Gavin Hastings says Zander Fagerson a 'shoo-in' for the Lions

Hastings knows what it takes to represent the Lions, having been selected for the 1989 and 1993 tours, the former a series win Down Under, and the latter to New Zealand as captain. 

He's backed current captain Sione Tuipulotu and his Glasgow midfield team-mate Huw Jones to earn places in Andy Farrell's squad, alongside Finn Russell and Zander Fagerson. 

The Scotland great spoke at an event in Edinburgh run by Lions sponsors, Howden, on Thursday afternoon. 

Gavin Hastings spoke at the event in Edinburgh on Thursday (Image: Euan Cherry/Howden) He said: "Scotland seem to be playing with a lot of confidence just now. Huw Jones and Sione are playing very, very well, and with Finn there, there's a very good chance the three of them will go.

"I think the Scottish backs, in general, they're all going well, but they're not going to take everybody.

"But I think those three could be a good combination together.

"When Finn's on his day, he is absolutely world-class. He does things that no other rugby player really does."

Hastings, who won 61 caps for Scotland, went on to name-check Duhan van der Merwe -  a tourist in his native South Africa three years ago - as another who could be in contention. 

As for the forwards, Hastings believes tighthead prop Fagerson is a "shoo-in" to make his second consecutive tour if he can avoid injury. 

Hastings then singled out Fagerson's Glasgow colleagues Rory Darge, who captained Scotland during the Six Nations and Australian-born Jack Dempsey as potential tourists.. 

Hastings knows a big performance against the Wallabies  on Sunday could be key. 

"They can put a marker down and do something that both England and Wales have not done [by beating Australia]," the former fullback, who captained Scotland on 20 occasions, said. 

He added: "But the better that Scotland play, the more chance more players have got.

The Lions legend posed for pictures with fans (Image: Euan Cherry/Howden) "I think playing well against people that are contenders in their position…. If they can get the better of them in head-to-head games, then I think that itself is going to help their cause for selection.”

And Hastings reflected on his own time Down Under with Lions, insisting he was "lucky" to go on the tour before helping the tourists overcome a 1-0 deficit in the three-match series to beat the Wallabies. 

 “I was probably very lucky to go on the Lions tour because I missed the whole of the Five Nations. I had a groin strain.

"I remember Geech [Sir Ian McGeechan] phoning me and saying, ‘if you can get back playing by the beginning of April, we'll consider you for selection’.

"I was out for about three and a half, four months, which was quite a long time. But I got myself back against Leicester on April 1.

“Peter Dods had played during the Five Nations, and he played very, very well. And Scotland had done well then. And so he got the other fullback role."

Hastings won the battle to wear the number 15 jersey for the first Test in Sydney, but in a touring team ravaged by injuries, he admitted they were "absolutely hammered" in a 30-12 defeat. 

Hastings revealed a pep talk from legendary Welsh coach Clive Rowlands that helped turn the series around. 

"Clive Rowlands was great motivator - he and Fin Calder had a brilliant relationship.

"He got everyone in the changing room and he gave this impassioned speech. He said, ‘That wasn't us out there today, boys. We have to park that. From now on, the badge only gets bigger. The badge gets bigger, boys. Come on!’. 

Hastings continued: "There was a resolve and a commitment amongst the players. It was extraordinary.

"The following week, we played on the Tuesday against ACT in Canberra. And we were points down, 15, 18 points down at half time. And they turned it around in the second half.

"That was the making of the tour.  Clive Rowlands made that happen. It was amazing. It was amazing."

An excellent performance from Gavin's younger brother Scott earned him selection for the second test. 

Scott and Gavin Hastings pictured at Sydney Harbour Bridge on the 1989 Lions tour (Image: Getty Images) They became the first brothers to represent the Lions in a test match, an "amazing" experience, the older sibling said. 

Hastings contributed a try and penalty from fullback as the tourists levelled the series, before he landed five penalties to clinch victory in the decider. 

It remains the only time the touring side have ever come from 1-0 down to win a series.

"In a three-set test series, you don't have much time to turn it around. It was amazing,"

To celebrate the launch of the 2025 British & Irish Lions jersey, Howden, a Principal Partner of the Lions, is touring the UK challenging the public to ‘Kick for Greatness’ to win a money-can’t-buy prize to warm-up game against Argentina in Dublin, with exclusive squad training access!