McGeechan picked too many veterans and chose wrong captain
Writing in The Scotsman, Alan Massie finds fault with Ian McGeechan's selection for this summer's Lions tour of South Africa.
"Natural disappointment at the tiny Scottish representation in the Lions squad is made all the sharper by the thought that it looks like the weakest Lions party since the 1960s. It's difficult to see them winning one Test, let alone the series. They will be overpowered and outpaced in the back row, and probably cleaned out at the line-out. Fifteen to 11 should be all right, but the half-backs look flakey.
"In 1955 the Lions selectors boldly decided to take nobody of 30 or over, even if this meant excluding the great Jackie Kyle. Eleven of Ian McGeechan's squad would have been omitted if the same criterion had been applied. Admittedly players last longer in the professional game – amateurs of 30 were usually well-advanced in their off-field career. It is also true that England won the World Cup with their 'Dad's Army'. Nevertheless, there are too many veterans past their best in this squad."
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