In keeping with on-field developments of late, the proposed meeting between representatives of the IRFU and the Department of Agriculture yesterday was postponed until today. As a result, the union's intended pronouncements on the proposed tour of South Africa later this month, and the hoped for resumption of the AIB League and the schools' cups next week have also been deferred.

Ironically, both the Department and the union were yesterday made aware that parts of South Africa are experiencing their worst outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in 40 years. As of this week, 20 African countries had imposed a total or partial ban on the importation of South African meat products.

However, the outbreaks in South Africa over the past three months are in KwaZulu/Natal, Mpumalanga and Northern Province, whereas the hastily arranged two or three-match tour is set to be conducted in the greater Cape Town area. Furthermore, it is expected the Department of Agriculture would regard a party of about 40 or 50 travelling to and from South Africa as far less risky than a Six Nations game, though this has still to be confirmed.

If, as expected, the non-Test tour goes ahead, the Irish management would not have first call on overseas-based players, though Rob Henderson (pending his rib cartilage injury), Geordan Murphy and Kieron Dawson have indicated they will be released by Wasps, Leicester and London Irish respectively. By comparison, Keith Wood, Kevin Maggs and Jeremy Davidson may not be included.

Meanwhile, in response to the call from Northampton owner Keith Barwell that Ireland be excluded from this year's championship, the BBC sports department has been conducting an internet poll asking: Should Six Nations Become Five? As of yesterday evening, 88,440 people had voted, with 16.36 per cent voting yes and 83.64 per cent voting no.

Meanwhile, Scotland captain Andy Nicol has been dropped for tomorrow's Six Nations clash with Italy at Murrayfield. The Glasgow Caledonians scrumhalf - omitted from the expanded Lions squad - is replaced by Sale's Bryan Redpath. Nicol missed a Celtic League outing against Caerphilly last weekend after picking up a dead leg in the 43-3 Calcutta Cup defeat at Twickenham, but has been passed fit enough to sit on the replacements' bench on Saturday.

Coach Ian McGeechan has made four changes from the team which was comprehensively beaten at Twickenham, including the return of Gregor Townsend. The Castres man limped off with a knee injury during the first minutes of the opening game in France but has been recalled at outside centre, with Duncan Hodge retaining the outhalf role.

Also included is Glasgow Caledonians flyer James Craig, who makes his first start since taking the field against Australia in 1998. Craig ousts Cameron Murray in a new-look back division, although McGeechan has resisted the temptation to draft Glenn Metcalfe back in, last season's Scotland player of the year joining Nicol on the bench. McGeechan makes just one change in the pack, where Newcastle's Stuart Grimes replaces Richard Metcalfe.

"It is never easy to leave people out," admitted McGeechan.

Meanwhile, the opening match of this year's Lions tour of Australia has been brought forward by a day.

The ARU said the match against Western Australia would be played at the WACA Ground in Perth on Friday June 8th instead of June 9th.

An ARU spokesman said the change was because of a clash of matches with the proposed Wallabies' lead-up game against New Zealand Maoris at the Sydney Football Stadium on June 9th.

"It is preferable that the Wallabies play on the Saturday because they would get a bigger crowd," he said. "We tend to not want both matches to be played on the same night."