Players on fringe may miss Lions consideration

Ireland's rugby plans, along with those of thousands of supporters have been thrown into disarray as a result of the potentially catastrophic outbreak of foot and mouth disease in these islands.

While the serious implications reverberate throughout the community as a whole, the consequences for the Six Nations championship pale into insignificance when compared with the potential impact on the Celtic Tiger, not to mention those people whose livelihoods are directly affected in the short term.

Consequently, there was no option other than to postpone today’s encounter with Wales in an effort to contain an epidemic which has no respect for national borders.

In the early seventies, Ireland’s chances of a successful season were scuppered when Wales and Scotland opted out of their scheduled fixtures in Dublin due to political unrest In the North.

Twenty years on and events have conspired to put a halt to Ireland’s impressive momentum once again.

And, with no sign of the outbreak being contained, the completion of the Six Nations championship is in doubt. France are unlikely to welcome Welsh supporters across their borders on St Patrick’s weekend and Ireland are likely to take a similar view of their English counterparts a week later.

That brings us up to the end of March, based on confirmed cases in the last week. Any new cases will obviously put those time parameters well into April.

Mid April was the target date for announcing the Lions touring party. Current events may not interfere with that announcement, as most of the contenders are pencilled in at this stage, but the management may regret the lack of top level competition.

Many players on the fringe of selection may feel somewhat cheated if the championship is not completed by the time the selection is announced.

It is probable that there are 10 or 12 places still to play for and Irish, Scottish and Welsh players in this position certainly need the games to prove their worth.

Gibbs v Henderson; O’Gara v Jenkins v Wilkinson; Hayes v Smith. These are but a few of the contests that would confirm current standings and others could well propel heretofore unlikely candidates into the limelight.

In the absence of these games, the Celtic nations could well lose out on some 50/50 decisions to their English counterparts. Apart from Lions selection, Ireland will feel aggrieved that their best start to a season for years, may count for nothing should the current situation continue.

This would be a pity as, ever since the Scottish game last season, Irish rugby has been on the up and the break in momentum will be more of a setback with confidence high and all our Triple Crown games to come.

Let’s hope the outbreak can be arrested soon, for the many reasons beyond rugby football, but also to give the players meaningful competition in the year that’s in it.

Meanwhile, Italy v France goes ahead in Rome and while the home side can take hope from their performance in Twickenham, bar the last 30 minutes, this game is all about how France respond following their defeat to Ireland.

Already, they have rung the changes, with Dourthe, Comba, Carbonneau and Bory all dropped and, with Garbajosa injured, a new look back division will carry the expectations of a very impatient French public.

With only one change in the pack (Califano for Marconnet), the blame for poor performances lies squarely with the backs and anything short of a return to the diet of flair that their supporters have dined on for years, could well mean the guillotine for coach, monsieur Laporte.

Italy will certainly hope France are capable of running riot and thereby papering over the cracks in what have been stuttering performances by their standards to date. At least they get to play.