PARIS - MUNSTER lock Paul O'Connell has vowed to lead from the front when the British and Irish Lions embark on a 10-match tour to South Africa including three Tests against the world champions.

Head coach Ian McGeechan handed O'Connell the captaincy over Brian O'Driscoll despite the Leinster centre having skippered Ireland to a first Grand Slam in 61 years in March.

McGeechan, however, rarely does things without some intricate planning and the former Scotland and Lions centre is hoping O'Connell will form a 'real focus in the forwards' as England great Martin Johnson did when the Lions last won a series, 12 years ago, against the Springboks.

'He is a huge character and has a huge amount of respect,' McGeechan said of O'Connell. 'For South Africa, it's important to have that focal point there.'

O'Connell himself said he thought the current 37-strong Lions squad was stronger than the one that was whitewashed 3-0 in New Zealand four years ago when then-coach Clive Woodward used 51 players.

The Munster lock, 29, played in all three of those Tests but failed to make much impression as the visitors were soundly outplayed by the Dan Carter-inspired All Blacks.

But O'Connell did admit, however, that the Springboks, the reigning world champions after beating England in the final in France in 2007, would be a very big challenge on home soil.

'There's no doubt they're the favourites,' he said, adding that the 'weight of expectation is not on us.

'We'll have four weeks to come together as a team, we're massive underdogs.

'We want to do justice to the Lions jersey because we didn't do it proud in 2005. We'll go over there and do the jersey proud and see what happens afterwards.' -- AFP