Full transcript of Jim Telfer's legendary Lions 'Everest' speech - Page 2 of 3 - Ruck

Full transcript of Jim Telfer’s legendary Lions ‘Everest’ speech

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.”

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.”

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