De Villiers side will be favourites to take revenge for South Africa's series defeat at the hands of the Lions in 1997 © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: McGeechan sounds rallying call

News: McGeechan faces up to some tough choices

News: O'Connell buys into Lions' dream factory

News: O'Connell confirmed as Lions captain

Players/Officials: Peter De Villiers | Ian McGeechan | Paul O'Connell | Brian O'Driscoll

Teams: British and Irish Lions | South Africa

South Africa coach Pieter de Villiers has expressed shock that Lions counterpart Ian McGeechan has opted to leave three experienced captains at home.

McGeechan revealed his 37-man squad yesterday but there was no place England's Steve Borthwick, Wales' Ryan Jones or Scotland's Mike Blair meaning Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll will be the only international skipper in the Lions ranks. But O'Driscoll will not lead the elite tourists with that honour handed to his compatriot Paul O'Connell.

De Villiers believes those decisions could prove costly for McGeechan.

"The one thing that surprised me was that the leaders of three home nations weren't included in the squad - the guys that play under those guys respect them," the Springboks coach told Radio Five Live. "Those are the guys that can stand up in meetings and try to resolve small niggles and things that can evolve on a long tour like this.

"Brian O'Driscoll was the captain of the last Lions team, even though he got injured, and he was the captain of the most successful Six Nations team this year. That's a second big surprise."

De Villiers also questioned whether McGeechan had erred in trying to pack his team with physically imposing players who could combat the powerful Boks.

"If McGeechan wants to sit down and try to match the Springboks then I think that is the wrong thing," he added. "If he wants to say 'this is our strength, this is how we want to play the game, these are the people who can do the job for me' then I can justify any selection he has made.

"But I will not sit down and say 'they are going to do this, so I should do this'. I am more focused on what I want to do and I will find the talent and the players to do the job for us."

De Villiers welcomed yesterday's announcement for the renewed focus it offered his squad.

"Now that we know the make-up of the Lions squad we will be able to advance our preparations in terms of our analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, how we expect them to play and how we must prepare for the three tests.

"A Lions tour is always a momentous occasion and 2009 will be no different. Our guys know the magnitude of the task that lies ahead and they know the expectation that there is, especially in view of the disappointments of 1997."