Great squad for Scots boys but a Gray area over Jonny
Scotland’s representation in the British & Irish Lions quadrupled f rom the previous tour as head coach Warren Gatland selected eight Scots to tour South Africa later this year.
It is Scotland’s largest group since nine players were picked to go to Australia in 1989, some 32 years ago.
The veteran Alun Wyn Jones has been given the honour to lead the tourists in his fourth Lions tour – unprecedented in the modern, professional era.
The Welshman knows all about Lions tours and is a fair pick as captain, but is possibly past his prime as a player.
It will be interesting to see whether he plays in the tests as the competition for second-row places is intense and Gatland is not afraid of leaving his tour captain out of the Saturday side, as Sam Warburton discovered.
The Scots boarding the plane to South Africa include the two props, Zander Fagerson and Rory Sutherland; player of the Six Nations, Hamish Watson; half-backs Ali
Price and Finn Russell; centre
Chris Harris; winger Duhan van der Merwe and Scotland’s captain Stuar t Ho g g , who himself will be embarking on his third Lions tour.
Of the eight, perhaps Ali Price can consider himself fortunate that Ben Youngs ruled himself out of contention for the tour, citing personal reasons and creating a gap for Price to take advantage of.
On the downside, Jonny Gray must be wondering what he has to do to earn a place on a Lions tour, having had his best season for Scotland and being an integral part of the best pack in the Premiership at Exeter. That Courtney Lawes goes as a second-row selection must be slightly galling for Gray.
I am particularly pleased for the two Scottish props, both of whom have improved hugely over the last couple of seasons and who are bound to benefit from playing and training in such esteemed company.
The victorious Lions tours of 1971, ’ 74, ’ 89 and ’ 97 all had Scottish representation in the front row at loose head, so perhaps Sutherland’s selection is a good omen.
There were a few surprises in the squad as ever.
Sam Simmonds, the English No. 8 was overlooked by Eddie Jones but has earned his place in the squad, while Johnny Sexton’s experience has been deemed surplus to requirements.
It is one thing being picked in the squad, but now the hard work really starts and the challenge to earn a place in the test XV begins in earnest.
Gatland will be at pains to stress that every place in the test team is up for grabs, and that no one can afford to rest on their laurels or rely on their reputation to be selected.
Expect a number of the eight Scots to press for that honour.