"It's every kid's dream" – Scotland's Darcy Graham and Ben White eye up British & Irish Lions call-up
Today at 07:01 AM
By Cameron Archibald
Scotland backs Darcy Graham & Ben White emphasised the importance of a good showing against Ireland for their Lions tour hopes.
Speaking to reporters at Murrayfield following their side's 31-19 win over Italy, Glasgow winger Graham and Toulon scrum-half White also touched on Huw Jones' try-scoring heroics, frustrations at the game slipping from 19-9 to 19-19, and looked ahead to taking on the Irish in Edinburgh on Sunday.’
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- On Hopes of Making the Lions Tour of Australia
The British & Irish Lions head down under this summer for a tour of Australia, taking on the Wallabies, various provincial sides, and a combined Australia/New Zealand select team across their five weeks in the southern hemisphere. White especially faces stiff competition for his place on tour, up against the likes of Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park and English scrum-half Alex Mitchell. Both players expressed their desire to make it into Andy Farrell's squad, but also remained focused on the task at hand.
BEN WHITE: "It's every kid's dream, but I know… I just have to be training well, competing well and playing well for Scotland. That's all that matters and if I'm not doing that then nothing else is fathomable.
"You can't get too in your own head and worry about all of these things that are so out of your control. I've just got to do what I can do… to give myself the best chance of playing well."
DARCY GRAHAM: "You need to turn up to these games, obviously I've been quite open that I want to go on the Lions tour. This is obviously the Six Nations, it's a huge step up.
"So yeah, the Ireland game is going to be massive, but I'm just thinking team first, one game at a time. That's in the future, I'm not looking too far ahead."
2. Looking ahead to facing Ireland in Edinburgh
The Scots next face reigning champions Ireland at Murrayfield on Sunday, February 9th. Seen as the biggest game of the tournament for the hosts, Graham and White are excited for the prospect of taking on the world number two side.
BEN WHITE: "It'll obviously be a great challenge and it's something that I'm really excited for. I just enjoy being in these big games, playing in front of a sold-out Murrayfield feels amazing.
"I like to think that I enjoy these big pressure games, I enjoy the challenge and that's why you work hard. That's what your drive is, to make sure that you give yourself the best chance to take the opportunity in the big games.
DARCY GRAHAM: "They're an unbelievable team, they turn up on their day they're very dangerous. Control is almost in our hands, not giving them easy penalties and easing into the game, so it's down to us. That's where they thrive, that's where we need to keep them at bay.
"As individuals they're world class and as a team they're world class. You never know on the day, they can turn up and put 30 points on you. So it's about turning up next Sunday, being on the ball for the full 80 minutes and not letting them into the game."
3. Graham Impressed With Huw Jones' Hat-Trick
Glasgow centre Jones stepped up big time against the Azzurri, running in three tries to get the Scots over the line with maximum points from round one. Graham heaped praise on his Warriors teammate, especially in the injury absence of Jones' partner at 12, fellow Lions hopeful Sione Tuipulotu.
DARCY GRAHAM: "He's been flying at training. He's in great form and it's exciting to have him there at 13. Give him the ball and you know he can score, so it's exciting.
"I think Huw's learned so much from Sione. The combination of the two have worked so well. Stafford [McDowall, Tuipulotu's replacement] has also learned a lot from Sione. You can see that in the way that he's training. Obviously it's a huge loss to Sione, but he's done his bit in bringing these boys on."
4. White on his try – and that Dave Cherry offload
White scored his fifth international try following a fine piece of skill from returning hooker Dave Cherry, making his first appearance in a Scotland shirt since the 2023 World Cup. The Edinburgh front row rolled off the back of the maul and threw a cheeky offload out to White to cap a perfectly executed move.
BEN WHITE: "I was happy when he did it! I think the way the maul sort of went round the corner, he stayed on and stayed composed. Obviously, to be able to listen to me say, 'Dave, pass me the ball!'
"It was a great bit of skill, but also the control before that, I thought he did really well, coming back into the squad. I was really happy for him and also it was nice to sneak over again."
5. Dealing with stress and frustration throughout the match
Scotland appeared to be cruising with their 19-6 lead on the stroke of halftime, before the Italians rallied back level through Tommaso Allan's boot and a breakaway try from centre Nacho Brex. Graham and White, perhaps with memories of last year's defeat in Rome, spoke on the need for a good mentality throughout the match.
DARCY GRAHAM: "We got a huge amount of ball in the first half, had a couple of dropped balls. We needed a wee bit of magic, I created it and we scored off it. Sometimes that's the way games go.
"It did dry up, we started off really quickly and that's what we wanted. That first 20 minutes we were flying, but we always knew the Italians were coming. They're so passionate they're in games until the 80th minute. They're a bloody good team now… they'll put a big team away this year, I reckon."
BEN WHITE: "[The stress of going to 19-19] shows the whole squad, because it's a 23-man effort. Italy are a top team, they're going to have a good period in the game and they're going to get a bit of change. And I think the way we just controlled the next 15 minutes and regained control of the match was brilliant.
"I think that was a good test for us and we responded well."
The post “It’s every kid’s dream” – Scotland’s Darcy Graham and Ben White eye up British & Irish Lions call-up appeared first on Ruck.
