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Jim Hamilton laughs off cheerleading Finn Russell for Lions selection while seated alongside Dan Biggar

Racing's Finn Russell. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Ex-Scotland international Jim Hamilton has laughed off his live TV blindspot last weekend – championing Finn Russell for Lions tour selection next year without realising at the time that his Channel 4 panel colleague, Wales’ Dan Biggar, is likely to be the player competing with Russell for the No10 shirt along with Owen Farrell.  

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Biggar travelled on the previous Lions tour as back-up to Farrell and Johnny Sexton, with Russell only briefly coming in the squad in New Zealand as one of the infamous ‘Geography Six’, the additional resources Warren Gatland controversially called on to lighten the training load in the build-up to the Test series versus the All Blacks. 

With Russell’s Test future with Scotland still uncertain following his high profile falling-out at the start of this year with Gregor Townsend, his form for Racing 92 is viewed as critical if he wants to catch the attention of Lions boss Gatland ahead of the trip to South Africa.

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The Rugby Pod reflects on the end of an era at Saracens following their European elimination

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The Rugby Pod reflects on the end of an era at Saracens following their European elimination

Russell went on to be the weekend match-winner for Racing, his role in the late try in Paris proving decisive in dethroning Champions Cup holders Saracens to set up a final next month versus Exeter in Bristol.

However, Hamilton’s willingness to cheerlead the efforts of Russell wasn’t reciprocated by Biggar and it was only long after the live broadcast had ended that it dawned on the former Saracens lock as to why the Welshman was so cold about his praise of the Racing player. 

Reflecting on his TV faux pas, Hamilton told The Rugby Pod show he fronts with Andy Goode: “Dan got brought into the Channel 4 panel pre-match quite late on in the day, and you know how much I love Dan Biggar as a player – he is one of my favourite players. 

“I’m not that nervous around him because we have had him on the podcast and whatever. But there was a thing put in place around Finn Russell as I had been doing this Channel 4 gig for a couple of weeks and I was talking up Finn Russell before the game. 

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“I didn’t even put arrogantly, stupidly two and three together to make twelve or whatever it makes that if Owen Farrell doesn’t play for whatever reason, then you have got someone like Dan Biggar who could potentially start No10 for the Lions. 

“So I’m talking up Finn saying if Owen Farrell, his discipline isn’t great or he gets injured, if Finn steps up in a semi-final today and really, really cements himself as a world-class No10 he could be starting No10 for the Lions. I’m looking for Dan to give me the nod, ‘Like Jim knows what he is talking about’. Nothing. Absolutely nothing! 

When Finn then does his chip over the top, I’m like, ‘Mate, he’s Lion’. Nothing. Nothing off Dan. And I didn’t even clock until after that obviously he is going to be vying for the position. They are going to be competing and I didn’t put two and three together to get ten.” 

 

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J
JPM 1 hour ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

Unfortunately you don't know anything about French rugby, coaches and players but still making a lot of assumptions and judgements to push your prefabricated and simplistic point of view that Dupont is manipulating everything and is a bad guy. I am not a NZ rugby specialist and wouldn't dare make such theories about what is going on within the ABs team. Therefore my advice to you is to do like Dupont and stay humble when you don't know all the background of the issues !!!


Firstly if you knew a bit of Galthié, he is not the type of coach who is going to ask advice to his players and even his captain about team selection. He is as stubborn as you...


Second Ramos has played a lot of times as 10 with Toulouse and therefore Dupont (in particular when Ntamack is injured and unfortunately it has often happened recently and for long periods). He even played 10 during the last 3 games of the 2024 6N and this was far better performance than the first two games with Jalibert as 10.


Thirdly Jalibert lacked of respect to a La Rochelle player so your theory is once again out.


Fourth as I explained to you Galthié went for a 6-2 bench and Jalibert can only play 10 which doesn't fit that plan. Furthermore as 15 Buros is better under high balls than Ramos and everybody is prepared for a tactical kicking game.


So you can blame Galthié for a lot of things (as you clearly enjoy doing at the end of your post and you should be very happy as an AB fan) but certainly not Dupont. Sorry once more for your conspiracy theory.


And don't worry about potential disharmony in the French team; they are excellent mates around their captain. Jalibert is well known in the French rugby circles to have not a strong character (and we saw that in the WC quarter finals as he is very nervous in any decisive international game unlike Ntamack and Ramos as for his late penalty kick vs England this year).


In conclusion enjoy the game tmrw night. It is good that the ABs are very upset; we should watch a great game of rugby. I hope for running rugby and not too much kicking. With 5 key players injured on our side (Ntamack, Baille, Atonio, Cros and Penaud) and 2 on your side I and various French fans see you as favourites. I obviously hope for another result.


If you are interested you can read a good article in the Guardian on the subject of France-NZ games.

92 Go to comments
K
KB 1 hour ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

Consistency hasnt been there they have many great players SA were also not unbeaten in the 2023 WC - NZ were in 2015 WC McCaw and Carter Nonu and Smith - SA did not have those Marque players in those postions in 2019 or 2023 - I wouldnt rank them ahead of the 20I5 ABs - They clocked up 60 points against France in the QF - Furthermore I do not believe for one moment SA won 2023 fairly no way - they were so favoured it became obvious that behind the scenes SA the nation bought the title - Their last 3 matches were won by a solitary point there were many contentious decisions that went their way that it became obvious it wasnt coincidence - Sport has been hijacked by a satanic cult just as is Politics

Some players coaches officials and sponsors are involved - they know who they are - its called Freemasonry - any sport that allows betting is corrupt - its not all about money either for these parasites its also about control - Lots of American NFL players have spoken openly about games being scripted - Football is also rigged Referees have been caught on film showing freemason hand signs - The 95 RWC final ranks as the highest and most obvious attempt at cheating There was no way SA were going to allow NZ to gate crash Nelson Mandelas reunification party - NZ were so good they had to posion almost the entire team to get a 3 point win - a Hollywood Movie ( theres your Red Flag ) was made about SAs triumph called Invictus


William Henley wrote a poem called Invictus


It starts


Out of the night that covers me BLACK ( All Blacks ) as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever GODS maybe for my unconquerable Soul ...( Olan says INVICTUS is an evil Malevolent entity who corrupted the Titans ... this is Mandelas double meaning speech ( hes a fraud ) - of thanks for helping overcome SA's adversary NZ - There is only ONE true God Yahuah - Only a false god would be complicit in Cheating Corruption and Harming others to win a RWC for a sick and sinful Nation ) the poem ends with


I am the CAPTAIN of my soul


SA will forever bear the stain of guilt and disgrace over their involvement in poisoning the ABs a day before the 95 RWC Final

13 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.


This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.


A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.


Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.


When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.


Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.


The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.


I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.

92 Go to comments
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