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Eight Scotland players who massively boosted their Lions chances in Twickenham
The Six Nations before a British and Irish Lions tour is often the final audition players to win over the selectors. For Scotland, who have been underrepresented in recent years by the Lions, only captain Stuart Hogg is a certainty to travel to South Africa in the summer. But there are a lot of players that will be on head coach Warren Gatland’s radar who know the next few weeks will be crucial.
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After completely sucking the life out of England on Saturday for their first win at Twickenham since 1983, Gregor Townsend will know many of his players have now stormed into contention to be Lions at the end of the season. Here are eight of them:
Hamish Watson
A contender for the Lions going into the match, Hamish Watson’s chances of going to South Africa rose sharply across the 80 minutes. He bounced off English tacklers in typical style all match and simply outworked the opposition back row.
Hamish Watson. Lion
— Jamie Roberts (@Jamiehuwroberts) February 6, 2021
Jonny Gray
In one of the most stacked positions going into the tour, Jonny Gray can do no more than play like he did at Twickenham. The tackling machine put in a defensive effort everyone expects by now, but also carried relentlessly and wreaked havoc on England’s lineout.
Johnny gray has out shone mario itoje tonight he keeps playing like that heavy on the lions tour
— Andy Powell (@andypowell8) February 6, 2021
Jamie Ritchie
Although Watson may have been the standout loose forward on the pitch, Jamie Ritchie was not far behind. While passion can sometimes boil over into ill-discipline, Ritchie and co. were a model of control while England could barely string a few minutes together without conceding a penalty.
Zander Fagerson
A rock at the scrum, Zander Fagerson helped completely sabotage England’s set-piece alongside his loosehead partner Rory Sutherland. Both players threw their hat into the ring for selection after that performance.
Duhan van der Merwe
In a match where the England wingers were at worst full of errors and at best entirely anonymous, Duhan van der Merwe completely outclassed them. He showed his power by scoring from an improbable position and was deprived of two tries by the bounce of the ball. He beat as many defenders as England’s whole backline and Gatland must have taken note.
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Tournament blown wide open! #SixNations2021 pic.twitter.com/jOXnmTmI7e
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 6, 2021
Cameron Redpath
In his first Test, Cameron Redpath produced a varied performance and exhibited what he can offer to Scotland. In trying conditions he ran, passed and kicked well and would have piqued the interest of the Lions selectors.
Finn Russell
This was not a flawless performance by Finn Russell but neither was it played in conditions that are conducive to his pyrotechnics. This is the type of game Gatland would have wanted to see Russell control and he did so.
Stuart Hogg
A man of the match display for a player who is all but guaranteed to fly to South Africa, Stuart Hogg should have won over any doubters, if he had any.
The best I have ever seen Scotland play. Enjoy the moment @StuartWHOGG_. Saw quite a few potential @lionsofficial test players on that performance! ?
— Sam Warburton (@samwarburton_) February 6, 2021
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Comments on RugbyPass
You doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
39 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
5 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
5 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
5 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
5 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
5 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
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