McGeechan compares AWJ to Martin Johnson

Legendary British & Irish Lions former player and coach Sir Ian McGeechan has likened Alun Wyn Jones to Martin Johnson. 

Johnson himself is one of the most celebrated Lions – leading the team on two tours (1997 in SA and 2001 in Australia), achieving that elusive series victory in South Africa – the first one since 1974, which, incidentally, McGeechan participated in. 

A Lions captain has to have the respect of the players first and foremost,” McGeechan told the Telegraph. 

“I was coaching at Northampton at the time and Johnno was at Leicester, so there were some big head-to-heads — East Midlands derbies. 

“And when you were there, you saw the presence Johnno had on the field, even though he wasn’t captain. Not just with his own team but with the opposition as well. He had an impact. 

“I said to Jim (Telfer) and Fran (Cotton) that, psychologically, the first toss of the coin at the first Test, the South African captain is going to have to look up to the Lions captain physically. And I just felt his presence and the way other players reacted to him was what we needed.” 

Coming from a place of great experience with regard to the Lions tradition – having playing on two tours and acting as head coach on four - McGeechan believes that Jones ticks all the necessary boxes as a captain. 

“He’s the standout choice for captain,” he said. 

“It was the only way with the way the Six Nations went, the way Wales went, you’re back to the respect that a captain or a player needs from the other three countries. And he has that. 

“There are no questions about his own work-rate, his off-field behaviour, his attitude. Everything about him is what you need for a Lions captain.”