Yes - The Lions Management Are Stupid

I THINK stupid, myopic, xenophobic Warren Gatland and Graham Rowntree just killed-off the concept of the British and Irish Lions as an all British Isles institution - by AGAIN overlooking Ryan Grant, when they needed to summon a replacement loose-head prop to Australia following Cian Healy's injury and citing in the opening game in Australia, against Western Force.

NOT to take Grant in the first place, instead picking two English props who could not get into the first-choice English team, was not merely a slap in the face to the best loose-head in the 2013 Six Nations; it wasn't just another example of English bias; it was unacceptable in terms of form and appreciation of ability.

It stunk to high heaven. It stinks even more, now that Grant has once more been over-looked, in favour of another limited English - albeit with a trace of American/Italian - second or third-rater.

But, this is nothing new. Scots have been getting a raw deal from the Lions selectors since the professional age began. In South Africa last time round, in 2009, front row selection seemed to be based on: We will pick anyone but Euan Murray, then  accepted as the best tight-head in the world. Now their bias has switched to the opposite side of the scrum.

I have already seen some Scottish fans, posting on newspaper websites that the SRU should re-call Messrs Hogg, Maitland and Gray to South Africa in protest. I don't buy that, these guys earned their chance, they should stay where they are.

We should, however, expel Andy Irvine, the Lions manager into outer darkness. He has let Scotland down terribly-badly and, if he doesn't have the decency to immediately resign and come home, he should be dismissed as Scotland's man on the Lions committee with immediate effect, after the tour, made to scrummage against Iain Milne just to learn what it is all about, then banned for life from Murrayfield.

Irvine has let Scotland down.

Also, the SRU should tell the Lions, should they come for Scottish reinforcements later in the tour: "No thank you, we're keeping our boys as a protest at your anti-Scottish attitude."

This just might win Alec Salmond a few rugby converts come next autumn.