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'I'm a big believer in our players, that they can get on that Lions tour'
Gregor Townsend is backing his Scotland players to gain greater representation on the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa, but he added he doesn’t expect to travel himself as a coaching assistant after refusing a role in 2017.
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Following Warren Gatland’s unveiling last week as Lions boss for the third consecutive tour, a massive debate on Scotland’s relationship with the Lions concept in the Gatland era was ignited on social media following a hugely engaged RugbyPass analysis feature.
The question of Scotland’s declining Lions representation has now been addressed by Townsend in a BBC Sport Scotland interview, the Scottish coach insisting his players will be up for the fight for places on the plane to South Africa in two years’ time.
“The northern hemisphere teams have been playing excellent rugby, the teams from Britain and Ireland especially,” Townsend said.
“I think you’ve got the teams ranked second, third, fourth and seventh in the world that form the British and Irish Lions. That would never have happened before. Competition for places is stronger than it’s ever been and that makes it a challenge for us as Scots.
No disconnect between Scotland and the British Lions despite trend of diminishing dark blue representation on recent tours, says Gregor Townsend.https://t.co/AAx4GpIt3y pic.twitter.com/EnR03ySodq
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) June 19, 2019
“We haven’t won Grand Slams like the other teams over the last few years but I’m a big believer in our players, that they can get on that Lions tour. World Cup, Six Nations and beyond, if they’re playing well in those tournaments they’ve got a good chance of going.”
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Townsend, alongside fellow Scottish players Alan Tait, Rob Wainwright and Tom Smith, was pivotal in guiding the Lions to a 2-1 series win over then world champions South Africa in 1997.
‘Gatland doesn’t have a good track record liking people from Scotland. He doesn’t come here… doesn’t know the names of Scottish players’ @JLyall93 gauges how the faded influence of @Scotlandteam on @lionsofficial and wonders if that pattern can change ? https://t.co/c05Z8dFhsp
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 13, 2019
However, the number of Scots involved in Lions Test action since then had been diluted and the drawn 2017 series in New Zealand was the first for over a century to feature no players from Scotland. Only two Scots – Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour – made the initial 41-man tour squad, with Greig Laidlaw called up before departure.
That lack of selection wasn’t helped by Townsend’s turning down a role in the Gatland set-up, a decision he feels will have a repercussion for him regarding 2021’s trip.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BywwqgZgdfC/
“I’m sure I won’t get the offer this time after turning it down last time,” suggested Townsend. “The Lions has been a big part of my rugby career.
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“I managed to go on a tour and it was the ultimate achievement I had in my career. We as coaches and players think very highly of the Lions. Anybody would love to be involved in that.”
WATCH: Former Scotland international Jim Hamilton heads to South Africa in the third episode of Rugby Explorer, the RugbyPass series
Comments on RugbyPass
well remember the blues had a guy called jed rowlands for a season. remember scott took his coaching team with him give him time
13 Go to commentswell maybe he needs to be introduced to darcy swain then who never got anything much and put a cheifs ands allblack player out injured and made him miss a season recovering
12 Go to commentswell maybe the match offficals should sort it out if they are worried about it and stop the clock
3 Go to commentsI totally agree. I also believe that minor injuries unless dangerous must be treared OFF the field of play and the game continue with a temp replacement if necessary.
3 Go to commentsSend the bill to McLennan.
3 Go to comments2 out of 3 were perfect. TMOs love jumping in on anything outside the law. The fact they saw nothing wrong speaks volumes. You want to see what a late blindside hit looks like, watch Kepu take out Carter in the 2015 World Cup final. Completely different to the Tah’s tackle.
12 Go to commentsverkeerde kant van die gereg lol
5 Go to commentsJust like John Plumtree at the Sharks he has had a poor start to this season’s coaching gig, but now it looks like he is starting to pull them back also having won 1 game in the first Eleven games they played. It obviously helps that 11 of his fifteen are Springbok players. But now they are starting to improve. No ways they can make it to the playoffs this year but they probably used this season as a way to figure out their game plan. One query I have and I think quite a few people have is: Are they playing better simply because of their international players are back or is it the team strategy led by Rob Penney that is starting to tick? Well I guess we wait and see. Also if it doesn't work out this season, it might be that Rob Penney is using this season as a way to organize himself for next season. Getting all his combinations sorted, his team strategies sorted and figuring out who is best is which position. Now I don't follow Super Rugby any more having now a full focus in the URC but I was surprised about the current Crusaders stats.
13 Go to commentsIf I’m a little bloke, who’s just had possession of the ball, I should expect to get cleaned up by Samipeni Finau if he’s opposite me and I do nothing to avoid him. FTFY You’ll need to rewrite the rest of your article now Hamish Bidwell. I’m not sorry for having missed reading this one. I find it hilarious it’s only the static aussie 10s, just waiting there, that are getting smashed. Move on your feet guys, haven’t you watched DMac and Mounga play for the last decade ffs. Chin up, at least your smiles should return when BB returns to SR next year and there’s more 10s to the fodder.
12 Go to commentsFinau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
12 Go to commentsHow does the size of the ‘bloke being hit’ factor into this? If you’re on the opposing team you are fair game. Is Finau the first person in history to target the first five? It seems like this is a great strategy to interrupt your opponents attack. As far as I’m aware, of the four excellent hits on Aussie first fives this year only one of them was ruled late. So if crying about legal tackles isn’t whingeing, then what is it?
12 Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
123 Go to commentsMost underrated player in world rugby.
2 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
1 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
12 Go to commentsWrite them off at your peril
13 Go to commentsJust fantastic that the professional game is finally being taken to the Pacific islands. Not before time. It justifies the mere existence of Moana as a club, hopefully they can start to get some positive results too. Check out the sheer joy of the crowds in Fiji and the buzz that having a home team creates. Tonga always had (has ?) issues with their ground not complying with International rugby standards, which NZ always used as an excuse for many years not bringing the All Blacks over. Hopefully this match is the first of many. Would be great to see some tourism grow on the back of it. I once went to the Cook Islands Sevens in Rarotonga - tiny island nation but man did they turn it on. Tonga and Samoa will too given half a chance.
1 Go to commentsQuite right. Punish the time wasters. Its BS these time delays for non-injuries. The Boks have been using it for years now to slow down opposition and now its a scourge on the game. Put players like DeGroot on the sideline and restart play immediately. Watch how 5-6 min to fix your boots quickly becomes 1-2 minutes. Better still how about some personal professional management and you check the conditions/turf beforehand and get yourself better prepared. It might even help your team.
3 Go to commentsWhat drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
12 Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
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