THERE will be many people in rugby on these islands who will tell you that selection for the British and Irish Lions is not the be all and end all of a player’s career. With very, very few exceptions, no Lion would agree with that assertion.
Some years ago The Rucker had the good fortune to interview more than 70 Lions, past and present, and the results were fascinating, as only one of that 70 really did not enjoy the experience all that much.
Even the naysayer, however, considered selection to be a great honour and a recognition of his status in the game.
The number of interviewees was split more or less half and half between those who had toured with the Lions as amateurs and those who had been involved as professionals.
It was striking that even though going on a Lions tour as an amateur player back in the day was something truly remarkable, even the professionals who now tour abroad annually with their countries still considered it to be a massive honour, and yes, career-defining.
At the start of the year, not many of Scotland’s players were reckoned to have a chance of selection for this year’s Lions’ sojourn in New Zealand. That’s no longer the case.
So after the RBS Six Nations tournament how many Scots realistically have a chance of going to New Zealand with Warren Gatland?
There is no doubt that many Scots acquitted themselves well during the tournament but surely there are only four or five who are certain to go on the tour and possibly only one or two who will make it as very much members of the midweek side.
If Stuart Hogg is not the first choice full-back for the Lions then Gatland has been watching a different tournament from the rest of us. He was outstanding in all of his games and only the head knock picked up against England stopped him from playing the salvation part he might well have played during the debacle at Twickenham. Hogg is a top class defender as well as a brilliant attacker.
Both Jonny and Richie Gray did themselves a power of good, especially the former, but there are a number of serious contenders in the second row positions and it may well be that Jonny will be taken along as one of four or five players capable of performing to Test standard, with Richie as a midweek player.
The Lions are going to need men of considerable guile against the All Blacks and all the other tough sides they the Lions will face, and that’s why John Barclay has to come into contention though probably not in the starting Test XV.
Gatland is known to be an admirer of Greig Laidlaw and the Scotland skipper would surely make a good captain of the midweek side. Of our backs, Tommy Seymour and Tim Visser, too, has an outside chance given that we will need fast wingers in the land of the long white cloud, while Gatland must see Finn Russell as an option.
Six or seven Scots in the party would be about right. Any less and those reports of anti-Scottish bias will suddenly start to seem true.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here