"Not good enough" - McGeechan and Telfer combine to pick 2021 Lions XV

Friday, 30 April 2021 at 21:10

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byRugby Rucker

Legendary Lions coaches Sir Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer were reunited on this week's BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast to nail down the their 2021 Lions XV.

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

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."

CENTRES:

13. Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)

HALFBACKS:

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

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."

FRONT-ROW:

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

SECOND-ROW:

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

Telfer said: "I think he's an outstanding player, an outstanding bloke. "Itoje 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."