Laidlaw now all-systems go for Lions

GREIG LAIDLAW has turned his attentions fully to Lions duty after failing in his bid to win Gloucester the Challenge Cup as a departing gift.

The Clermont Auvergne-bound scrum-half could not prevent a 25-17 defeat by Stade Francais on Friday and will now meet up with the Lions this evening ahead of their training camp on the outskirts of Cardiff.

‘I will take time to reflect but you have to get back on the horse and for me it’s on to the next job and keeping fit before New Zealand,’ he said. ‘I want to make sure I put my best foot forward.

‘The Lions tour was always on the back burner because of this final. We wanted to win to try to give Gloucester Champions Cup rugby next season. I will stay up here in Scotland for a few days and see my kids and wife. Then I will fly back to Wales with the Lions. I need a couple of days off but it’s back to work on Sunday because it will take a lot of hard work to do well in New Zealand.’

Laidlaw has only just returned from nine weeks out with an ankle problem and looked sluggish as a second-half replacement in what was his last appearance for Gloucester. He will compete with Conor Murray and Rhys Webb for a Lions scrum-half spot after he replaced Ben Youngs, who pulled out of the tour for personal reasons.

But up against a powerful Stade team, Laidlaw’s latest appearance saw him come out on the losing side. ‘Winning this competition a couple of years ago was tremendous,’ he said. ‘It’s disappointing not to do that again and it’s tough to reflect on.’