Former Lions star Jason Robinson believes Ian McGeechan’s selection of coaching staff will give the Lions the best possible chance of beating the Springboks next summer.
McGeechan named Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley as his forwards, defence and backs coaches respectively, with Craig White and Rhys Long taking charge of physical conditioning and performance analysis.
"I think Ian McGeechan has made exactly the right choices in his back up team," said Robinson who toured with the Lions in 2001 and 2005 and is now working as an ambassador with the Lions’ principal sponsor, HSBC.
"The coaching team have all worked together before which will be so important when they have so little time to pull off one of the biggest-ever challenges in world rugby – winning a Lions series.
"All the coaches have had recent success – just as players need to be picked on form, so do coaches. The players will also welcome the fact that the coaches all know each other and have worked together before."
Robinson is also adamant that the fact that each of the chosen coaches currently have roles with either Wasps or Wales, or even both, will not have a negative effect on either of those sides.
"I don’t think the Wasps fans or players should be concerned that their coaching team will also be involved in the Lions," added Robinson.
"Both McGeechan and Shaun Edwards are fully committed to Wasps. They haven’t earned their reputations in the rugby world by having their minds on other matters.
"Coaching Wales didn’t affect Shaun and the success of the Wasps squad last season and I don’t see that the Lions will be a problem this year. They are both extremely passionate about the club and all I will say is write Wasps off at your peril!"
Robinson is one 16 former Lions appearing as a guest speaker at the exclusive HSBC Lions Legends dinners between now and May next year. Robinson will be joined by Fran Cotton and Gavin Hastings in Manchester on Friday, March 20 and Phil Bennett and Willie John McBride at the Celtic Manor in Wales on Friday, May 8.
Other guest speakers across events in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales include Lawrence Dallaglio, Fergus Slattery, Finlay Calder and Gareth Edwards.
For more information on HSBC Lions Legends events, please click here.
