3 days ago
Gavin Hastings: Scots Irish Lions combo one of highlights of special Aviva night
Lions legend Gavin Hastings is relishing the prospect of a Scots Irish collaboration at the Aviva Stadium.
Connacht and Ireland's Bundee Aki will join with Sione Tuipulotu of Glasgow Warriors and Scotland in the Lions midfield for the clash with Argentina tonight.
"I think a lot of people are looking forward to seeing that one," grinned Hastings, a three-time Lions tourist who made six Test appearances for the team and captained the squad on the 1993 tour in New Zealand that was won 2-1 by the All Blacks.
"There's not going to be very many holes in that combination, obviously. But it'll be interesting to see how it goes, they're two very experienced and talented guys.
"I think it's going to be a pretty stiff challenge for the Lions but, listen, you've got to play your first game somewhere, so you may as well be in front of your home supporters. There's no doubt it'll be a great game. I think they're very, very keen to get us off to a winning start.
"I expect that the Lions to just be very, very competitive. That's what we want. Some people suggest that it might be sort of easy against Australia on the tour, but there's no way they're going to roll over.
"So I think the Lions have got to work very, very hard for everything they're going to potentially achieve. Andy's a very experienced coach, and I'm sure he knows how to get the best out of them. And that's what it's all about."
Hastings will be at the game after spending yesterday afternoon in the baking heat in Mullingar, where British and Irish Lions official charity partners LooseHeadz and Wooden Spoon hosted a successful Guinness World Record attempt to break the record for 'The Longest Game' of rugby for both men and women.
It started on Wednesday and the men participating played for over 36 hours to raise over £100,000 to help tackle mental health. The previous world record was 24 hours, five minutes and 15 seconds.
"There was never any question of me running around," the Scotland legend laughed. "I'm just here lending my support for a couple of hours. That's much better!
"They were slightly on a go-slow given the heat. It's a great cause. Many people in Ireland wouldn't be as familiar with Wooden Spoon, they're a rugby charity, helping kids with difficulties and all the challenges that kids have and they're making their mark in Ireland as well.
"The other charity here is Looseheadz. One in four people are affected with mental health and we all know of rugby people that have faced difficulties.
"One of my great adversaries, John Carter, one of the great Kiwi guys, was probably one of the very first to say that he had struggled with mental health during his career.
"It's great that people are talking about it. I'm chairman of the Lions Trust and we support a number of different charities, among them Looseheadz and Wooden Spoon.
"These guys have put this longest game of rugby on and good on them. I think they've already raised well over £200,000, and they want to get to a quarter of a million if possible. Amazing."
There is a JustGiving donation page for The Longest Game here: and the LooseHeadz charity can be found here
