RUGBY:It's a pity Isa Nacewa wasn't born in Athlone, writes LIAM TOLAND

SO MUCH for Declan Kidney’s exciting opportunity to launch the combined efforts of a tighthead and an attacking fullback into the Six Nations next week. No sooner did Mike Ross start finding his feet and expanding his game that all the available fullbacks start falling away.

But for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction and – most importantly – opportunity. Kidney faces Italy next week and their challenge will forever remain in the trenches. The following week it becomes far more trying for the Irish fullback with the arrival of the French. Ross must now be a sure starter, so who will pull on the number 15 jersey next week and then against France?

With Isa Nacewa, Paul Warwick, Rob Kearney, Geordan Murphy and Tommy Bowe unavailable, Luke Fitzgerald, Keith Earls and Gavin Duffy become the sixth, seventh and eighth fullback choices in Ireland.

I have adored watching Nacewa at 15 for Leinster this season and will forever benchmark any future Irish fullback on his qualities. The calmness he applies to his role is similar to Girvan Dempsey. Clearly Dempsey’s positioning may never be repeated, but Nacewa has the ability to add real value to the ball regardless of field position. If he makes 10 decisions all 10 will be correct and based on the best option available, first, to his team, and then to himself. He then executes with total confidence in his ability to negotiate the field as it closes in around him. He also ensures the ball stays alive and continues to travel long after his demise.

Luke Fitzgerald is an obvious solution but remains an enigma. He is a quality player with many assets, but on watching his entry into the professional ranks and rapid rise to international rugby I have noticed one aspect to his game. When returning from injury (as he is currently) back to the elite level, he tends to spend weeks finding his form. In the meantime he simply tries too hard.

As a winger this is manifested in over-running the ball, forcing his inside carrier into a sloppy pass that could fly behind him or, worse still, into touch.

Defensively he is liable to rush in to the hit, man and ball. He tends to do this as part of a three-quarter line with Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy inside him which affords him a comfort blanket that will exist again from the wing next week. In hurling parlance, he still hasn’t got his eye in for the level he faces next week. Fullback requires field position and patience, which may not be his forte. He is clearly a brilliant international and Lion with a Heineken Cup winner’s medal and certainly has a massive future, but I feel his temperament is more suited to that of a clinical finisher. Fitzgerald simply doesn’t play the game with the Nacewa geography in mind. In summary, I feel at his best he is a brilliant ball-carrier and defender but not a fullback.

Keith Earls, like Fitzgerald, is pure quality with much rugby under his belt. Unfortunately his positioning on the pitch has left question marks over this fulcrum role at 15. Whereas Warwick creates space, Earls exploits it. Maybe he’ll grow into that role, but he’s been at his best this season when creative men inside him have afforded him the opportunity to run.

This, of course, places the focus on Gavin Duffy tonight in Scotland. I have been impressed how mature Duffy has become over the past two years in Connacht. He looks far more relaxed in his role, clearly understands it and provides a wider variety of skills than he did when playing for Ireland initially. It can happen like that for players. Trevor Brennan is certainly one who became a far better player after his international career ended. Credit where credit is due: watch Duffy closely and you will see real value. I think he has a great chance to start.

However, up front, Ross has managed to surf into pole position to form a potentially tidy frontrow where he has more than earned a Six Nations start.

Paul O’Connell will start, but his partner has become a three-way split. Clearly Donncha O’Callaghan has the history, but Mick O’Driscoll has impressed whenever the ball comes his way. Often criticised in the past he, like Ross, has evolved over the months.

I do feel, however, Leo Cullen has much to offer. He is a brilliant lineout manager in the mould of O’Connell. He also gets on the ball as much as O’Driscoll and clears out as doggedly as O’Callaghan. Cullen appears the best of all three: so O’Connell and Cullen to start, to be reviewed for the faster French game.

Backrow, my thorny chestnut! Injury will ease the pressure on Kidney and the same should go for me. Having watched all backrowers with eagle eyes this season: Seán O’Brien, at eight, where his future must remain, Stephen Ferris (injury permitting) at six and, although far short of having a true understanding of the openside role, I would love a wild card for Dominic Ryan. As discussed last week, his technique around the ball is now world-class, but his understanding of the “7” role is a long way back. He needs to be where the ball is, offering his technical support but also providing the link.

Based on his performance with Lansdowne some time back, I noticed a lull in play followed by an explosion of brilliance. He is very quick, abrasive and hungry. If he can stay closer to the ball and minimise the lulls in play he will be very valuable.

My suggested solution comes from Stanley Kubrick’s Clockwork Orange and its controversial experimental aversion therapy. Place matchsticks in Ryan’s eyes and sit him in front of Keith Gleeson videos for a full 24 hours. And get all the fullbacks to view the Nacewa version.

Scrumhalf is intriguing. What a turnaround for Peter Stringer. Give them both a go, Declan.

Lest we get carried away with the Six Nations, there’s more than a new party leader celebrating in Cork. Tonight Sunday’s Well entertain Highfield RFC at 7.30pm in Musgrave Park. It appears to be the only Cork AIL fixture under lights this season. Youths/Schools free, adults €7. Enjoy.