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'You could have four starting Scottish backs in that Lions team'
By Liam Heagney
Scotland finished their four-match Autumn Nations Series with a rousing Edinburgh win over Australia on Sunday and it has convinced The Rugby Pod that four Scottish backs will make the British and Irish Lions Test team.
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Ireland boss Andy Farrell is poised to begin his sabbatical after this weekend and turn his attentions full-time to scouting players for next summerās tour which features a three-Test series with the Wallabies.
Scotland finished the 2024 Guinness Six Nations in fourth place with just two wins in their five matches, but they have now followed up their unbeaten four-match summer tour of the Americas with a three-wins-from-four campaign this November.
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Fiji, Portugal and Australia were all beaten, with only world champions South Africa getting out of Murrayfield with a victory. This has left retired Scotland lock Jim Hamilton giving Gregor Townsendās team a 7.5 out of 10 rating for the series and he also predicted this bodes well for Scottish players looking for British and Irish Lions tour selection.
Speaking on The Rugby Pod, the show he co-hosts with retired England out-half Andy Goode, it was felt that the Scots had boosted their 2025 tour selection prospects and the headline claim was that no one would moan if four of Townsendās backs were named in a Lions tour Test team. Here is how the assessment unfolded:
Hamilton: One game and theyāve made it, have they? Well, the Six Nations is going to be key because that is the one thing why Scotland players donāt make the Lions. They feel like there is a mental block sometimes at the very highest level and Iām sure if you asked Andy Farrell, that would be the statement. When it really matters, when the pressure is really on, which we see on the Lions how close some of the games can be, do Scotland have that mentality to get over the line? Iām looking at that team, Pierre Schoeman has got a chance. Iād say the whole starting front row has got a chance, so Zander Fagerson, Ewan Ashman, Pierre Schoeman. Second row? Donāt know, there is a lot of good locks out there, isnāt there? Iām a big fan of Grant Gilchrist. Rory Darge has got a real shot. Jack Dempsey, for sure.
Goode: You counting (Matt) Fagerson out?
Hamilton: You have got a lot of players like Fagerson but he has been brilliant. For Glasgow in the URC as well, especially the semi and the final, the big games he was brilliant. Ben White as well, all round nine. Finn Russell, for sure. What does he need to do to start? Is he the kind of 10 now that you think will start?
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Goode: Finn Russell is the starting Lions 10 right now and in the summer.
Hamilton: Okay, thank you because I do hope that and agree that. Both centres, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, actually the whole back three, the back line, you can pick any of them now whereas before you were clutching at straws. Some of these players have not only got a shot at the Lions, they have got a shot at being the starting players.
Goode: I agree, that whole back line. Tuipulotu is nailed on, Finn Russell is nailed on.
Hamilton: Iād say Huw Jones is nailed on as well.
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Goode: Youāve got (Garry) Ringrose, who is very good, Ollie Lawrence is very good, Huw Jones is definitely in that mix but itās very competitive at 13. Finn Russell, Tuipulotu and Blair Kinghorn to a certain extent are three standout players that could comfortably start for the Lions and I donāt think anyone would have a problem. Duhan van der Merwe another one. You could have four Test match starting Scottish backs in that British and Irish team and no one would have a moan about it at all on form, on ability and on āyouāve just beaten Australia boys, youāre all in lads!ā
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I am in favour of the British and Irish Lions squad selected from genuine British and Irish players, not those who qualify on residency or having a relative. Controversial I know but it would rule out 80% of the Scottish players, 70% of the Irish players and about 40% of English and Welsh players. However, you would still have a strong Lions squad and one capable of winning a test series against any of the SH nations. One for strong debate in my opinion?
So SL who would be in your lions team??? Ummm Marcus Smith, Sam Underhill, Chandler Cunningham South, Feyi Waboso š¤£šš¤£š
Irish born players going Lions born overseas - Aki, Gibson Park, maybe Lowe. They'll be at least seven of the pack touring, Henshaw, Ringrose, Keenan definitely also going. Scotland: VDM, Tuipolotu, and maybe Schoeman. Have at least eight other Scots in the touring side. Weird %s.