In search of a perfect 10

Nor, to be frank, was there ever much likelihood that he would be. No Scottish 10 has found a way into a Lions squad since Gregor Townsend in South Africa in 1997 and, with the possible exception of Townsend in 2001 – when he enjoyed an impressive season at Castres – none has pressed much of a claim.

Dan Parks, the dominant Scottish playmaker of the past decade, developed into a far better player than many ever suspected he could become, but he was never exactly banging on the door of the Lions selectors.

So what? Well, if you know your rugby history you will also appreciate that the Lions have a long and mostly noble tradition of providing a stage for gifted Scots fly-halves.

From the father-and-son duo of Herbert and Gordon Waddell to the Borders holy trinity of John Rutherford, Craig Chalmers and Townsend, Scottish 10s – even those obliged, as Rutherford and Ian McGeechan were, to slot in at centre – have brought their craft to bear on Test duty in the famous red shirt.

It is a rugby fundamental that the fly-half is the heartbeat of any team. It is another that any half-decent side includes a 10 whose position is unassailable.

If Scotland have played in fits and starts since the turn of the millennium – when they backed up their win against Italy this year with another against Ireland a week later, it was the first time they had won two Six Nations games on the trot since 2001 – then the inability of any single player to really take hold of the position has to be a major cause.

All of which means that the next few weeks, as Scotland take part in the quadrangular Castle Lager tournament in South Africa, could be the most important of Ruaridh Jackson's life. Jackson announced himself in a blaze of glory and precocious brilliance with his performance for Glasgow against Bath in the Heineken Cup in 2008, but his emergence was fitful after that.

Every time he seemed to be making progress, he would confound his admirers by taking a backwards step. Astonishingly, his most recent stumble came after those victories against Italy and Ireland this year. Jackson started both matches, played soundly, and was promptly dropped for the next game, against Wales. Duncan Weir, who took over, has been ruled out of the South Africa trip having fractured his leg, but Jackson does not have the field clear to himself. He is likely to relish the playing environment of fast tracks and thin air but may not be so keen on the competition breathing down his neck.

Scott Johnson, the acting/interim/caretaker/whatever coach, made that clear as he looked ahead to the tour the other day. In his eyes, it is about examining options, looking at alternatives, giving emerging players a chance.

All good and worthy, but there would be something seriously wrong if Johnson, a decent enough fly-half for New South Wales in his playing days, came back none the wiser as to who the primary playmaker should be at the World Cup in two years' time.

"I want to find out about a few kids," he said. "You have to find out where players lie in the pecking order and this gives me the ideal opportunity to look at a couple of young ones. Not necessarily young in age, but young in experience.

"You can't buy the kind of experience they will get. They will come back wiser and a little clearer about where they sit and that's a good thing for us. With a few injuries, our stocks go down pretty quickly so we have to make sure we can broaden our base. This is the perfect opportunity to do that."

In which light, perhaps the most intriguing figure on the tour will be Peter Horne, the 23-year-old Fifer who would have earned a debut cap against England in February but withdrew on the eve of selection due to a hand injury. At Glasgow, Horne has been deployed mostly at inside centre but Townsend's decision to use him at fly-half for critical games against Ulster and Leinster suggests that a career change could be imminent.

"That's an interesting one," smiled Johnson when Horne's case was raised. "When I first came across him I was looking at him as a 13, but I don't think that's where he fits internationally. It would be nice to have someone who can play the 10/12 role, as much from the bench as the starting team, because that gives us versatility as the game goes on.

"And I like [Horne's] qualities. He is a tough, resilient kid. He also has a left peg and we don't have many of them. We're very happy that he is here and to see where he develops. A kid who can do both roles is priceless."

Scotland need to settle a few other issues as well. Only the other day, Vern Cotter, whose departure date from Clermont Auvergne could be set by a board meeting at the French club tomorrow, said his admiration for Scottish rugby had its origins in the country's tradition of back-row play.

However, with John Barclay out due to a shoulder problem, there is no genuine openside in the squad, a worrying omission at a point in time when specialist sevens are starting to come back into fashion.

The fiasco over Cotter's appoint-ment as coach last week made Scotland a laughing stock in the eyes of the rugby world. Their trip to South Africa is a low-key affair, but it is still an opportunity to repair some of the damage that has been done.

Keys to No 10, the fly-half candidates

Ruaridh Jackson (pictured): Has just enjoyed what was arguably his best season. However, he has been dogged by inconsistency and has rarely enjoyed the unqualified backing of his coaches.

Duncan Weir: Misses the tour due to a serious leg injury, but the 22-year-old has proven game-management skills and can boss a match. With a little more pace he could be an outstanding all-rounder.

Peter Horne: His temperament has been questioned, but he is outstanding when on form. Lamentable goal-kicking against Ulster, in his first start at fly-half for Glasgow, disguised what was otherwise an assured performance.

Tom Heathcote: Once seen as the rising star of English rugby, the Bath 10, who was born in Inverness, threw in his lot with Scotland and earned a debut cap against Tonga last year. A good season for his club could cement his position.

Greig Laidlaw: Returned to his favoured scrum-half position this season, and was much the happier for being there, but his performances at 10 last year were impressive and he could still do a decent shift there if circumstances demanded it.