With the tour to South Africa on the horizon, there’s a great deal riding on this Six Nations championship

WITH THE appointment of Mrs Doubtfire as next year’s Ryder Cup captain, the thought struck me – could Lions head coach Ian McGeechan copy fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie’s selection process for golf’s biggest tournament as a template for Lions selection?

There will be more than 100 players from the Home Countries on show over the coming weeks of this year’s Six Nations. The Ryder Cup has similar numbers, with 10 automatic places and two wild cards. So, could McGeechan could use 30 automatic selections followed by five wild cards?

How in God’s green name will he come up with 30-odd players to tour South Africa? Or more importantly, how would he choose? Will McGeechan fit the players to his style or the style to his players?

Over last weekend’s Heineken Cup matches we had the pleasure of viewing the lead contenders for the Test half-back slots. At this point I wonder if McGeechan knows who his nine and 10 are. Ronan O’Gara is critical to everything Munster and Ireland achieve, so too Stephen Jones for Llanelli and Wales. You would also agree that lover boy Danni Cipriani has the bubbling talent to be included, but James Hook continues to display the all-round control of O’Gara, the strength of Jones and the genius of Cipriani in an ever-growing and consistent manner.

Hook was exceptional in parts for the Ospreys against the Leicester Tigers last weekend, but in particular with his ability to attack the line and power through. There is little he can’t do, and with his national coach, Warren Gatland, ensconced in the Lions management, he must be the lead contender.

But, so too is Cipriani’s coach with Wasps!

Then there’s Jonny Wilkinson, which brings us to five contenders. This conundrum litters all positions.

Which, of course, brings me back to the Ryder Cup selection criteria. With so many wonderful options available, all with different strengths where each can be match-winners, where does one start?

Fantasy rugby for a minute. This championship season, points should be awarded for every selection, every win, every point scored (drop goal, penalty and try), every tackle completed, every ball carried, every tactical kick and every decision made. And, of course, negative marking to count!

Then the scores (points) should be available for perusal by all and sundry each week. So, going into the last weekend a player could know he must, for example, complete 75 tackles or score six tries in order to qualify!

Where once I would watch a match in isolation, these coming weeks I’ll be constantly contrasting and comparing. So next week I’ll be looking at half-backs. Every week I’ll be totting up my unofficial points list for submission to McGeechan.

Of course, I don’t get to pick the squad; unfortunately for me, my starting team will forever remain on this computer. But it will add considerable interest to my viewing of Scotland versus Italy.

It’s extraordinary what can happen for players over the next few months. Tyrone Howe, a fantastic servant of Ulster rugby for so long, was fast approaching 30 when he made his debut for Ireland. He scored some cracking tries and subsequently toured with the Lions the following year.

Not unlike him, Shane Byrne waited until his 30th birthday for his first cap and went on to win three Test caps with the Lions in New Zealand.

As Irish preparations continue in Limerick, the players must be conscious of the nation’s need for success. Last Wednesday Ray D’Arcy was practically begging Paul O’Connell to “Come on, your country needs you!” Paul’s a pretty focused guy, but does he need to carry the nation?

The reality is, this nation needs a big Six Nations.

Thinking of how an individual professional sportsman prepares for Ryder Cup qualification, there must be a huge degree of selfishness required to remain focused on the biennial prize that ensures a sort of immortality. So, too, the team player must be conscious of the Lions tour and the stakes involved in a successful Six Nations.

I tend to agree with Brian O’Driscoll’s claim that this year’s squad is the best he’s been with. There’s a fantastic blend, all on form, between old and new. Clearly Ulster will provide players to the Irish starting team by virtue of their improvement these past few months. This will only serve to encourage those who’ve not made the green before. And with a little luck new names such as Stephen Ferris and Keith Earls could be on that plane to South Africa.

Therefore, over these next few days and weeks the players must carry the weight of Ray D’Arcy, the nation, the IRFU (and the GAA), their families, their team-mates and most of all their desire for Irish and Lions glory. It’s exciting times we live in and I can’t wait for kick off.

PS: France are coming to Ireland tomorrow week with one outhalf, Lionel Beauxis, who plays his club rugby at fullback. Interesting? I don’t think Declan Kidney will be lulled into thinking France haven’t thought this one out, but have Marc Lievremont and Emile Ntamack? C’est Crazy.

Speaking of crazy: with almost 60 Italian caps in the backrow, Mauro Bergamasco is now a scrumhalf?

As per his Italian coach: “He’s working with Troncon and could have a future at half-back for the 2011 World Cup. At the moment there aren’t any quality alternatives.

“With the new laws the scrumhalf needs physical qualities similar to those of a loose forward. Mauro has experience, charisma, vision, organisational capacity and is excellent at kicks over his shoulder.”

I’m pretty good with kicks over my shoulder too!