Gordon D’Arcy says the Six Nations is the shop window for Lions selection.
With just one week to go until Ireland begin their Six Nations journey against Vern Cotter’s Scotland in Murrayfield, everything has been concentrated on ensuring an Irish victory.
There is only one answer you receive when you ask a rugby player about a potential Lions selection and its usually something along the lines of, “I’m just concentrating on the next game.”
Or something to that effect.
However, it has long been known that players’ form and performances during the seven-week tournament are likely to have a significant impact on whether they get chosen to go to New Zealand in the summer.
Perhaps more so than any other Test matches we have seen prior to this.
So with that in mind, it must be difficult for players to concentrate on their national side’s goals and aims while also being in the knowledge that you need to perform excellently yourself in order to impress Warren Gatland.
This is something which former Ireland and Leinster centre D’Arcy alludes to in an interview with The Daily Mail.
“You’re trying to find that balance of managing to put yourself in the shop window, but also sticking to the plans and doing what is best for the team.
“Going into the Six Nations, there are probably 60 or 70 players (in contention for a Lions call-up), and unfortunately for a lot of them, their hands are going to be dealt based on how their team performs.”
Although D’Arcy mentions that it is important to find the balance between impressing Gatland and achieving what you need to do for your national side, he admits that concentrating on what is directly in front you is the best course of action.
“You can’t control that, but if you’re worrying about the Lions, you’re going to forget about what’s right in front of you, and what’s right in front of you is five important games, so stay fit, stay healthy, and play to the best of your ability, D’Arcy says.”
With Ireland enjoying a successful November series, in addition to being one of the favourites for the Six Nations, we could well see a sizeable Irish contingent on the plane to New Zealand in the summer.
D’Arcy immediately looks at 9-10-12-13 axis of Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose for Ireland and admits that the strength and familiarity between the players may be something which Gatland cannot ignore.
“I think we’ve seen the best of them [recently]. We’ve seen that that 9-10-12-13 axis has been very strong. I think that’s a world class four. You’re building your foundation off of that.”
Although Robbie Henshaw’s and Garry Ringrose’s partnership has yet to make its debut at Test level, D’Arcy expects no problems for the two men to combine like they have done so for their province.
“I think his partnership with Garry, while still very embryonic and very new, has shown all the understanding that you could hope for at this stage.”
With Gatland expected to make his squad announcement towards the end of April, there won’t be too many more chances for players to put their hand up for selection.
As if the players needed any more pressure on their shoulders as they enter what is predicted to be one of the toughest and most competitive Six Nations we have seen in years.
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