"He's bigger and stronger," - McGeechan and Telfer leave Hamish Watson out of their Lions XV

Monday, 14 June 2021 at 06:48

byRugby Rucker

Legendary Lions coaches Sir Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer have left Hamish Watson OUT of their Lions XV - but have included three Scots.

Most fans would sit up and take notice of any line-up put forward by McGeechan and Telfer, who masterminded the iconic Lions series win against the Springboks in 1997.

The side they have selected features six Welshmen, three Irish, three English and three Scots.

FRONT-ROW:

1. Wyn Jones (Wales)
2. Ken Owens (Wales)
3.Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

Telfer said: "Furlong is a big beast of a man and you need to meet and match the Springboks for power in the forwards. He also has good footwork, as he proved against Scotland, and soft hands."

SECOND-ROW:

4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

Telfer said: "I think he's (Itoje) an outstanding player, an outstanding bloke. He has that extra bit about him."

McGeechan said: "He is the natural captain. I think on and off the field he would be by some distance the natural leader that you would want there."

BACK-ROW:

6. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
7. Tom Curry (England)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)

Telfer said: "Hamish Watson is an integral part of the Scottish side and he definitely deserves to go on the tour, but I've chosen Curry because he's just that bit bigger and stronger. I would sit down with Hamish Watson and tell him how good a player he is, but he's not as good as Curry.

"You've got these five or six openside flankers to choose from. You've got Justin Tipuric, one of the best players I've ever seen at seven. It's the best of the best."

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HALFBACKS:

10. Finn Russell (Scotland)
9. Conor Murray (Ireland)

Telfer said: "I am not convinced that Gatland will agree with me but I have selected Finn at ten simply because he can win a match for you or enable someone to do so. Murray is the choice mostly because he can land a box kick on a sixpence; it is rare that one of his kicks can’t be contested. He is good defensively and he can threaten with the ball in hand."

McGeechan said: "Finn has matured. He sees things so quickly. He's the most varied attacking kicker that we've got in the northern hemisphere. He's brave, he makes his tackles, and if there's any daylight at all he will find it."

CENTRES:

13. Chris Harris (Scotland)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)

Telfer said: "An easy selection for me as Robbie Henshaw was one of the stand-out players in the recent Six Nations. He makes the game look simple by doing the basics very well and almost always doing the right thing at the right time. "

BACK-THREE:

15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
14. Anthony Watson (England)
11. Liam Williams (Wales)

TELFER SAID: "Every time Stuart Hogg gets the ball, the temperature goes up. You think something is going to happen.

"I don't think Hogg is as poor under the high ball as some people are trying to make out. I like attacking players, players who do something out the ordinary."