Williams backs Murray for Lions captaincy

WELSH wing legend Shane Williams has added his voice to the growing chorus suggesting that Conor Murray can continue his impressive form and announce himself as Warren Gatland’s Lions captain for this summer’s tour to New Zealand.

After England’s leadership corps faltered haplessly in the face of Italian coach Conor O’Shea’s tactics on Sunday, Alun-Wyn Jones succumbed to what Williams (right) labelled a “schoolboy error” during his side’s calamitous defeat to Scotland in Cardiff a day earlier.

The Welsh lock is still favourite, but is drifting in the betting, while the Munster man has stormed into contention and is widely regarded as joint third favourite, albeit his national captain, Rory Best, is second favourite. “Conor would make a good captain,” said Williams. “He is in a pivotal position there and playing in great form.

“There is the probability of having his best mate Jonathan Sexton playing outside him as well. So he does have captaincy qualities and the Irish forwards will certainly vouch for that.

“It was quite bizarre what happened at the weekend because Alun-Wyn isn’t the type of guy that would take that kind of nonsense, especially off an outsidehalf!

“To be over-ruled like that, and to admit being overruled like that, is almost a little bit of a schoolboy error as far as I’m concerned. But he is a great captain.

“Rory Best would be a good captain, he is playing well in the Championship.”