Six Nations: Gibbs looks for Lions chance

Scott Gibbs lines up for Wales in their final Six Nations clash of the season against Italy knowing his Lions hopes hang in the balance.

The hero of the tours of 1993 and 1997 realises he has to impress watching national and Lions coach Graham Henry if he is to make the trip to Australia this summer.

Gibbs clung on to his place for the clash with Italy in Rome despite being substituted in the famous victory over France last month.

He cannot afford a repeat of that in the Stadio Flaminio on Sunday.

"I'm aware of what I have to do," said Gibbs, who is battling with the likes of Ireland's Rob Henderson and Scotland's John Leslie in the highly-competitive inside centre berth.

"It's the last chance really to impress at international level ahead of the Lions selection.

"It went through my head that I might have been left out of the starting line-up for the Italy game. But it's a big game for a lot of reasons and I'm looking forward to it."

Gibbs hopes the foot-and-mouth crisis which brings a halt to the Six Nations until the autumn after Sunday's game could work to his advantage, with Ireland and Scotland not in action this weekend.

"It is a good opportunity for players from England and Wales to stake their claims for Australia," said Gibbs, knowing the squad is due to be announced in a few weeks time.

"At the start of the championship I had identified our first three matches against England, Scotland and Ireland as the vital ones as far as Lions selection was concerned.

"The foot-and-mouth outbreak has changed all that - and now Italy is my biggest game of the season.

"Clearly the most important thing is that Wales win, but I know that I will not be going to Australia unless I have a commanding game."