Telfer predicts strong Scottish Lions contingent

JIM Telfer is convinced that Scotland’s historic Six Nations displays will ensure a bigger representation on this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa than has previously been the case.

Lions head coach Warren Gatland announces his 36-man squad tomorrow to put to an end the debate and arguments over who should make it onto the plane for the three-Test series against the world champions.

With former Lions players and pundits all having a go at whittling down the Home Nations’ best players, a number of Scots are expected to be firmly in contention for Gatland’s squad.

Stuart Hogg, Duhan van der Merwe, Chris Harris, Finn Russell, Ali Price, Hamish Watson, Jamie Ritchie, Jonny Gray, Zander Fagerson, Rory Sutherland and George Turner have all been mentioned as possible tourists on the back of strong Six Nations showings for their country.

Telfer believes Scotland’s ground-breaking Six Nations victories against England at Twickenham and France in Paris, coupled with narrow defeats to Wales and Ireland, should have made Gatland sit up and take notice.

The 81-year-old said: “I’ve said publicly before, for the previous tour in ’17, and in ’13, that there should have been more Scots in the team on those tours.”

Speaking to BBC Scotland, the Grand Slam-winning coach added: “I would expect, because of the performances of the Scotland team and because of the performance of the Scotland players, there should be more than we’ve been accustomed to.

“How many, I don’t know. But I would have thought five or six is not without being reasonable.”