British & Irish Lions legend Paul O'Connell has warned the home nations that selection for this year's Tour to New Zealand will hinge on the upcoming RBS 6 Nations rather than past achievements.

England completed an unbeaten calendar year in 2016 to move to No.2 in the world while Ireland downed South Africa, New Zealand and Australia for the first time in their history.

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Wales completed one of their best autumns in over a decade with three wins and Scotland under Vern Cotter also caught the eye with impressive victories over Georgia and Argentina.

But on the eve of the 2017 Championship, O’Connell – who toured three times with the Lions including captaining them in South Africa in 2009 – admits those achievements are secondary to the battles to come.

“This Championship is massively important, it is where most of the selecting will be done,” said Standard Life Investments Ambassador O’Connell.