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Sir Ian McGeechan says he would be very surprised if British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland does not strongly consider putting Stuart Lancaster on his coaching ticket for next year’s tour of South Africa.

“Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Sportsound Extra Time, two-time Lions head coach McGeechan said Lancaster has proved himself to be an outstanding tactician in four years with Leinster.” Rugby fans can book British lions 2021 tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

Lancaster joined the Irish province as a senior coach in 2016 having been sacked by England a year earlier.

“Gatland, who will take charge of the Lions for the third consecutive time, is yet to reveal any members of his coaching staff for next summer’s tour, which is scheduled to take place over five weeks between 3 July and 7 August.”

“Stuart Lancaster coming to Leinster is doing what he’s best at, what’s he’s good at, which his is coaching and his tactical work – particularly attacking wise,” said McGeechan.

“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.”

“With Lancaster and head coach Leo Cullen at the helm, Leinster has thrived and remains undefeated in 22 games this season, with the chance to retain their Pro14 title this Saturday when they meet Ulster in the final.”

McGeechan has featured in three of the last four Lions tour of South Africa, once as a player and twice as head coach.

While the 2021 tour is still scheduled to proceed as planned, South African Rugby has not ruled out postponing it if supporters cannot travel by then.

“McGeechan expects Andy Farrell, who has been defense coach on the last two tours, to once again be considered while also suggesting Gatland may have already spoken to Joe Schmidt, who stepped down as Ireland head coach after last year’s World Cup.”

“I certainly would have a conversation with him because he knows British and Irish rugby,” McGeechan said.

“He’s been over here for a long time, knows the players and I think Joe would benefit from being part of a Lions coaching group. As coaches, you do learn things.

“Just having the conversations about rugby or about a certain player or how you see things, it’s an incredible learning environment to be able to be a part of. I would be very surprised if ‘Gats’ has not had a conversation with Joe. “

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The Springboks’ Rugby World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe said on Monday he wants to be a part of next year’s incredible British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

Kolbe, 26, is set to feature as the visitors return to the rainbow nation for the first time since the hosts’ series victory 12 years ago. Rugby fans can book British lions 2021 tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

“I watched in 2009 and ever since I told myself I want to be a part of that,” he said during a press conference.

“Seeing the atmosphere, the way the stadiums were packed, the amount of time (that) is invested when the British and Irish Lions do come over, it’s incredible. It’s a team I want to be a part of and play in those three Tests.”

The Toulouse three-quarter, who won an Olympic Sevens bronze medal in 2016, was forced to choose between featuring at next year’s Tokyo Games, which have been rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic or facing Warren Gatland’s men.

“It was a difficult one with the Lions being at the same time. Being a part of the Olympics in 2016 and experiencing that was incredible,” he said.

“Playing against athletes from all over the world and meeting athletes in the Olympic village are the things you want to be a part of,” he added.

Kolbe was a teenager when the world champions beat the Lions 2-1 and have a clear memory from the second Test in Pretoria.

“Morne Steyn, playing at Loftus, so he knew the stadium, getting that penalty from past the halfway line,” he said.

“The moment with all the green jerseys standing up and they went crazy for the winning points. That was one of the highlights.

“Playing against the Lions, because they are made out of different countries makes it so much more special and playing against the best — that’s who you want to perform against and how you want to see where you are as a player.”

– ‘Difficult’ clashes –

Ahead of the tour, which runs from July 3-August 7, Kolbe is expected to feature for the Boks during The Rugby Championship later this year, so will be unavailable for the 2019 Top 14 winners for more than a month.

Kolbe called on domestic leagues and national unions to work together to create a calendar that will decrease clashes.

“If internationals do come up you have to be available to your national team, but the clubs should have an understanding in terms of when and how they need the players so players can plan,” he said.

“It’s difficult for clubs to lose players due to internationals but it also allows players to perform at the national stage.”

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