Why the 2010 Six Nations may be the key for the 2011 World Cup

The inclusion of a number of exciting youngsters in this season’s Six Nations squads proves coaches are looking forward to the 2011 World Cup in just over 18-months time.

It is the last real chance for players to put their hands up and gain the required international experience necessary to compete at the pinnacle of their sport.

Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, said: "We are now at the beginning of our countdown to the World Cup and this slightly larger squad reflects that.

"We have brought in some youngsters to put some pressure on some of our senior players and to help increase the depth we have in certain positions.”

Victory in his home country is certainly at the forefront of his mind, as he has named four previously uncapped players – Saracens prop Rhys Gill, Cardiff scrum-half Richie Rees, and Osprey pair Kristian Phillips and Tom Prydie.

Captain Ryan Jones has noticed the management looking with one eye to the battle for the Webb Ellis Trophy: “From a coaching point of view they certainly have one eye on that World Cup.

“There is certainly an exciting bread of youngster coming through like Alun Wyn-Jones who is in his early 20s, vastly experienced, and then at the other end of the spectrum we’ve got Jonathan Davies. These guys will be making an impact in 18-months time when they are going to be peaking, experienced and physically ready to make a big impact on the big stage.”

Wales have quietly been assembling a squad capable of peaking when they take on current champions, South Africa, in their opening match of the World Cup in Wellington.

Looking through the squad Wyn-Jones is just 24 but has already collected 35 Welsh caps and three for the Lions. James Hook is the same age as the lock forward and has 37 caps to his name, while Jamie Roberts at 23 and regarded as one of the world’s leading centres and was player of the Lions tour last summer for many.

Along with the likes of Scarlet Jonathan Davies who made his debut in the November internationals, and coupled with some old heads like Gethin Jenkins, 2008 IRB Player of the Year Shane Williams and evergreen Martyn Williams, Wales have certainly built a side capable of causing serious damage in New Zealand and shock the larger rugby nations.

The Six Nations is a fantastic opportunity to blood some of the pretenders to the Welsh side, and with a summer tour planned to New Zealand Gatland and his coaching team have a chance to look at certain players and create a ‘club squad’ atmosphere within the international set up.

It could be argued the process began last February, and Ireland have done a particularly good job of blending youth and experience with their Grand Slam victory in 2009.

Declan Kidney has continued to add to the squad with nine uncapped players making up a large 44 man party. Stephen Ferris and Luke Fitzgerald shone in last year’s competition as both earned calls up to the Lions squad and Jonny Sexton, after Heineken Cup glory with Leinster, is set to battle it out with Irish legend Ronan O’Gara for the number ten jersey.

But with key players like captain Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell and prop John Hayes all upwards of 30, the World Cup could come that little bit too late with the core of the team arguably peaking during their success last year.

Meanwhile England and Marin Johnson don’t seem able to plan their next hot meal let alone a third final in three World Cup campaigns. Although the squad possess a number of exciting, young prospects like Northampton duo Ben Foden and Courtney Lawes, and front-rowers Dan Cole and Dylan Hartley Johnson seems to have a bias over those he holds allegiances to from the 2003 World Cup winning squad and those from his old club, Leicester.

It has been England’s failure to leave their successes in the past which has seen seven poor years for the team. If the selection policy remains, it seems without another miraculous rallying cry which occurred in 2007, England will be found wanting during this Six Nations and even more so when it comes to New Zealand next year.

Ex-England coach Andy Robinson leads a Scottish side in a state of transition. Having found themselves languishing at the bottom of recent Championship tables along with Italy, they are not expected to cause much of a threat.

However, a valiant 9-8 victory at Murryfield over Australia in November proved they are resolute in defence and appear to be developing some interesting prospects.

The Scottish regions are performing exceptionally well in this year’s Magners League and in the Evans brothers, Ross Ford and fly-half Phil Godman the Scots have a side who may well continue to develop during this campaign and beyond to the World Cup to give other Group B colleagues – Argentina and England – a serious problem for quarter-final qualification.

Although the door to the World Cup isn’t completely shut after this Six Nations, if players don’t emerge during the next two months they will find it very difficult to adjust to international rugby from their clubs or provinces. This is why coaches have taken the opportunity to name new faces – and expect more to be introduced during the course of the competition – as nations begin to confirm combinations ahead of rugby’s biggest challenge – the 2011 World Cup.