Gregor Townsend has tipped Huw Jones for a British and Irish Lions call-up after his match-winning heroics against Italy on Saturday.

Jones scored a hat-trick as Scotland kicked off their Six Nations campaign with a nervy 31-19 win over the Italians at Murrayfield.

The Scots had made a flying start and led 14-0 early in the first half, only for a series of errors and indiscipline to allow Italy to fight back to 19-19 shortly after half-time.

There had been a consensus that Sione Tuipulotu would be the one Scotland centre who would be a shoo-in for the Lions prior to him being ruled out of the Six Nations due to injury.

It could now be Jones who forces his way into Andy Farrell’s plans, with his lethal finishing moving him on to 22 tries for Scotland.

Hat-trick hero Huw Jones is being backed for a British and Irish Lions pick this summer

Italy could do nothing to hold back Jones who scored three tries in Murrayfield victory

Jones is all smiles as he poses with the Cuttitta Cup after Scotland’s 31-19 win on Saturday

Asked about Jones’ prospects of a call-up, Scotland head coach Townsend said: ‘Yeah, he would be an asset [to the Lions]. He’s played really well now for a couple of years at the highest level in big games.

‘I thought in the game against South Africa back in the autumn, he was outstanding, breaking tackles against what’s regarded as the best defensive team in the world.

‘He’s a world-class finisher and a very good passer too. He’s got the all-round game that he showed today and he can show again and again for us.

‘It’s great to have Huw in this sweet spot of confidence, experience and physical attributes. He’s at the top of his game right now.

‘Absolutely, he’s a more complete player now [than when he first burst on to the scene with Scotland]. That comes from more of his defensive displays. He’s very, very good in defence and that’s a tough position to defend in at 13.

‘His work in contact, his work-rate off the ball, you probably don’t see it. We often don’t see it on first viewing, but the amount of times him, Stafford [McDowall] and others are tracking to get on the ball.

‘They often don’t get ball. But it brought us rewards [against Italy]. Off the ball work and that support play got him the tries.’

Townsend and his players will now prepare for a blockbuster clash with an Ireland side who opened their championship with a victory over England in Dublin on Saturday.

A grinning Gregor Townsend shares a few words with Finn Russell after win over Italy

Man of the match Jones is hailed by team-mates after scoring his third and Scots’ fifth try

The Italians had no answer for Huw Jones who was almost unplayable at times for Scots

Scotland have never beaten Ireland during Townsend’s reign, with their last win in the fixture coming under Vern Cotter back in 2017.

The likes of Finn Russell and Co spoke of the need to step up and show a significant improvement against an Irish side who are looking to win a third successive Six Nations title.

‘Yes, for any game it’s really important to get your mindset right and that mindset is to perform well in training, to believe in your game and deliver your game in training and then do that on the field,’ said Townsend.

‘Our players have been able to develop and shape their mindset and their resilience over a number of years now.

‘Some of them will be from positive experiences but some of them will be from negative experiences.

‘The last two occasions we played against Ireland, I think in Paris [in the World Cup], that had a big influence on who we became as a team after that defeat.

‘And the last game in terms of our physical performance but also the mental resilience and confidence out in Dublin.

‘That’s a good platform to then grow from and we’ll have to be better than we were in Dublin. We have to have the all-round game which is tough to break down in defence but also clinical in attack.

‘We weren’t clinical that day in attack but we certainly put on a very good defensive performance in Dublin.’