Autumn Tests provide an early chance to show Lions credentials

We saw what happened the last time the team underperformed before a Lions tour; only two or three Scots were selected. It was a reflection of where Scotland were at the time: not very competitive.

This season, I am a bit more hopeful. I was in Castres recently with Edinburgh and I thought Mike Blair was simply outstanding again. Another who has impressed me this season is Jim Hamilton.

I like this type of player: he's a massive lad who can get around the park and has a bit of presence about him. Iwould like to see him really force his way into contention for the Scotland team, but I also feel there are other guys who can step up to the plate.

Warren Gatland, the Lions coach, pinpointed the autumn Tests, against the best national teams in the world, as the place where players can put themselves into contention.

There is a British & Irish Lions selector for each of the four nations and they will be watching every single game. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a huge group of maybe 80 players they are keeping an eye on, and marking each player on their performance over the autumn games.

They will then meet up and note who has played well, decide who they might have to discard because of injury or poor performance. It is all very subjective at this stage.

In an ideal world it would be great to have a mix of home nations players in the Lions squad but it is unlikely to happen. Players in the frame who perform well for their national side, or indeed clubs in the Heineken Cup, are going to have a chance.

These internationals are going to be incredibly difficult for Scotland, who line up against two of the world's best sides in South Africa and New Zealand. The Lions would be hard-pressed to challenge these two teams but Scotland, who have never beaten New Zealand . . . well, it is simply an enormous challenge and, especially as we play them first without any warm-up games.

While it is probably unrealistic to expect Scotland to win, what one does expect is for Frank Hadden's men to be competitive. I have always believed that if we can be competitive going into the last 20 minutes of any game, we have a chance.

So often in the past, games have been over by half-time. In professional sport, if you still have half the match to go with no realistic chance of winning, it's a pretty sad state of affairs. If you can go into the last quarter close to being level and someone is sent to the sin-bin with that period of time left, there is always a chance to score.

I don't mind so much if a team blows up in the final 20 minutes. If they have defended heroically and played out of their skins then the opposition runs in two or three tries, that's too bad. What I do mind is if we have no chance of winning the game by the time half-time comes around.

Chris Paterson will not be playing at stand-off; that won't happen any more. We debate it every season but I think, realistically, it is between Phil Godman and Dan Parks for that position. Whoever doesn't start will be on the bench and I just can't see that order changing.

If we had a world-class stand-off playing for Scotland I think we would be a much better team than we are at present. That may sound like a criticism of those players Ihave mentioned but it's not really, because the bottom line is they are not that standard.

We have had world-class players in the pivotal position, chief among them John Rutherford. What Scotland would give to have another like him in the ranks. It's been a problem position for the last four or five seasons and it doesn't look like going away.

I think Godman has raised the challenge as far as competing against Parks for the jersey, but we will have to wait and see. If Godman gets the nod, he should be given an extended run in the team.

I would also like to see the Lamont brothers back. We have seen fits and starts from both Rory and Sean but I would like to see them given an extended run in the side. They are both exciting players.

Nick de Luca, who was in great form last year, has not been playing brilliantly this season but I would love to see him get back to the sort of form of a year ago. Ben Cairns, though, has been playing well.

We need to get some flair back in the team and get used to crossing the try line. We have scored very few tries in the last few seasons, and we are not going to win matches by kicking goals. We have to be able to score tries and Iam looking for flair players - Iwould include Simon Webster as one - to step up over the next few weeks.

Up front, Jason White hasn't been playing much rugby - he has been coming off the bench for Sale, which isn't ideal - but he's an impact player. Simon Taylor too; it would be great to see him back and firing on all cylinders.

We have some talented players performing at a good level in France, England and Scotland and Iwant these guys to be playing at a good level consistently to put themselves in contention for Scotland and then next year for the Lions tour. Gavin Hastings is an HSBC ambassador.

HSBC is the Principal Partner and shirt sponsor of the British & Irish Lions Tourto South Africa in 2009. Find out more at www.lionsrugby.com