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Jim Hamilton laughs off cheerleading Finn Russell for Lions selection while seated alongside Dan Biggar

By Liam Heagney
Racing's Finn Russell. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Ex-Scotland international Jim Hamilton has laughed off his live TV blindspot last weekend – championing Finn Russell for Lions tour selection next year without realising at the time that his Channel 4 panel colleague, Wales’ Dan Biggar, is likely to be the player competing with Russell for the No10 shirt along with Owen Farrell.  

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Biggar travelled on the previous Lions tour as back-up to Farrell and Johnny Sexton, with Russell only briefly coming in the squad in New Zealand as one of the infamous ‘Geography Six’, the additional resources Warren Gatland controversially called on to lighten the training load in the build-up to the Test series versus the All Blacks. 

With Russell’s Test future with Scotland still uncertain following his high profile falling-out at the start of this year with Gregor Townsend, his form for Racing 92 is viewed as critical if he wants to catch the attention of Lions boss Gatland ahead of the trip to South Africa.

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The Rugby Pod reflects on the end of an era at Saracens following their European elimination

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The Rugby Pod reflects on the end of an era at Saracens following their European elimination

Russell went on to be the weekend match-winner for Racing, his role in the late try in Paris proving decisive in dethroning Champions Cup holders Saracens to set up a final next month versus Exeter in Bristol.

However, Hamilton’s willingness to cheerlead the efforts of Russell wasn’t reciprocated by Biggar and it was only long after the live broadcast had ended that it dawned on the former Saracens lock as to why the Welshman was so cold about his praise of the Racing player. 

Reflecting on his TV faux pas, Hamilton told The Rugby Pod show he fronts with Andy Goode: “Dan got brought into the Channel 4 panel pre-match quite late on in the day, and you know how much I love Dan Biggar as a player – he is one of my favourite players. 

“I’m not that nervous around him because we have had him on the podcast and whatever. But there was a thing put in place around Finn Russell as I had been doing this Channel 4 gig for a couple of weeks and I was talking up Finn Russell before the game. 

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“I didn’t even put arrogantly, stupidly two and three together to make twelve or whatever it makes that if Owen Farrell doesn’t play for whatever reason, then you have got someone like Dan Biggar who could potentially start No10 for the Lions. 

“So I’m talking up Finn saying if Owen Farrell, his discipline isn’t great or he gets injured, if Finn steps up in a semi-final today and really, really cements himself as a world-class No10 he could be starting No10 for the Lions. I’m looking for Dan to give me the nod, ‘Like Jim knows what he is talking about’. Nothing. Absolutely nothing! 

When Finn then does his chip over the top, I’m like, ‘Mate, he’s Lion’. Nothing. Nothing off Dan. And I didn’t even clock until after that obviously he is going to be vying for the position. They are going to be competing and I didn’t put two and three together to get ten.” 

 

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Adrian 57 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

7 Go to comments
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Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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