IAN McGEECHAN insists every Lions test place is up for grabs after showing he is no respecter of reputations by dumping the captains of England, Wales and Scotland.

Most pundits were left redfaced trying to second guess McGeechan, with the unfancied trio of Andy Powell, Ugo Monye and Alan Quinlan booking their seats on the plane to South Africa.

While Steve Borthwick, Ryan Jones and Mike Blair find themselves out of favour despite wearing the armband for their countries.

In contrast to Sir Clive Woodward four years ago, McGeechan insists he will head to South Africa with no preconceived ideas on team selection and every player will be given a fair crack of the whip in the warm-up games ahead of the first test on June 20.

He said: “As selectors we have to give every player the opportunity to make his own mark for a place in the test team.

“You have to keep an open mind because you know some players will raise their game.

“We won’t be looking at the test team until the week before the first test.

“Naturally there were some tough decisions and there will be disappointed players but I am confident that this is a very strong and capable squad.

“Over the last six months the Lions coaching staff has attended countless matches, analysed endless games and taken the counsel of national and domestic coaches.

“Its composition reflects the form shown in the Six Nations and domestic rugby and has a balanced blend of experience and youth.”

Ireland boast the biggest contingent in the 37-man squad with 14 players, with Wales providing 13 and Scotland just two – Euan Murray and Nathan Hines.

England’s representation of eight players is the lowest number in 32 years but McGeechan’s choices do appear to leave the door open for Newcastle fly-half Jonny Wilkinson to join the party.

Wilkinson has not played since September because of a knee injury but – with only two No.10s in the squad – it would appear McGeechan is hedging his bets on calling up a replacement should anything happen to Stephen Jones and Ronan O’Gara.

More predictably McGeechan turned to lock Paul O’Connell as he did against South Africa with Martin Johnson 12 years ago.

And McGeechan admitted the selection of O’Connell is an indication of the battle that lies in wait for the Lions pack.

He said: “Paul has proven himself with Munster and Ireland.

He drives a forward pack with his character and it was important to have that focus in the forwards.

“We need that impetus up front and Paul is a very character.

“He leads from the front on the field and as a quality international has the respect of his fellow players all over the world “As a member of the 2005 tour to New Zealand he played in five matches including three Tests so knows all about the ethos and challenges of Lions tours “I look forward to working with him and the entire squad over the coming months as we strive to develop a side that can add a successful chapter in the long history of the Lions.”

O’Connell has been enormously successful in captaining Munster to two Heineken Cups but he maintains the leadership duties will be shared throughout the team.

He said: “This was never something I aspired to do but to be selected is a great honour.

“Brian O’Driscoll gave me a ring the other day after we had spoken to Ian and was great about it.

“The main thing will be leaning on the experience of the coaches and leaders within the squad.

“It needs to be a big squad effort. That will be the secret to any success. The more people who have input the better.”

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Lions Squad

Full-back: Lee Byrne (Wales), Rob Kearney (Ireland) Wing: Shane Williams (Wales), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Ugo Monye (England), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), Tommy Bowe (Ireland) Centre: Tom Shanklin (Wales), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), Keith Earls (Ireland), Riki Flutey (England) Fly-half: Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), Stephen Jones (Wales) Scrum-half: Mike Phillips (Wales), Harry Ellis (England), Tomas O’Leary (Ireland) Number eight: Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Andy Powell (Wales) Flanker: David Wallace (Ireland), Stephen Ferris (Ireland), Alan Quinlan (Ireland), Joe Worsley (England), Martyn Williams (Wales) Lock: Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O’- Connell (Ireland, capt), Donncha O’- Callaghan (Ireland), Simon Shaw (England), Nathan Hines (Scotland) Prop: Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Andrew Sheridan (England), Phil Vickery (England), Euan Murray (Scotland) Hooker: Jerry Flannery (Ireland), Lee Mears (England), Matthew Rees (Wales).