NOW that the vexed question of how many Scots will go on the Lions tour is out of the way, it is surely time to kick off a similar debate: how many Edinburgh players will tour with Scotland this summer?

The real answer is probably quite a handful, given the lack of choices available to incoming national coach Gregor Townsend. But if the question were how many deserve to go on current form, the answer would be very few.

In fact, there might only be one certain inclusion: Hamish Watson. The openside flanker was unfortunate not to be named alongside Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour in the Lions party, and in recent months has pulled off one of the most difficult feats in team sport: keeping up his own high standards while his team-mates’ form was dropping off a cliff.

Of the starting line-up from Edinburgh’s last game, the loss to Treviso, only hooker Ross Ford and tighthead prop Simon Berghan, in addition to Watson, featured in the Six Nations Championship. Those two could well be in the Scotland party for the Tests against Italy, Australia and Fiji, while of course three other key Edinburgh players who have been out injured - props Alasdair Dickinson and Willem Nel along with openside flanker John Hardie - have the pedigree to merit consideration.

It all depends not only on whether those and other injured players are passed fit on time, but also on what kind of squad Townsend wants to take. Given the opposition, he cannot afford to take too many untried players along, hence the probable inclusion of experienced men such as Hardie. But it would certainly be useful for the coach if some of Edinburgh’s younger players were putting their hands up, instead of conspicuously failing to show the character displayed by Watson.

That lack of character is a flaw in Edinburgh’s make-up that stretches back well beyond the current season, as is the absence of a real connection with the local community such as Glasgow have built up over the last few years. The 1872 Cup match against the Warriors a week on Saturday is already taking on an ominous look for Edinburgh, so what could they do to make a difference in the final league outing of the season?

Perhaps the answer lies in making use of the capital’s proud history by springing a few surprises when it comes to selecting the team. Desperate times, after all, call for desperate measures.

For example, we have all heard some scrum-halves being praised for their terrier-like tenacity. Well, Greyfriars Bobby is an actual terrier, so is guaranteed to have that quality in spades if given a run in the No 9 jersey. His detractors will no doubt be keen to point out that, as a statue, he is not the quickest, but it should be noted that there are certain other scrum-halves who have thrived at international level while never being blessed with exceptional mobility.

Speaking of statues, the one of David Hume that stands on the High Street just a few hundred yards away from Bobby is very big and very solid. In fact, as the stereotypical immovable object, it is surely a shoo-in at tighthead prop.

In the second row, the Scott Monument may have difficulty getting off the ground at lineout time, but should be heavy and tall enough to cause problems for even such a tough competitor as Brian Alainu’uese. And in the centres, where Edinburgh have so often lacked the killer instinct, why not give Burke and Hare a try?

Those inclusions would at least provide Duncan Hodge’s team with some character. Failing such fanciful selections, the players who are actually picked for the Glasgow game will simply have to find some much-needed grit from somewhere, prove that they are able to play far better than their recent results might suggest - and remind Townsend at first hand that they could do a good job on tour.

And another thing . . . .

If Hawick lose their BT Premiership play-off to Edinburgh Accies on Saturday, there will be only one Borders club in the top division next season. Gala have already been relegated automatically, and Jed-Forest were a whole 28 points behind second-placed Accies in National One, meaning that, as things stand, cup winners Melrose are the only club from the region who are sure of playing top-flight rugby in 2017-18.

The league system operates on merit, of course, and in theory there is nothing to stop any club from winning a place in the top flight. But the fact that there could be five teams from Edinburgh in that division next season - Accies would join Currie, Heriot’s, Watsonians and Boroughmuir - cannot be healthy for the sport.

Melrose, Premiership champions Ayr and National One champions Marr have all shown what can be done well away from the capital with a combination of good team-building and solid business management. Those Borders clubs who are struggling just now could do with a similar combination of on- and off-field planning if they are to have a hope of reviving past glories.