Odds on: Will McGeechan be part of the Lions tour party that heads to Australia in 2013? © Getty Images

Ian McGeechan’s knighthood is just reward for a life dedicated to the sport and unlike that handed down to his English counterpart Clive Woodward in 2003, few will question the legitimacy of the honour. McGeechan is held in such high regard throughout the rugby-playing globe having achieved so much and inspired greatness from so many.

McGeechan shared the headlines with a host of figures from all walks of life including thespian Patrick Stewart, bra tycoon Michelle Mone and rockers Status Quo. You would struggle to conjure a more colourful combo but all offer a parallel of sorts to the rugby legend.

Like McGeechan, Stewart was born in Yorkshire and their recognition will no doubt be a source of pride for the region. McGeechan began his playing career with the Headingley club in Leeds, juggling his on-field exploits with his job as a school teacher before earning international honours with first Scotland and then the British & Irish Lions.

He would go on to win 32 caps for Scotland but it was his relationship, or perhaps love affair, with the Lions that forged his reputation as one of the great players and coaches. He first toured with them as a player to South Africa in 1974 as part of the Invincibles side that went 22 matches unbeaten - including a series triumph over the Springboks.

He toured with them once more, to New Zealand in 1977, but would have to wait until the start of his coaching career to taste success with the elite tourists once again. A step up to the international coaching ranks had come in 1986 and success as part of the Lions’ management team in 1989 in Australia was followed by a Five Nations Championship Grand Slam with Scotland in 1990.

A stint with English club Northampton followed as did another trip to New Zealand with the Lions in 1993 but it would be in South Africa in 1997 that he would cement his place amongst the greats, steering the tourists to an historic series triumph.

He would return to the Lions set-up in 2005, having parted company with the Scottish Rugby Union, working as an assistant to Clive Woodward on the ill-fated trip to New Zealand. McGeechan was in charge of the unbeaten midweek team but disagreed with the way Woodward ditched many of the Lions traditions. The tour damaged the credibility of the Lions and the future of the tourists was suddenly in doubt.

The Lions were in desperate need of support, and something more substantial than that offered by Mone’s Ultimo brand, and as a result it was no surprise that management pin-pointed McGeechan, by now working as London Wasps' director of rugby, as the man to resurrect their battered reputation.

A man-manager par excellence, McGeechan ensured a return to traditional tour values as head coach on this year’s tour to South Africa and although his side failed to match the successes of ’74 and ’97 they won a far more important battle off the field, in the hearts and minds.

An honour such as a knighthood, like a lifetime achievement award, suggests the recipient’s days of industry are over but even at 63-years-old, McGeechan’s appetite for the game is as strong as ever - "My passion for rugby and for sporting excellence remains undimmed," he defiantly declared on confirmation of his honour. Messrs Parfitt and Rossi and the latest incarnation of the Quo may well have been named the hardest working band in 2009 but they have got nothing on McGeechan. The meticulous McGeechan will have burnt the midnight oil in his quest to beat the Boks and has hardly eased up since his return with an extensive promotional campaign for his autobiography.

And although he has hinted that he will not coach the Lions again, McGeechan has already been lined up as a consultant to the Six Nations Committee as preparations begin for trip to Australia in 2013 and if he makes a swift return to rugby’s frontline in 2010, do not be surprised if he is boarding a plane Down Under.

We're off and running - rugby's last great adventure has another dedicated follower.

My flight touched down in Jo'burg safe and sound this morning and I emerged a little bleary-eyed to blue skies and warm sunshine. Bumped into Rugby World editor Paul Morgan and BBC Five Live's Ian Robertson and some immediate networking secured me a lift into the city with Stephan Weyers and Gerrie Swart from Essentially - which is one of the big players, if not the biggest, in rugby talent management.

Incredibly generous guys who were not only helpful in terms of their vehicle and advice but also offered to get me some access with the Boks they look after. A promise to meet again over a few beers saw us part and a swift check in at my hotel was followed by a trip up the road to the Sandton Convention Centre for the Lions team announcement.

A host of familiar faces gather for the press conference - the British & Irish press are here in good numbers and South Africa too are represented - including Die Burger's Stephen Nell who you will also recognise from the pages of Scrum.com.

A chuckle emanated from the press pack as the Lions branding fell off the front of the top table just as tour manager Gerald Davies began to speak - let's hope the wheels don't fall off this weekend.

It was all positive from the Lions triumvirate of Davies, Ian McGeechan and Paul O'Connell and there's no doubt the side they have picked is pretty formidable on paper - a big pack and some exciting backs. We've heard the word so much over the last few weeks - but will they 'gel'?

Soon it was time to get my bearings here in Sandton - one of the more pleasant areas of Jo'burg by all accounts. Many of the Lions were seen wandering around the huge shopping centre on our doorstep - they are staying up the road too - no fans to worry about but I'm sure that will change as we get nearer the Tests.

First surreal sight of the tour - Joe Worsely sat alone in one of the large function rooms at their swanky hotel playing a grand piano - he's quite good you know.

Further updates from the Lions tour will be posted on the dedicated blog here - http://blogs.scrum.com/lionstourdiary/

And while I remember - don't forget you can follow my updates - http://www.twitter.com/Graham_Jenkins and you can also check out the official ESPN Scrum Twitter site.

Ask most people in town and they will tell you that there is only one game of rugby that matters this weekend - the Bulls' Super 14 Final clash with the Chiefs in Pretoria.

The Bulls, featuring a host of Springboks such as Bryan Habana, Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and a few more-in-waiting including Morne Steyn, will be heavy favourites to claim their second Super Rugby crown in three years following their dramatic victory over the Sharks in 2007.

The Chiefs, in their first-ever final, not only face an in-form Bulls side but must also counter a vociferous Loftus Versfeld crowd and the effects of playing at altitude.

However, don't get me wrong - the Chiefs will pose a threat and will give the Bulls (and their Boks) are thorough work-out that will perhaps be more valuable than the their international counterparts will get against a Namibian XV on Friday.

The Lions game may even struggle for second-billing on a busy day of sport with the FA Cup Final clash between Chelsea and Everton also set to be a big draw.

Sources say that the 44,000 capacity Royal Bakofeng Stadium may only be half full for the Lions' tour opener with schools in the area set to benefit with a few free tickets.

The Lions rolled out the welcome mat one last time at their five-star Surrey base on Sunday and the scene could not have been further from the brutal battle that surely awaits them against the Springboks in South Africa.

Tea and cucumber sandwiches on the terrace of the beautiful Pennyhill Park Hotel in leafy Bagshot - described as 'awesome' by Wales' Jamie Roberts - was the order of the day and as the class of 2009 tucked in (never has a tiny triangle of bread looked more inadequate than it did in the pincers of some of these giants) the gathered media did their best to squeeze one more preview piece out of those present.

As the players spoke of an intensive week of training, successful team bonding and sci-fi-like altitude training, classical music from a wedding reception floated down while guests looked on in amazement. Never before will a bride have been so upstaged but at least their day will live long in the memory.

The blazing sunshine and the cast of players are the only elements of this picturesque scene that will be repeated come the first Test in Durban in June 20. Pleasantries will be kept to a minimum on that occasion I can assure you.

Signs are that head coach Ian McGeechan's quest to forge winning partnerships both on and off the field is reaping reward. A smiling Roberts assured me that there was a buzz amongst the players while Dr James Robson, a veteran of four previous Lions tours, insisted this tour had got off to a superb start.

"They are a great bunch of boys," he told me. "I know we harp on about ’97 but it is very much like that. It’s just like one big rugby club, the spirit is superb. They are a good bunch and there is a lot of banter and I think you can measure the success and the relaxation of the squad by the amount of banter that’s going on."

There maybe some work to do if the country grouping of the players on the terrace was anything to go by - but it's early days I guess.

The Royal XV, or the Bafokeng Royal XV to give them their full name, will be the Lions' first opposition on their forthcoming tour of South Africa. The two sides will go head-to-head at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium (recently upgraded to seat more than 44,000 spectators) in Phokeng near Rustenburg next Saturday but who exactly are they?

Under the auspices of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, the Royal XV has been assembled from the Griquas, the Griffons, the Pumas, the Falcons and the Leopards rugby unions.

Wilhelm Koch, captain of the Leopards, will lead the side while newly crowned Vodacom Cup champions, Griquas, and the Leopards, who were last year promoted to the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, have contributed 23 of the 27 players selected for match.

Ahead of the game I caught up with an old friend and former Scrum.com contributor Ben Pegna who spent three years playing in South Africa to get the low-down on some of his former team mates.

"If you play into these guys' hands and make a big thing of the breakdown then they will love it and smash you all day," warned Pegna who played for the Villagers side in Cape Town before moving on to the Pukke Rugby Institute and the Leopards outside Johannesburg. "They are going to be waiting to line somebody up. If the Lions are able to play an off-loading game and get around them then that will benefit them."

But how would the average British or Irish fan gauge the standard these guys play week in, week out?

"If these guys came over to play in the UK, some of them would struggle to get contracts in the Premiership," Pegna explained. "That’s the sort of level you are looking at. They are all potentially Premiership players but are not used to playing week in week out or at the sort of pace the internationals within the Lions are used to.

"About 10 or so have Super 14 experience but even then they are not massively experienced, but what they will be is well-organised, ridiculously abrasive up front and keen to smash somebody."

So, who should we, and the Lions, be wary of? Pegna gives us a few markers.

Bees Roux (prop) - "A hard, physical presence who is at the Cheetahs now but his province is Griquas. And earlier this season he played for Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 for a couple of months."

Colin Lloyd (Wing) – "Previously at the Lions, a good player, he’s been around, quick and good counter-attacker. But not a big guy and not one of the big threats."

Egon Seconds (Wing) - "Sevens specialist, has played Springboks 7s but also 50 or 60 times for Western Province and the Stormers. Nice guy and good player."

Deon van Rensburg – "Broke through for Lions this year, playing in the centre in the Super 14. He came in for the injured Jacque Fourie and played well – a breakthrough year, a good step and one of the players to watch."

Riaan Viljoen (fly-half) - "Has got a massive boot on him – scored all 28 points in the Griquas' Vodacom Cup Final victory over the Blue Bulls. Put one over from inside his own half – a real threat. If the Lions give away penalties he will kick the goals."

Naas Olivier - (fly-half/fullback) - "Another good player. Had a spell in France but not too successful and returned to Western Province. Wanted regular rugby and is now back at Griquas. Recently drafted in for the Cheetahs in the Super 14. Has previous Super 14 experience with the Stormers too. Likes running but is a really good kicker. Scored 42 points in a Vodacom Cup game this year."

Jonathan Mokoena (flanker) - "Jono is another guy to watch out for. He was the Springboks 7s captain, comfortable anywhere in the back row, but likes carrying the ball. A good No.8. runs good lines. Captaining the Griquas at the moment and was at the Cheetahs for a couple of years. If they get some ball he could be dangerous."

Wilhelm Koch (flanker) - "Has played for the Lions and is now captain of the Leopards. Has done well and is a good, solid loose forward."

How are they likely to shape up as a team?

"They are good Vodacom Cup players and Currie Cup players in-the-making but a lot are quite young and making a name for themselves. They are solid guys, perhaps a little one-dimensional and lacking a spark. The guys to look out for are Jonathan Mokoena, Wilhelm Koch, Naas Olivier and Riaan Viljoen at 10 or 15 and up front, Bees Roux. That is the core of what they have got."

The team will be coached by Chaka Willemse who is relishing his chance against the Lions having cruelly missed his chance to square up to the elite tourists in 1997. A broken hand denied him an appearance against the Lions for the Pumas - a game won 64-14 by the Lions. One of his assistants will be Griquas coach Dawie Theron - former prop who had a spell with Sale Sharks between 1998 and 2000 and will so be able to offer some insight.

So a winning start for the Lions?

"It's a very good first game for the Lions, tough, physical but I would expect the Lions to win comfortably," concluded Pegna.

The Lions' Surrey base is a hive of activity as the class of 2009 gather ahead of their departure for South Africa.

Head coach Ian McGeechan, tour manager Gerald Davies and captain Paul O'Connell are set to talk to the media for the only time this week ahead of flying to SA next Sunday. The rest of the squad are floating around with the gathered media feeding on what they can.

There's a buzz about the place with players kitted out in their tour gear already - exciting times...

Lions obviously unhappy with the fact that Euan Murray was not released by Northampton for today's get together. The Leinster and Leicester contingent are here for the day ahead of their Heineken Cup showdown later this week but Saints obviously felt they couldn't do without him for the day as they prepare for Friday's European Challenge Cup. So he'll be missing from the official photo! How disappointing for the player and the Lions!

Amid last week's fanfare surrounding the confirmed bids to host the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, the IRB put the final nail in the coffin of the controversial Experimental Law Variations (ELVs). Of course they put a positive spin on the issue highlighting the 10 minor ELVs that will be passed into law.

But of particular note was their ruling that, "the integrated set of Laws will be implemented globally from May 23 or from the start of the next domestic season where competitions transcend the implementation date".

This means that the Lions will not be playing under the global ELVs when they tackle the Springboks in their three-Test series. So those trials which currently allow mauls to be pulled down and unlimited numbers at the lineout will be no more come the first Test in Durban on June 20.

But before you celebrate the impending re-birth of the maul have some sympathy for Lions head coach Ian McGeechan who will surely have picked his squad believing the ELVs would be in play. With the maul now back as a key part of the Lions' weaponry McGeechan may or may not be wishing he had made different selections but either way the IRB's decision to implement the revised laws so soon is a little thoughtless.

If the Lions didn't have enough to worry about trying to conjure a team from a group of talented individuals in just a few weeks - those players now need to get used to playing under different rules to those which they have been battling it out under for the last year.

At least the change is the same for the Springboks - yet their coach Peter de Villiers will not name his squad until June 1 allowing him to get his head around any possible changes in personnel.

In the words of Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers.

Roger Uttley has an impressive rugby CV having played for England and the Lions - including the undefeated tour of South Africa in 1974. He later went on to act as an assistant coach of the Lions on their victorious tour of Australia in 1989 and manage England so is well-placed to offer some reaction to the latest Lions squad and the task facing them in South Africa this summer.

With thanks to Stamp Productions.

British Lions interview with Roger Uttley from STAMP Productions on Vimeo.

Fate has dealt Irish scrum-half Tomas O'Leary a cruel blow. The talented 25-year-old has been ruled out of this summer's Lions tour to South Africa just three days after being confirmed as part of Ian McGeechan's 37-man tour party.

A season that has already delivered career defining moment for the No.9 - Ireland's Six Nations Grand Slam success - has been brought to a dramatic end thanks to a broken ankle suffered in the domestic clash with Scarlets on Friday night.

What makes it all the more tragic is that the season promised so much more with Munster on the brink of the Magners League title and just days away from an all-Irish Heineken Cup semi-final with Leinster. Such are the highs and lows of sport.

His injury is set to send a shockwave through the rest of the squad destined for South Africa next month. For most, Lions tours offer a once in a lifetime opportunity, and to have it ripped away from you must be tough to take.

And with another month of the season still to go there may yet be more tales of woe. What effect will O'Leary's injury have on those set to board the plane? Will any of them take their foot off the gas in contact or in training to ensure they get to Heathrow in one piece? Unlikely as to do so can just as easily lead to injury.

One major concern for McGeechan is if Munster and Cardiff Blues make it to the Heineken Cup Final. If that does happen 14 of the squad could be going head-to-head for European glory just a day before the Lions leave for SA>

My advice? Just stick to the approach that got you onto the Lions radar and hope that Lady Luck smiles on you. But even she may be hard-pressed to protect you from the Springboks.

But one player's misfortune opens the door for another with Scotland's Mike Blair (a high profile omission from the origina squad), England's Danny Care and Wales' Dwayne Peel amongst those likely to get the call. Wales Mike Phillips is surely in possession of the Test jersey at the moment ahead of England's Harry Ellis - but anything can happen - just ask O'Leary.

The wait is over. The 2009 British & Irish Lions were unveiled to great fanfare in London today along with confirmation that Ireland lock Paul O’Connell will lead the elite tourists to South Africa.

And so begins the ‘last great rugby adventure’ as tour manager Gerald Davies described it during a goose-bump inducing introduction to proceedings.

The Lions legend then read out the 37 names - 14 from Ireland, 13 from Wales, 8 from England and 2 from Scotland - that will go into battle in the famous red jerseys on a 10-match tour that will culminate in a three-Test series against the Springboks.

There were the names we all expected and also some many didn’t. England’s Ugo Monye, Wales' Leigh Halfpenny, Ireland’s Keith Earls and Wales’ Andy Powell will all board the plane as somewhat surprising selections but three national captains – England’s Steve Borthwick, Scotland’s Mike Blair and Wales’ Ryan Jones will not. For Jones it will surely be a bitter pill to swallow having fallen from favourite for the captaincy to surplus to requirements.

Powell's inclusion also comes depsite the huge No.8 suffering a drop in form but the Lions coaching team are obviously keen to put his big frame on the line in South Africa.

Perhaps the most surprising omission was England flanker Tom Croft who had been widely tipped to make a big impression on the hard ground of the high veldt. He is the vicitm of a highly-competitive position that will include the Irish trio of David Wallace, Stephen Ferris and Alan Quinlan, England's Joe Worsley and Wales' Martyn Williams.

The appointment of O'Connell, the worst kept secret in rugby, was ratified and the big ginger lock was paraded in front of the media and talked up his side's chances - and talked down his recent spat with Wales coach Warren Gatland.

So who are going to be the stars of the tour? And did McGeechan get it right?

British and Irish Lions squad for the 2009 tour of South Africa:

Fullback: Lee Byrne (Wales), Rob Kearney (Ireland)

Wing: Shane Williams (Wales), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Ugo Monye (England), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), Tommy Bowe (Ireland)

Centre: Tom Shanklin (Wales), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), Keith Earls (Ireland), Riki Flutey (England)

Fly-half: Ronan O'Gara (Ireland), Stephen Jones (Wales)

Scrum-half: Mike Phillips (Wales), Harry Ellis (England), Tomas O'Leary (Ireland)

Number eight: Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Andy Powell (Wales)

Flanker: David Wallace (Ireland), Stephen Ferris (Ireland), Alan Quinlan (Ireland), Joe Worsley (England), Martyn Williams (Wales)

Lock: Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O'Connell (Ireland, capt), Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland), Simon Shaw (England), Nathan Hines (Scotland)

Prop: Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Andrew Sheridan (England), Phil Vickery (England), Euan Murray (Scotland)

Hooker: Jerry Flannery (Ireland), Lee Mears (England), Matthew Rees (Wales)

Here are some great soundbites from various Lions who recall how they found out they were selected for the elite tourists:

Gareth Edwards (1968, 1971 & 1974)
"A brown envelope came through the door and it said something along the lines of 'Dear Edwards, you've been selected for the British Lions' which you read three or four times just to make sure you hadn't made a mistake!"

Andy Irivine (1974, 1977 & 1980)
"I was driving to a business meeting and I heard it on the radio as I left that morning before the mail came in. I have to say it was just a tremendous sensation because you really felt like you had made it."

Willie-John McBride (1962, 1966, 1968, 1971 & 1974)
"The Lions team was announced on radio and that's how we learned, and then you got a letter. But prior to that you were obviously asked 'would you be able if selected to go to South Africa for four-and-a-half months'. Now, if that's not better than working I don't know what is."

Mike Teague (1989 & 1993)
"I think it was Clive Rowlands, the manager, who phoned me and said 'Is that Mike Teague, British Lions rugby player; it was just a call, he didn't say who it was, but it was a Welsh voice saying that to me so then I knew."

Will Greenwood (1997, 2001 & 2005)
"At the time I was living with everybody's favourite pal Austin Healey; I came down for breakfast and he was reading his letter, jumping around the house and saying 'oh well, unlucky kid'.

"There were rumours that I may have made the tour so I was obviously hugely disappointed. Then he asked me to give him a lift to Welford Road, so I drove Austin into the car park and there was Graham Simmons from Sky and he said 'Well done, Will'. I nearly smacked him - I thought he was being a sarcastic little so-and-so.

"Then Austin pulls something out of his top pocket and says 'I think you are looking for this'; so I found out in a roundabout sort of way - those are the perils and dangers of living with A Healey.”

Will this week's Lions squad announcement throw up a 'bolter'? Will the elite tourists offer a relatively unknown player, untested on the international stage, the chance to make a name for himself on one of the biggest stages in the sport?

In today's professional environment it is increasingly difficult for a player to go under the radar but the romantic notion of someone emerging as a world-class talent in the famous red jersey when their own country have yet to tap into their potential remains a fascinating prospect.

England's Will Greenwood was the last uncapped player chosen by the Lions when he was selected for the 1997 tour to South Africa and it appears he may hold onto that accolade for another four years at least. Former England centre Jeremy Guscott was another to emerge on Lions duty when he toured Australia in 1989 with just one previous cap to his name.

McGeechan was the coach on both those occasions but will he take such a gamble this time around? Unlikely. And those fringe players hoping for the nod will not have been heartened by these recent words from tour manager Gerald Davies.

"We have had an open mind on players who didn't make their countries' Six Nations squads," he said, "but I can't imagine we will be going outside of those squads. It is fair to assume that the Lions will come from the Six Nations squads."

But that hasn't stopped the speculation.

England's Ben Foden was an early name thrown into the mix after some stand out performances for Northampton but he failed to grab his chance when drafted into the elite squad for the Six Nations. The versatile 23-year-old was shaping up as a key weapon on the hard ground of the high veldt - but not anymore.

England hooker Dylan Hartley is another potential surprise selection. Although his playing time was also limited he may benefit from a real stand-out candidate amongst the hookers in this year's Six Nations.

Scotland speedster Thom Evans caught the eye in the Six Nations and he too may be boarding the plane to South Africa with just a handful of caps to his name.

Wales livewire Leigh Halfpenny is another who could be adding the Lions to his burgeoning CV despite only having made his international debut in the autumn. The 20-year-old's timely display in Cardiff Blues' Anglo-Welsh Cup romp against Gloucester at Twickenham many see him joining his regional team mates Martyn Williams and Jamie Roberts in South Africa this summer.

And what about Munster's Keith Earls? Another player who would relish the hard ground, he only has two caps to his name but his versatility is a huge plus.

All of these players offer plenty of untapped potential and their relative low-profiles would have the Springboks scurrying to check out YouTube.

It may well be that the omission of some big names will overshadow the chance offered to any bolter with the likes of Wales skipper Ryan Jones and his England counterpart Steve Borthwick reportedly struggling for support amongst the Lions coaching team.

One thing for sure is that there are some shocks in store - one way or another - on Tuesday.

The second round of matches in this year's Six Nations has come and gone with one truly memorable game, one forgettable clash and one you wish you'd never seen in the first place. But did anyone step forward as a potential Lions tourist?

Several players caught our eye in the first round of matches but has anyone new emerged? And have any of those already in the mix cemented their claims?

For the second successive weekend the northern hemisphere's premier competition failed to live up to its billing. Scotland raised their game against France in Paris but were unable to overhaul their opponents on one of their off-days. England also conjured a much-improved showing but came up short against Wales in Cardiff. And Ireland battled past Italy in a bruising clash that descended into a dull affair.

Here's who caught our eye this weekend:

Max Evans (Scotland)
The centre looked lively throughout and was involved in most good things the Scots did - and outshone his try-scoring brother.

Joe Worsley (England)
Tackled himself into the ground with a gutsy display to almost single-handedly drag England out of the doldrums. Was he really not good enough for England a month ago?

Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland)
The winger notched his first and second Test tries to help see off Italy - combining superbly with team mate Gordon D'Arcy for the latter.

David Wallace (Ireland)
After a comparatively quiet game against France, returned to top form with a strong performance in a fierce forward battle and grabbed a key try too.

Stephen Jones (Wales)
A superb kicking performance in a high-pressure game to steer his side to victory over England.

Ryan Jones (Wales)
Returned to lead his country against England and produced a big match display to ensure his side withstood a determined challenge.

Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
The Ireland skipper secures a repeat appearance in our listing after another vintage display in a full-blooded clash in Rome - capping his performance with another try.

Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
Continues to impress with a high workrate and momentum-stopping tackles in broken play where he has no right being.

And let us not focus all our attention on the Six Nations after Lions coach Ian McGeechan hinted he would be prepared to look outside the Championship frame.

Danny Cipriani (Wasps)
Kicked 21 points in his side's Premiership victory over Leicester to issue a reminder to England manager Martin Johnson - although it appears the Lions coach (and his club boss) is already a fan.

The opening matches in this year's Six Nations doubled up as the first open auditions for this summer's British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. But instead of Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh deciding the destiny of the most talented individuals we have messrs Ian McGeechan and Gerald Davies.

Like millions of other fans across the continent, I'm sure they slipped into their favourite armchairs with a cup of tea by their side and notebook and pen in hand ready to piece together their squad to tackle the Springboks. They probably skipped most of England's clash with Italy to clear the snow from their driveways but hopefully returned to their slippers in time for the delights of the Croke Park and timed their Sunday lunches around Wales' impressive showing against the Scots.

So, what have we all learnt from the first round of matches? How many Welsh players would make the Lions Test team if it was named tomorrow? Would any Englishmen be boarding the plane to South Africa?

Here's who caught our eye and can surely forget any holiday plans in June:

Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
The athletic lock scored a try against the Scots and rampaged around the field on his way to a table-topping 13 tackles (along with Ireland's Luke Fitzgerald).

Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Just when Ireland needed their colossus to deliver a big performance he obliged in all departments. A second row partnership with Jones surely beckons?

Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
The Irishman sounded out a warning to his potential Lions backrow rivals with a barnstorming performance against France including a superby taken try with impressive sidestep to boot.

Martyn Williams (Wales)
Another masterclass from the Nugget as part of a dominant Welsh pack. His skills at the breakdown mean he is a shoe-in for the tour and most likely the Test team.

Andy Powell (Wales)
The giant Welshman saw plenty of the ball against Scotland (an leading 12 carries) because he is such a formidable weapon. In-form and happy to take the attack to anyone - watch out Boks.

Ronan O’Gara (Ireland)
The Munsterman was on top form orchestrating the Irish with confidence and back to his best.

Shane Williams (Wales)
Another eye-catching display from the IRB Player of the Year including a try and superb offload in the tackle to set up team mate Leigh Halfpenny for a score. Worht his weight and more in gold.

Jamie Roberts (Wales)
Wales boss Warren Gatland has backed his centre for grest things and who are we to argue after he produced a man of the match display against the Scots, breaking the gainline time and time again.

Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
A superb try against the French had every man and his dog harking back to his memorable score for the Lions in Australiain 2001. Full of running and looks to be timing a return to top form to claim a place on his third Lions tour.

Rob Kearney (Ireland)
Sounded a warning that there is more than one contender for the Lions' No.15 shirt with another assured display against France.

Lee Byrne (Wales)
The talented fullback has long been tipped for Lions honours and produced another superb display in a red shirt against the Scots. great under the high ball and in broken play - and hard as nails, just ask the frozen Murrayfield turf.

Not an Englishman or Scotsman on my radar after the opening exchanges in the battle for the northern hemisphere crown but this is the Six Nations and we have got a long way to go - so who knows?