Looking Forward To A Busy Saturday

DEAR OLD RUDYARD KIPLING famously asked: "What do they know of England, who only England know?" I have long thought the great man had knowledge of how Rugby Union commentary in these islands would become in this third decade of the 21^st century. Because “Fleet Street” has almost been calling, since the current Tour was first mooted, that the “British and Irish Lions” should become the “English Lions”.

[This overlooks the small point, England's fabled “Three lions” are actually leopards – although I have long preferred the Bill Leckie description “Sea Lions”.]

Andy Farrell might be not quite the right sort for some of the “63 Old Farts” at Twickenham. He is of course, not only “Northern” but also, from a Rugby League background; and while he got the Lions' gig on the back of his work with Ireland – mainly because, perhaps, the Rugby Football Union is not yet quite ready to hand control of their national team to a northern oik – but, he's still English to the core; so Fleet Street will grant him lee-way they would not grant to a genuine Mick, Sweaty or Taffy.

Thus, Farrell's decision to call-up Racing 92's Owen Farrell – who in case you've been holidaying on Planet Zanussi these past few years – is his son, has passed without censure among the ranks of Fleet Street's finest. The decision comes across as pure nepotism, it makes no sense.

A like for like replacement for the unfortunately injured Elliot Daly would call for a versatile player who could cover up to five positions: full back, plus all four three-quarter line spots. Farrell Junior is either a 10 or a 12, two positions where the Lions already have more than enough cover. He has no international form over the last two Guinness Six Nations tournaments, or Englands most-recent other internationals, while his club form with Racing has been patchy at best.

Younger players with more-recent international experience could have been called-up, but, it's Farrell Senior's show and he has gone with his son – he and we must now live with this decision.

However, if calling up Owen back-fires on Andy, Fleet Street will not miss him and hit the wall.

TOMORROW MORNING'S Mãori All Blacks v Scotland game in New Zealand is already shaping-up to produce those “Disaster For Scotland” headlines so beloved of some of my desk jockey media colleagues.

The Mãori will be treating this game as an international, and while neither side will be at optimum strength, the fire and fury which their hosts will surely bring to their haka and the opening exchanges will be a definite step up for a callow Scottish front five. A pack featuring just one player whose caps record is in double figures will have to gel quickly and cope with a true baptism of fire.

There will be a lot riding too on the club familiarity of the half backs and captain Stafford McDowall at 12 in getting Scotland going forward, ball in hand.

Some commenters on TOL and elsewhere have been critical of Gregor Townsend's selection for this tour opener, but, in truth he doesn't have a lot of leeway. This is a non-cap match, he has to keep the few big guns he does have with him fresh for the matches against Fiji and Samoa, these are full-scale internationals, with World Rugby ranking points at stake – he needs the first-choices he does have with him available for these games.

I will be somewhat apprehensive when I switch on my TV at 4.30am tomorrow, but, we long-serving Tartan Army foot soldiers, fine we ken, with Scotland: “it's the hope that kills.”

I AM UNCERTAIN which Scot has the most-difficult job in Saturday's representative games. I fear it comes down to a choice between Hollie Davidson, who has the whistle for South Africa v Italy, or Mike Adamson, who is on bunker duty as Fair Play Review Officer for Argentina v England.

Hollie will have to deal with a Saffa side, playing at home, with all the sense of entitlement their position as World Champions has given them. She will have little bother with the players, but, the home fans will be on her back if, as they surely will at some point, they feel she is adjudicating against their favourites.

To make her task more-difficult, World Rugby has put England's Matthew Carley and Ireland's Andrew Brace on the flags. OK, they cannot do as much harm there as they undoubtedly could had they a whistle in their possession, but, in truth, neither is international class as a match official.

Over in South America, the exchanges are usually pretty tasty when England is the opposition - the “Los Malvinos” factor still comes into play. There is every likelihood that, at some point Mikey will have to decide on a possible 20-minute or full red card; good luck with that Wee Man.

JOHN JEFFREY perhaps got what is known in the commoner areas of Caledonia as: “A big reddy” when SRU internal politics scuppered his bid for the top job in World Rugby, but, this week he landed a nice little consolation prize, when he was appointed His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale. In his new role, JJ succeeds the Duke of Buccleuch.

Booted in the goolies by his peers at Murrayfield, but handed a nice wee part-time number by The King, I don't think JJ will be too-bothered. Congratulations Big Man.