Scotland coach Andy Robinson is an outside bet for the role of British Lions coach in 2013, but many in Scottish Rugby fear that should he be selected they could lose him as their head for at least a year. Lions’ bosses are thought to want whoever takes charge of the team for the 2013 tour of Australia to commit to a 12 month period to prepare the Lions and ensure they are in the best possible position to give a good account of themselves.

Robinson is currently fourth favourite to take the role, behind Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Declan Kidney but a strong Six Nations campaign from the Scots could see him leapfrog them to lead the Lions down under. If he were to be successful and committed himself to a 12 month preparatory period Scotland would be without a coach for next year’s Autumn Internationals and the 2013 Six Nations campaign.

Should this situation occur it would be likely the Scots would aim to seek a coach to take a high profile coach to take the role on a temporary or caretaker basis. A 12 month period with no real prospect of any longer term deal would make most within the game reluctant to leave permanent jobs, making Scotland’s task ever more difficult. Sean Lineen, of Glasgow and Michael Bradley, of Edinburgh, would be towards the top of any list Scottish Rugby chiefs may draw up but they would be unlikely to risk the instability it could cause at their respective clubs for a temporary role. This may lead the Scots to look towards recalling former coach Richie Dixon, now heading the Georgian National side. The success he is currently having with the Georgia team and his recent comments about as shift in the power base of Rugby could make him unlikely to accept the role if offered.

For Scotland then a successful Six Nations could prove to be a bitter/sweet moment. Yes they would thoroughly enjoy any success, but the backlash and negative impact on their preparations for the 2015 World Cup could prove too damaging for Scotland fans to bear thinking about.