The Breakdown | Scotland’s Lions prospects boosted by stirring success against England

A remarkable recent dearth of British & Irish Lions caps will end if Scotland maintain their Twickenham standards

It is an understatement to say Scotland have not had the lion’s share when it comes to the British & Irish Lions. In the Six Nations era, one player has started a Test match, the prop Tom Smith who was an ever-present in the 2001 Test series in Australia.

Since then, Scotland have supplied, and then infrequently, players to the bench. On the past four tours, they have had six replacements, three of whom came on: the second row Richie Gray was the last, 13 minutes from the end of the final Test in Australia eight years ago.