NPR

Slick wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 6:44 am

TartanBear wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 11:09 pm Endless chat on the Lions and the potential Scottish contingent. We all know the Scots in the picture, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is one nailed-on (a back) that doesn’t get selected and one (probably a forward) we’re not expecting.

Darcy might be one be who doesn’t make it. He’s tops just about every measure over the last couple of years but for some reason doesn’t seem to get recognition outside of Scotland

Biffer wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 7:19 am

Slick wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 6:44 am

TartanBear wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 11:09 pm Endless chat on the Lions and the potential Scottish contingent. We all know the Scots in the picture, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is one nailed-on (a back) that doesn’t get selected and one (probably a forward) we’re not expecting.

Darcy might be one be who doesn’t make it. He’s tops just about every measure over the last couple of years but for some reason doesn’t seem to get recognition outside of Scotland

I've never been expecting him to. If Farrell takes a smaller winger it'll be Hansen. But I don't think he will. I'm guessing hell use injury as an excuse not to take one of Jones, Tuipolotou or Kinghorn. And Fagerson the younger might have a shot with Doris injured.

Slick wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 6:44 am

TartanBear wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 11:09 pm Endless chat on the Lions and the potential Scottish contingent. We all know the Scots in the picture, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is one nailed-on (a back) that doesn’t get selected and one (probably a forward) we’re not expecting.

Darcy might be one be who doesn’t make it. He’s tops just about every measure over the last couple of years but for some reason doesn’t seem to get recognition outside of Scotland

Tichtheid wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 8:44 am Graham has one potential weakness and it’s physics. He does get bumped by huge players but then so does everyone else, including huge players themselves.

I really hope Darcy makes the cut, he’s Harry Houdini in a rugby shirt.

Yr Alban wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 8:54 am

Tichtheid wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 8:44 am Graham has one potential weakness and it’s physics. He does get bumped by huge players but then so does everyone else, including huge players themselves.

I really hope Darcy makes the cut, he’s Harry Houdini in a rugby shirt.

Certainly no more than Shane Williams. And Darcy is similarly elusive. One thing about Darcy is that he is incredible at tackling players far bigger than him.

Yr Alban wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 8:52 am

Slick wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 6:44 am

TartanBear wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 11:09 pm Endless chat on the Lions and the potential Scottish contingent. We all know the Scots in the picture, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is one nailed-on (a back) that doesn’t get selected and one (probably a forward) we’re not expecting.

Darcy might be one be who doesn’t make it. He’s tops just about every measure over the last couple of years but for some reason doesn’t seem to get recognition outside of Scotland

I agree - I think he will get overlooked, for a player who is half as good. I hope I’m wrong.

As I said on the Lions thread, I expect 6 minimum: Fagerson Snr, Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones, Van der Merwe, Kinghorn.

Thing is, all of those players are in the conversation to start the Tests. It was the same last time round - all of the Scots who went were in contention, and I think only one didn’t get Test minutes. Scotland never seem to get any players selected in the ‘probably not a Test player unless he makes a huge case on the tour’ category. Not any more, at any rate. Someone mentioned before that Ritchie would have made a perfect dirt tracker captain in the old days.

TartanBear wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 10:54 am

Yr Alban wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 8:52 am

Slick wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 6:44 am

Darcy might be one be who doesn’t make it. He’s tops just about every measure over the last couple of years but for some reason doesn’t seem to get recognition outside of Scotland

I agree - I think he will get overlooked, for a player who is half as good. I hope I’m wrong.

As I said on the Lions thread, I expect 6 minimum: Fagerson Snr, Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones, Van der Merwe, Kinghorn.

Thing is, all of those players are in the conversation to start the Tests. It was the same last time round - all of the Scots who went were in contention, and I think only one didn’t get Test minutes. Scotland never seem to get any players selected in the ‘probably not a Test player unless he makes a huge case on the tour’ category. Not any more, at any rate. Someone mentioned before that Ritchie would have made a perfect dirt tracker captain in the old days.

Could be Duhan who misses out; close between Ritchie and Cummings for the surprise. If it’s a larger squad, I wouldn’t be surprised if JD is making a strong case for the latter. Cummings has played in the BR if I recall correctly.

Jock42 wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:39 pm Gutted for Graham and Ritchie

clydecloggie wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:40 pm

Jock42 wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:39 pm Gutted for Graham and Ritchie

Hansen over Graham is an interesting choice.

White the victim of needing a token Welsh.

clydecloggie wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:40 pm

Jock42 wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:39 pm Gutted for Graham and Ritchie

Hansen over Graham is an interesting choice.

White the victim of needing a token Welsh.

clydecloggie wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:40 pm

Jock42 wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:39 pm Gutted for Graham and Ritchie

Hansen over Graham is an interesting choice.

White the victim of needing a token Welsh.

KingBlairhorn wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:43 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:40 pm

Jock42 wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:39 pm Gutted for Graham and Ritchie

Hansen over Graham is an interesting choice.

White the victim of needing a token Welsh.

Elliott Daly is the one that raised my eyebrows...

I like neeps wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:45 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:40 pm

Jock42 wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:39 pm Gutted for Graham and Ritchie

Hansen over Graham is an interesting choice.

White the victim of needing a token Welsh.

I guess we just haven't seen enough of Graham lately.

Pollock over every Scottish backrow eh...

Wylie Coyote wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:53 pm Gutted for Darcy, just a better player all around than Hansen. I also think Jordan would've been an excellent utility player and White was unlucky due to playing in France. Ritchie hard done by too.

I am disappointed with 8 players. Most squads beforehand I saw had 10 or more Scots in them, but I get the sense that performances versus Ireland played an outsized role in selection, and we've not turned up for those matches in years. I was hoping that recent matches versus the Lions actual opponents would've meant something...

Yr Alban wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:14 pm

I like neeps wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:45 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:40 pm

Hansen over Graham is an interesting choice.

White the victim of needing a token Welsh.

I guess we just haven't seen enough of Graham lately.

Pollock over every Scottish backrow eh...

Ritchie shunted down the ranking by both a token Wales player and by the Next Big Thing. The Lions always take the Next Big Thing - whatever young player is making headlines. Pollock was nailed on, as Rees-Zammit was last time. Arguably Hogg was the beneficiary in 2013, though that squad had a few young bolters and you could have argued for George North, or even Owen Farrell

Yr Alban wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:14 pm

I like neeps wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:45 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:40 pm

Hansen over Graham is an interesting choice.

White the victim of needing a token Welsh.

I guess we just haven't seen enough of Graham lately.

Pollock over every Scottish backrow eh...

Ritchie shunted down the ranking by both a token Wales player and by the Next Big Thing. The Lions always take the Next Big Thing - whatever young player is making headlines. Pollock was nailed on, as Rees-Zammit was last time. Arguably Hogg was the beneficiary in 2013, though that squad had a few young bolters and you could have argued for George North, or even Owen Farrell

I like neeps wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:21 pm

Yr Alban wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:14 pm

I like neeps wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 1:45 pm

I guess we just haven't seen enough of Graham lately.

Pollock over every Scottish backrow eh...

Ritchie shunted down the ranking by both a token Wales player and by the Next Big Thing. The Lions always take the Next Big Thing - whatever young player is making headlines. Pollock was nailed on, as Rees-Zammit was last time. Arguably Hogg was the beneficiary in 2013, though that squad had a few young bolters and you could have argued for George North, or even Owen Farrell

It's not a balanced back row at all and the lineout could be a real issue. A lot of 7s/small 8s. I think Dempsey is the unlucky one maybe.

KingBlairhorn wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 11:30 am

Simian wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 5:33 pm

Yr Alban wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 5:06 pm

I wasn’t getting excited about it. As you say, the last one didn’t turn out all that well

seems a bit odd to refer to a guy who played more than fifty times for munster (including appearing in finals) as a fringe player for them. Or were you not referring to Healy?

It's wild that it's so difficult to think of a back who moved to Edinburgh from another side and actually improved.

My recollection, and I may be wrong, was that he was third choice behind Crowley and Carbery when he transferred to Edinburgh.

Dogbert wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:46 pm Graham and Ritchie paying the price of playing for Edinburgh.

Both will be in their 30's by the time of the next BIL tour

Both deserve to be tourists

Simian wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:58 pm

Dogbert wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:46 pm Graham and Ritchie paying the price of playing for Edinburgh.

Both will be in their 30's by the time of the next BIL tour

Both deserve to be tourists

I’m not sure who I’d drop to create a spot for JR, tbh. Graham is desperately unlucky tho.

Delighted for all those going tho.

Yr Alban wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 3:13 pm

Simian wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:58 pm

Dogbert wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:46 pm Graham and Ritchie paying the price of playing for Edinburgh.

Both will be in their 30's by the time of the next BIL tour

Both deserve to be tourists

I’m not sure who I’d drop to create a spot for JR, tbh. Graham is desperately unlucky tho.

Delighted for all those going tho.

That’s always the problem with a Lions selection though. The refrain is always ‘who would you leave out to take player X?’ despite the fact that had player X been picked, you could be having the exact same discussion about whoever got left out instead. Remember having these discussions a few tours ago, when it was pretty obvious that Scotland players who should have been picked were losing out to others because they were Scotland players. It’s always about marginal calls, it’s just noticeable when your guys lose out every time. I expect Welsh fans are feeling a bit like that just now.

Having said that, Graham in particular I’d have taken over either Hansen or Daly.

Yr Alban wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 3:13 pm

Simian wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:58 pm

Dogbert wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 2:46 pm Graham and Ritchie paying the price of playing for Edinburgh.

Both will be in their 30's by the time of the next BIL tour

Both deserve to be tourists

I’m not sure who I’d drop to create a spot for JR, tbh. Graham is desperately unlucky tho.

Delighted for all those going tho.

That’s always the problem with a Lions selection though. The refrain is always ‘who would you leave out to take player X?’ despite the fact that had player X been picked, you could be having the exact same discussion about whoever got left out instead. Remember having these discussions a few tours ago, when it was pretty obvious that Scotland players who should have been picked were losing out to others because they were Scotland players. It’s always about marginal calls, it’s just noticeable when your guys lose out every time. I expect Welsh fans are feeling a bit like that just now.

Having said that, Graham in particular I’d have taken over either Hansen or Daly.

Slick wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 5:05 pm The Instagram clips from Glasgow showing when they got their names announced is great, particularly Cummings

Big D wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 4:12 pm Jordan and Daly are not equivalent picks. Between them they cover the whole backline but only 15 is a common position.

I can see the merits in Daly even if i disagree with it. Experienced Lion in a group of backs with little Lions experience, happy to slot in at 11 and 13-15 in a midweek game and bash on. There are only really two 13s in the squad so wouldn't be a shock to see Daly slot in there. Jordan has his merits but I doubt it was him or Daly when it came to the crunch.

Graham is an interesting one. I'd have taken him but can see how a really critical eye would see him miss out for a player the coaches trust and can play as a second ball handler.

Cummings has probably had the equivalent benefit that Graham didn't get.

It's hard on some guys but that's pro rugby.