LIONS TOUR: Clive Woodward is in no hurry to appoint a captain for next summer's British Lions tour to New Zealand but insisted Martin Johnson's successor must be a Test certainty.
Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll is the current favourite to head the tourists against the All Blacks but that owes as much to a lack of any outstanding alternatives as his own leadership skills.
Injury and a loss of form have cast a shadow over England World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson while Scotland's Gordon Bulloch and Wales' Gareth Thomas are newcomers to international captaincy.
Woodward will thus wait until the end of next year's Six Nations before deciding who should fill arguably the crucial position on the tour, but emphasised there could be no doubts that whoever landed the job would feature against the All Blacks.
He said: "The captain is key but we have to wait to see the player's form before making any decisions. The biggest thing about the captain is the guy has to deserve his place in the team - that is absolutely critical.
"People get injured and lose form so it would be wrong to ink in a captain until you've seen the guys in action during the autumn internationals and the Six Nations.
"You have to get it right and there's no rush to pick someone."
Woodward also pledged to avoid the division between the tourists' Test side and the midweek side which marred the 2001 tour under Graham Henry.
"By bringing in Ian McGeechan, Gareth Jenkins and Mike Ford, the midweek players know they have some of the best coaches in the world looking after them and they've got every chance of making the Test team," said Woodward.
Woodward was speaking at yesterday's launch of the official Lions shirt - made by adidas - for the tour.
SMIT INJURY: Hooker Danie Coetzee has been added to the Springbok squad for next month's tour of Ireland, Britain and Argentina after an injury to captain John Smit.
Smit sprained an ankle in practice yesterday and is ruled out of training until next week.
"There is no tear or fracture but he will not be able to train for five days," a South African spokesman said. "Danie Coetzee has been added to the squad and will travel with the team."
MOWER RETIRES: Scotland flanker Andrew Mower has announced his retirement from rugby at 29.
The Newcastle forward has undergone reconstructive knee surgery twice, but despite attempts to make a comeback, he has decided to end his career after medical advice.
Australia-born Mower won 13 caps for Scotland, the last against Ireland a year ago. He also made more than 50 Zurich Premiership appearances for Newcastle.
