Telfer hopes more Scots will join up with Lions squad

Jim Telfer is convinced Scotland’s historic Six Nations displays will ensure a bigger representation on this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

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

Scots 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.

The Scots have been on the periphery of the Lions in recent times, with Gatland only choosing two for his original squad in 2017 and three in 2013.

Even when Lions and Grand Slam legend Sir Ian Mcgeechan was in charge for the last meeting with the Springboks in 2009, there were just two Scots in the initial selection.

Telfer, pictured, believes Scotland’s 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.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, 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.

“But you have to remember there were only five Scots in 1997 as well, and there were two Scotsmen picking the squad!

“So, you don’t look at the country, to be quite honest, when you’re picking a squad. You have the luxury of having excellent players, completely different sometimes to being the Scotland coach.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, the Grand Slam-winning coach added: “There should be more Scots 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.”