Can The Lions Win The Forward Battle? I Have My Doubts

I HAVE this week been reading Jim Telfer's autobiography and have found the chapters dealing with his Lions involvement, as player, coach and assistant coach, most interesting; more so in view of what will occur overnight in Melbourne.

"Creamy", THE top forwards coach in the northern hemisphere, is a confirmed believer in the dictum that you have to win the forward battle, in order to win the Test match - and, quite honestly, I don't see the Lions' pack, as chosen for the Melbourne game, as being good enough to do this.

For a start, I do not buy into this: "Adam Jones is the world's best tight-head" nonsense. The Hair Bear is a good, experienced prop, who has developed a way of thinking his way out of bother; but, as when Ryan Grant went after him in the last Glasgow v Ospreys match, he is up against a technically proficient loose-head, who is ALLOWED to prop against him, Jones folds. He needs a strong-scrummaging lock behind him: the under-rated Ian Evans supplies this grunt for Wales, I don't think Geoff Parling will offer him the same assistance for the Lions.

On the other side, Saracens' and England man Vunipola is a disaster waiting to befall the Lions. He has enormous potential, is explosive about the park, but, at just 22, he hasn't yet put in the hard hours in the scrum. He was woefully exposed last week when he got on, and I fear the same thing will happen - which will probably bring Ryan Grant into the action earlier than might be expected. Again, here, I question the grunt which comes through from Alun Wynn Jones.

At least, Grant is in the 23 and, given the attritional nature of front row play these days, he will get on at some point. Richie Gray isn't even in the 23, after being singled out for praise for his performance against the Rebels; Gatland having gone for Tom Croft to cover the back two rows of the scrum. This is another strange decision which I fear might come back to bite the Lions.

I will be hoping for a Lions win, but, I fear the Aussies might come back and square the series. I had a look at the first test on catch-up TV - I refuse to subscribe to Mr Murdoch on principle - the Lions were very lucky to win.

I suppose, in the final analysis, it will all come down to which pack Mr Joubert favours - this is modern international rugby. 

Scotland - Where's That? Seems To Be The Lions' Attitude

SOME time in the middle of last night (Wednesday/Thursday) the e-mail confirming the Lions' XV for the first test v Australia thumped into my inbox.

There is hardly a surprise in the chosen team, once the side which would lose to the Brumbies was named, the Test XV virtually picked itself. There is but one Scot named, Sean Maitland being given number 23 and asked to cover the back three positions of full back and both wings; this again is hardly a surprise.

However, the fact that he is named, in an official Lions comminuque as "Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors and Ireland)" to my mind merely confirms what most Scottish rugby fans have been thinking since the Lions's squad was first named - we don't register on the Lions' collective mind.

I have long argued that we Scots are under-represented on the tour, while Wales and England are over-represented. However, that argument has cut little ice. This tour really is a WRU/RFU/Sky TV joint promotion.

It was clear when the squad was first announced that not taking Greig Laidlaw, the single player in the British Isles who can adequately cover three crucial positions - scrum-half, stand-off and goal-kicker, was an error; anyone with even the scantest knowledge of Lions tours history could see that. But, the Lions selectors couldn't, so we have Stuart Hogg, good player though the wee Teri is, covering two of these key positions.

Even with modern-day jet travel, there are always times on Lions tours when injuries and strains mean that somebody has to fill-in in a strange position. We live in the age of the specialist, it would be unthinkable today for instance, to have the scenario which arose in New Zealand in 1959, whereby Hughie McLeod had to hook in one game.

That was back then, when hookers HAD to be able to hook, it would be far simpler today, when they are merely a third prop. Likewise, today nobody will be asked to do a Ken Scotland and play full-back, centre then stand-off, although I suppose the Lions will pick Hogg at 12 or 13 in some midweek game and prove me wrong.

Versatility is a bonus on tours; therefore it makes little sense to send for third or fourth choice or uncapped, if over-hyped Englishmen, when such an experienced guy as Sean Lamont, who has played internationally right across the three-quarter line, is available.

Nope, this time round, we Scots are being over-looked to an extent which convinces me anti-Scottish bias in the Lions is institutionalised. Andy Irvine, in going along with this, should take a long, hard look in the mirror.

Selection Quandries And How To Solve Them

SOME years ago the old Kilmarnock FC fanzine 'Paper Roses' suggested that, since Kilmarnock FC had an unrivaled track record when it came to signing the "wrong" brother - the club then had signed more than a team's worth of brothers of Scotland internationalists, all of whom had proved useless - they ought to look at bad players and sign their brothers.

It's not quite the same, but, after Saturday's events in South Africa, Scott Johnston or the Kiwi from Clermont, when he joins us, should maybe think along the lines of: what would be our worst XV from the guys who are available, then pick it.

I have long become used to Scotland teams, denuded of those players we consider to be our "star" men, losing badly. To see a weakened Scotland team run the Saffers so close that we can reasonably claim we were refereed out of victory, is a new one on me, but welcome for all that.

Once again, an international turned on a refereeing interpretation. Sadly, something we old guys had been used to in the bad old amateur touring days - of home officials being real homers, re-emerged, with the TMO's input to the yellow card for Jim Hamilton.

OK, in this case, big Hammy was hard done by, however, he has a poor track record when it comes to conceding silly penalties and letting Scotland down with his poor self-discipline and, at his age, he's not going to change. I simply would not pick him.

What the SA Series has shown us is, we've got genuine alternatives in a few positions where, before, we almost felt some guys had cemented their places. But, we can only pick 23-guys per test and I hope the SRU, looking ahead, can come up with lesser tours as a means of keeping the fringe guys up to international speed.

I always thought the Churchill Cup was an event worth supporting, and hope the SRU can tap into some FIRA events to keep our fringe men involved at a level somewhat above the Pro12.

It looks now as if Stuart Hogg - on the bench - will be the only Scot involved in Saturday's First Lions' Test. I am more than ever convinced, there is an anti-Scottish agenda at work here.

It might be a good time to put some money on Scotland for the 2014 Six Nations methinks.

Bad REsult, Bad Coverage, From A Bad Paper

MAIL Newspapers, what published the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday really is a nasty organisation. They have a lot of good writers in their employ, who write the most utter Sudetenland-centric crap. If you're not a fox hunting, gay bashing, Muslim-hating, Euroseptic, UKIP-right-wing Tory Little Middle Englander - why the fuck are you buying their papers?

Rob Robertson, their Scottish Rugby writer, is a decent chap; I've got a lot of time for him, but, his take on our defeat to SAmoa had me scratching my head in wonder.

Yes, it was a bad result, by all accounts it wasn't the best Scottish performance, but, Rob,perhaps in an effort to toe the London-set party line, I think over-reacted badly.

Without our four Lions, minus Ross Ford, and in alien terriroty, I am not surprised we lost to the fired-up Samoans. This was always a game liable to come back and bite us, hard.

The fact is, where we now are in international rugby, with our lack of numbers, we will always be vulnerable against sides such as Samoa, Argentine and Tonga -  and, mark my words, once the true value of Rugby Sevens being in the Olympics kicks in, nations such as the USA and Canada and some of the European minnows, will start to beat us if not regularly, then with an unacceptable frequency.

When we are short-handed, we are vulnerable to results such as yesterdays - the quicker we accept this, the better. 

Yes, it was a bad result, but, it was badly covered by a bad paper, which doesn't help.

SATURDAY in Brisbane was a good day for the Lions, and for the Scots who played. Richie Gray is very close to having nailed-down the Test locking slot, apparently, while Stuart Hogg's performance in Brisbane has earned him a run-out in midweek at stand-off - so, they must rate him.

Losing Ryan Grant to the Lions was a bad blow for Scotland, but, assuming he gets on the field in midweek, he could yet make a late run on the rails for a Test spot at loose-head. He deserves it too.

ANENT our lack of numbers, what a demonstration of England's glut of good players their win over Argentine was. To go there, so many top men short is a frightening reminder of how amateurish officialdom has handicapped England for yonks. That was a seriously-good result.

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.

Atta Boy - This Kid Is No Patsy

AS A former Ayr player, all I can say about Pat McArthur's call-up to hook for Scotland against Samoa on Saturday is YEE-HAW.

Pat deserves his chance, I am sure he will take it and go on to win a few more; he will certainly, put some pressure, at long last, on Ross Ford. I am also holding my breath than Gordie Reid might be sent for for South Africa; should Cian Healy's ankle injury in Perth put him out of the Lions' Tour and Ryan Grant get the call to cross the Indian Ocean.

Grant's omission from the original squad was a disgrace and, having had to eventually call-up Rory Best - thank you Half-Wit Hartley - they must surely send for Grant if a loose-head goes.

But, back to Scotland. I like the look of the side Scott Johnston has picked and I believe we have a chance of finishing second - only an idiot would not expect the 'Boks to win a home competition.

The Lions' selectors actually did Scotland a favour by only picking three of our guys for their squad, I honestly wouldn't have fancied heading for SA minus six or seven first-choices.

I SEE the Lions followed-up their opening game romp against the Baa-Baas in Hong Kong with another big win over Western Force, in Perth. What worries me is: that's a couple of easy wins, plenty of points scored, if it continues like this, they may be under-cooked by the time the going gets tougher, as it surely will.

Also, I worry how a squad dominated by Welshmen and Englishmen will get on once the Aussie press crank-up their A game when it comes to mind games.

Good to see some of the best young talent in the Premiership being recognised with the announcement of the new Elite Development Players with Glasgow and Edinburgh - there are some cracking kids in there.

I am particularly delighted to see Gala prop Euan McQuillin being called-up by Edinburgh. Any young prop who has the cojones to e-mail the rugby press in Scotland with the correct spelling of his name - we had all been mis-spelling it McQuillan - has something about him.

He is also a very good scrummage operator, for one so-young.

South Africa Could Be The Start Of Something Special

WHEN I was cutting my teeth in the sports-writing game, my dream was always to cover Scotland games, either at football or rugby; I did, once, cover a Scotland rugby tour overseas - only because nobody else fancied going. I had a great time, would happily have gone overseas with the squad again, but the chance never came.

The ultimate trip for any journalist was always to cover the Lions in New Zealand or South Africa, but, when I was a boy, this gig was a closed shop; Vivian Jenkins and JBG Thomas, a pair of Corleones among rugby writers, covered it for everyone.

Then, Mighty Mouse, Willie John, big Broon, Merv the Swerve and Co discovered how to beat the All Blacks at home, and, come the 1974 tour to South Africa, every paper wanted their own man on the tour. Today, the correspondents' caravan is as big as the playing and management squad.

Of course, since Scotland has been so cynically sidelined by English/Welsh and Sky interests, Scottish media representation on the 2013 Lions' Tour is negligible; which is no bad thing, because the likes of that young pup Ferguson of the Scotsman get to visit South Africa with the Scotland touring party.

The late, lamented and much-missed Broon from Troon used to wax lyrical about the 1974 Lions tour and the overwhelming hospitality of the Saffers. The "White Tribe of Africa - aka the Boers, might have an image problem, but, Broon, and everyone else I have spoken to about playing rugby there has been agreed, if they don't kill you with their aggressive approach on the park, they will kill you with kindness off it.

Sounds as if Scott Johnston and the boys are in for a tough three weeks. This, the absence of Vern Cotter notwithstanding, is a crucial tour for the Jocks; so-many youngsters to bed-in, a distinct lack of experience in crucial roles, and, on the field ordeal by fire from three distinctly difficult opponents.

However, just as great Scotland seasons have followed Lions tours - back in the day when he got a fair selectorial crack of the whip, so, I believe, we can return from the republic stronger and with more options.

I believe we are on the cusp of a golden age in Scottish rugby and I look forward to having more Scots to write about when I finally get on a Lions Tour in 2017. I have decided, one tour of NZ, then, I will put away the lap top.

I AM pleased to see young Sean Kennedy get his full Edinburgh contract confirmed; the kid has something about him. However, the last time I saw him play, I got the distinct impression the attention he had been receiving from my colleagues in the national rugby-writing fraternity had maybe started to go to his head.

He was a tad prima donnish, playing for Stirling County against Ayr. Great son, you've got a full professional contract, however, you are far from the finished article. Head down, speak when spoken to and watch and learn, would be my advice.

SAD to see the Barbarians coming in for some stick after their Hong Kong thrashing from the Lions. Well, not the team exactly, more the club's management. Professional rugby has severely weakened the Ba-Bas' image, now, its very existence is in doubt - which would be a shame.

There has to be a place for this greatest of all touring clubs - surely the wit and wisdom exists in rugby to find that place in the changed rugby landscape of money, money, money.

The way they have in the Ba-Bas - and it's a very good way too - has to be tweaked and allowed to continue.