Blair Kinghorn’s ‘weird’ verdict on the British & Irish Lions tour and his message for Jack Willis after latest Toulouse title win
Blair Kinghorn's on-screen selection by the Lions in May
Blair Kinghorn will finally link up with the British and Irish Lions on Monday after his departure to Australia was delayed by Toulouse’s latest Top 14 title charge.
The aristocrats of French rugby clinched their third straight league crown – and Kinghorn’s second – with Saturday’s dramatic 39-33 extra-time win over Bordeaux in Paris. The Scottish winger, who can also play full-back, confirmed his return to full fitness by playing in all 100 minutes of a Stade de France classic.
Having suffered a knee injury in late April, he was sidelined when originally selected in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad of 38 and it was only last weekend when he returned to action, playing 57 minutes for Toulouse in their semi-final win over Bayonne.
Cramp meant an early finish to his first appearance in eight weeks, but there was no repeat of that issue in the final as he played the entirety of the extended showpiece against Bordeaux.
Kinghorn has now flown out to Brisbane, where the Lions are based for Wednesday’s clash with the Reds, and will hope to be available for selection for next Saturday’s clash with the Waratahs in Sydney.
“He has been playing unbelievable rugby, but he was a realist…”
Asked for his thoughts on the Lions, Kinghorn told reporters at Stade de France: “I have been so focused on Toulouse stuff that I have not really thought about it too much. It feels a bit weird, to be honest. It’s only like the last couple of days when I have had to pack and everything, it’s like, all right, I’m heading out there now.”
Acknowledging that the Lions bounced back on Saturday to defeat Western Force after their false start in Dublin against Argentina, Kinghorn added: “It’s always tough coming together. Everyone expects you to be like a great team from the get-go, but you don’t have those connections. So it’s good to see that they bounced back and got a great win.”
The 63-cap Scottish back flew out without Jack Willis, his Toulouse teammate who scored two tries in the Top 14 final. He was overlooked for Lions selection, but Kinghorn departed with an upbeat message for the on-song back-rower.
“He has been playing unbelievable rugby, but he was a realist. He knows that there is a lot of competition in that back-row and he’s not playing international rugby. But I’m sure if there’s an injury he can potentially get called out because he is in great form at the moment.”
It was December 2023 when Kinghorn joined Toulouse from Edinburgh and he became a double Champions Cup/Top 14 at the end of that first season. Eventual winners Bordeaux dethroned them in Europe at the semi-final stage this season, but Toulouse gained revenge in the league decider.
“That one feels sweet after probably not the best season we have had, even though the stats and all that back it up that we have had a great season,” enthused the 28-year-old.
“It doesn’t matter, the stats, if you don’t win something, it’s not a successful season. I’m over the moon, it’s amazing.”
READ MORE: Bordeaux explain why Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s Top 14 final was cut short
