Davies and Co no route to turn to apart from Geech, who will oversee his fourth Lions tour, as well as two as a player and one as an assistant.

Lions chairman Andy Irvine said: "We wanted someone with a special bond with the Lions."

Geech is the most successful coach in Lions history, triumphing in the 1989 series in Australia, heading up victory over arguably one of the most famous touring victories in South Africa in 1997, with the only blemish a 2-1 defeat to New Zealand in 1993.

McGeechan is expected to name Shaun Edwards and Warren Gatland as his assistants, creating the dream team triumvirate.

The new agreement between the RFU and the Guinness Premiership clubs has thrown the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa into disarray.

With the players contracted to just one game a week, and appropriate rest periods after long-distance travel taken into account, the congested global calendar means that England's players could miss all three of the matches scheduled for the first eight days of the tour.

Why is it always about the English? In 2005, Clive Woodward selected 21 Englismen, but if the side was selected tomorrow then only Andrew Sheridan and Paul Sackey would be starters. So would it be that bad?

To read the full article in the Daily Telegraph click here

Welsh rugby supporters are fully enjoying their resurrection in this year's RBS 6 Nations, and it's even extended to chilling coach, Warren Gatland, who is being hotly tipped to lead the British & Irish Lions in next year's tour to South Africa.

Admittedly, all Brits would much rather prefer a 'British' coach to take charge, but with the slim pickings currently on offer, Gerald Davies & co maybe forced to look overseas.

Gatland could follow in the footsteps of fellow Kiwi Graham Henry, who didn't exactly excel himself on the tour to New Zealand. However, the Wales coach believes he is better placed to bring success because of his previous terms with Ireland and London Wasps - you can see his point!

The lack of local coaching talent, which is something the RFU is trying to address, and the evidence of the RBS 6 Nations and the Guinness Premiership so far, suggests a vote of home favouritism might not be the correct one.

Prior to the World Cup, Eddie O'Sullivan had a great shout, but he has shown to be far too faithful and tactically inept since, whereas Frank Hadden's supporters are wearing thin, just like Scotland's hopes of a back-line epiphany.

Brian Ashton isn't shaped in the Lions mould, as he is far too quiet while his managerial credentials haven't received glowing recommendations.

Domestically, the Welsh principality coaches haven't got much to shout about, while England's best on offer, Dean Ryan, Richard Hill and Dean Richards, don't have the international experience to challenge the best in the world.

So that leaves Jake White, Gatland and the front-runner, Ian McGeechan.

White knows a thing or two about South Africa, especially as 80% of the players he coached to World Cup gold should be there or thereabouts - that's if Pieter de Villiers sticks to the quota.

The dream team would be a triumvirate headed by Geech, ably supported by Gatland and Shaun Edwards  - the Wasps-Wales connection - very cosy don't you think?

Maybe they would even find a place for captain colossus Martin Johnson too?

Ian McGeechan has been given his greatest endoresment yet... or not, but Andy Robinson believes the "outstanding coach" would be the ideal candidate to head up the coaching staff.

Robinson said, "I think he's a quality coach. His depth of knowledge and understanding of the game in all its facets - attack, defence, set-piece - is just phenomenal,"

Geech inspired the Lions to tour triumphs in South Africa and Australia and has led Wasps during the best period in the club's history. So it would make sense...