Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : Blair benefits from O'Leary misfortune

News

RBS 6 Nations match video highlights

Watch the latest Video highlights

The Official Championship App

Keep on top of all the action through the official app. Includes video, news, history, stats and more...

RBS 6 Nations Live Challenge App 2013

Click here to learn more!

Official Online Store

RBS 6 Nations full kit range now available online

Official Magazine 2013

Click here to Download

Mike Blair

Press Association Images

Blair benefits from O'Leary misfortune

11 May 2009, 1:44 pm

By Rob Barnett

Mike Blair has been called up to the Lions squad to tour South Africa this summer as a replacement for Tomas O'Leary.

The Scotland scrum-half was a leading contender to captain the squad after doing a fine job as skipper of his national side in succession to Jason White in 2008.

But he was one of three RBS 6 Nations captains surprisingly left out when the original selection was made.

O'Leary was joined by England's Harry Ellis and Mike Phillips of Wales, the favourite to be the Test No.9.

Scotland's poor form in the RBS 6 Nations looked to have counted against Blair as he battled to shine behind a pack which did not hit the heights it had in the November internationals.

Now however Blair, of Edinburgh, has been selected ahead of Dwayne Peel of Wales, England's Danny Care and compatriot Chris Cusiter as the third scrum-half in the party.

O'Leary was injured just four days after being named in the original 36-man party while on league duty for his club Munster.