Hamilton tipping Barclay and Itoje to shine for Lions
SARACENS’ Jim Hamilton believes that Maro Itoje and Jonny Gray would make a good Lions secondrow pairing in the summer if given the opportunity.
Captaincy contender, Welshman Alun-Wyn Jones, already twice a Lions tourist, is certainly one of the favourites for a Test jersey at lock.
And Englishman Itoje is almost certain to start if his form continues on its steep upward trajectory but Hamilton, who has 63 Scottish caps, believes Gray could force his way into the Test 23.
He said: “Alun Wyn Jones will definitely be there and is a great leader and experienced while there will be other secondrows knocking on the door.
“But I just hope at some point on the tour Maro and Jonny will get the chance to team up together in the second-row because they really are special talents.
“They are both modern day second-rows and do everything that is expected of them, and more, so well.
“I see Maro day-in and day-out in training with Saracens and some of the things he does are frightening. He has stayed so grounded despite all of the hype surrounding him and he just keeps working hard and there is a load more to come from him.
“When I was still playing for Scotland, Jonny was already playing great rugby and showing that he could compete on the big stage, but over the last 18 months he’s taken his game to the next level.
“I think Glasgow and Scotland have also done a good job making him one of the leaders because he seems to be thriving on it.
“He is never going to be a ranter and a raver, but his team-mates have a lot of respect for him and when he talks they tend to listen.
“I’m expecting him to make a big impact in the Six Nations and I’m convinced he’ll be in the Lions squad come the summer.
“The great thing is that both Maro and Jonny are still in their early 20s so they have plenty of years left to go on and have brilliant careers.”
Hamilton is cautiously optimistic over Scotland’s Six Nations chances.
They host Ireland first up at BT Murrayfield on Saturday and Hamilton feels that Vern Cotter’s men are in good shape.
“I thought Scotland played some good rugby in the autumn Tests, there seems to be a bit more competition for places now and a bit more of a cutting edge in the team,” he said.
“With three home games out of five the boys will want to make them count and although Ireland first up will be a tough encounter I do believe it is a match we can win.
“The guys seem to have a good togetherness at the minute and I think having my old pal John Barclay coming back into the backrow on a regular basis has made a big difference.”