Brian O’Driscoll insists the new British and Irish Lions coach must not repeat the key mistakes made by Sir Clive Woodward on the 2005 tour to New Zealand.

The Lions are expected to confirm on Wednesday that Ian McGeechan will take charge of his fourth tour and attempt to repeat the famous 1997 series win over South Africa.

Three years ago Woodward tried to create a blueprint for future Lions success, using 51 players and 26 backroom staff, but came unstuck as the Lions were beaten 3-0 in the Test series.

O’Driscoll, captain in 2005, believes Woodward was wrong to select the Test side on reputation rather than form and he has claimed some of the team did not deserve their places.

Instead of Woodward’s giant blueprint, O’Driscoll held up McGeechan’s 1997 triumph over the Springboks as the ultimate Lions experience.

“There are definitely huge lessons to be learned,” O’Driscoll said in a Lions debate, hosted by 2009 tour sponsors HSBC.

“In 2005 the coaching staff went in with pre-conceived ideas as to what the Test team would be. Not everyone performed the way they should have but some guys still got into the Test team.

“I do believe it is hugely important for this next tour that everyone starts on level pegging.

“If you play well you get selected next time round, irrespective of reputation or whether you have been on other Lions tours or whether you have been captain of your country. None of that should matter.

“It is the guys who are playing well when you are on tour who should play the Test rugby. You have to give everyone equal opportunity to get into the Test team.”

Woodward decided to create two distinct coaching teams for the midweek and Saturday fixtures and by splitting the squad, many players felt from an early stage they had little chance of making the Test team.

Double Lion and England World Cup winner Jason Robinson agreed the special bond in New Zealand was “not as it should have been”, largely due to the huge numbers on tour.

“The more people you have there, the more people will be disappointed when the team is chosen,” he said.

“Everybody who goes out there wants to play. If you are not picked for two or three games you are called the driftwood and you feel like that. It is important to get the numbers right.”

McGeechan, if confirmed, is a man who holds the ethos and the principles of the Lions dear to his heart, having already toured twice as a player, once as an assistant coach and three times as head coach.

O’Driscoll added: “I don’t envisage 450 people being brought on tour to South Africa!

“Why where they successful in 1997? What was it that brought the team together? It seemed like the bond. With smaller numbers it is maybe easier to sort that out.

“Whether it is ‘Geech’ or someone else, I envisage the coach that comes will have it at the forefront of their minds to create that bond as quickly as possible.”

Robinson believes Wales Grand Slam-winning coaches Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards would complete the perfect Lions coaching team.

Gatland and Edwards are close friends from their days at Wasps and delivered instant success when they took over Wales this year.

McGeechan has also built a close relationship with Edwards at Wasps, guiding the club to last year’s Heineken Cup triumph.

Asked if there is a better hands-on coach in world rugby than Edwards, his former Wigan rugby league team-mate, Robinson said: “I am yet to see it. I think the Lions is something he would love to get his teeth into.

“He has done exceptionally well in a short space of time with Warren and with Geech. The coaches have to get on and if you have three people who already have that bond it will make it much easier.”