Delon is future Lion

Nov 19 2008 By Daniel Schofield, Staines News

Former skipper Gavin Hastings is convinced England rookie Delon Armitage is nailed on to earn a shock Lions call-up for this summer's tour to South Africa.

Hastings, who is the record Lions Test match points scorer, has been impressed with

Armitage in his first two Twickenham internationals against the Pacific Islanders and Australia.

And with the Lions full-back position wide open following the retirement of Jason Robinson - Hastings is backing London Irish-ace, Armitage, to get the nod over Wales' Lee Byrne and Ireland's Garvin Dempsey.

"The guy has got a lot of talent and has played very well this autumn," said Hastings.

"You get guys you would not have heard of a year ago, making late charges for the Lions squad. That's the beauty of the Lions - you don't need bags of experience to make the tour.

"There are a lot of good players in the British Isles but there are hardly any you would say are nailed-on certainties to tour and that's why Delon would get my vote."

Hastings slammed the selections of Sir Clive Woodward in 2005 and called on current Lions boss Ian McGeechan to pick on form and not reputations.

Sir Clive opted for an avalanche of 2003 World Cup winners to tour New Zealand, who had either retired from international rugby or were struggling with form.

"I would like to see Delon Armitage get a whole Six Nations under his belt," added Hastings. "There is so much talk about him; people forget he has only played ahandful of games for England.

"In the past you have had players being picked on the basis of what they did years ago. You look at the Lions in 2005, a lot were not on form but were picked because of what they did at the World Cup.

"You know under Ian McGeechan that it will not be like that - he won't pick anyone who is over the hill.

"He won't be afraid to give guys like Delon Armitage and Danny Cipriani a real go in South Africa."

The Exiles showed no signs of missing their international stars as they chalked up their third Guinness Premiership win on the spin at Newcastle on Sunday.

Armitage, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Seilala Mapusua and captain Bob Casey were all away, but it didn't stop Toby Booth's men running out 24-8 winners to fire them up to third.

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