THE RBS SIX NATIONS, rugby’s equivalent of the European Championships, returns to our screens this weekend.  Over the next 8 weeks the six finest test playing nations in Northern Hemisphere rugby will lock horns in a bid to be crowned champions.  Sports

Editor Andy Jackson takes you through the teams and their chances.

ENGLAND
COACH: Martin Johnson
CAPTAIN: Steve Borthwick
ONE TO WATCH: Delon Armitage- a talented runner with ball in hand that loves to counter-attack from full back.
Martin Johnson endured a torrid start as England head coach during the Autumn internationals when  England suffered heavy defeats to all three of the southern hemisphere heavyweights  -Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. 

The  three defeats exposed England’s lack of cutting edge and failure to convert pressure into points as well as their lack of discipline. 

To mount a serious challenge England must cut out the needless penalties and get their talented backline into the game.  Danny Care

is an intelligent scrum half who has excelled at Harlequins this season while Cipriani’s potential is unquestionable.  In Paul Sackey and Delon Armitage, England also have talented line runners, but the ball has been too slow getting to them in recent years and attacks have been one dimensional.

VERDICT:  This English side undoubtedly has the talent, but have yet to gel as a team and are low on confidence.  The fixtures have not been favourable- trips to the Millennium Stadium and Dublin to play Wales and Ireland respectively are very tough and ultimately it will be how they fare in these back-to-back matches that will determine where they finish.  Prediction: 3rd
Fixtures: Italy (H), Wales (A), Ireland (A), France (H), Scotland (H)

FRANCE
COACH: Marc Lievremont
CAPTAIN: Lionel Nallet
ONE TO WATCH: Maxime Medard- The Toulouse full back has been a revelation this season and can play anywhere across the back line.  Revels on the counter-attack.

France’s rugby sides are one of rugby’s great enigmas.  At their brilliant best they are unbeatable, as New Zealand have found to their cost in two of the last three World Cups, yet at their worst they are awful and have a horrible habit of self-imploding.  This side has improved its discipline enormously and has some very talented players.  Like England, however, the back line has yet to gel and there are question marks at times over the pack, especially in the scrum.

VERDICT:  The French have a great chance of winning this tournament if they can get their team to gel and learn the art of winning ugly.  Ireland away is a difficult start and will provide a good indication of whether they are up for the fight. 

Prediction: 1st
Fixtures: Ireland (A), Scotland (H), Wales (H), England (A), Italy (A)

IRELAND
COACH: Declan Kidney
CAPTAIN: Brian O’Driscoll
ONE TO WATCH: Brian O’Driscoll- has lost a yard of pace, but he is still capable of moments of unrivalled brilliance. Ireland made a disappointing showing last year and will want to rectify that.  Since then they’ve had a change of coach but as of yet this hasn’t resulted in a change of fortunes.  However Ireland’s squad is brimming with talent.  Their pack is formidable and has been the corner stone of Munster’s phenomenal success at club level in recent seasons while in Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon Darcy and Shane

Horgan they also have match winners in their back line capable of moments of brilliance.  Playing at a frenetic pace and scrapping and disrupting the opposition’s game are the hallmarks of this side and they will need to display all of these characteristics to compete this term.

VERDICT:  Ireland at home with a Dublin crowd behind them can beat anyone on their day.  England and France will both find it difficult there, but they do struggle away and three away fixtures could be their downfall.  You’d expect them to beat Italy, but Wales and Scotland are different propositions. Prediction: 4th
Fixtures: France (H), Italy (A), England (H), Scotland (A), Wales (A)

ITALY
COACH: Nick Mallet
CAPTAIN: Sergio Parisse
ONE TO WATCH: Andrea Marcato- The 22 year old full back turned fly half is crucial for the Italians
The Italian side has improved immeasurably since joining the Six Nations ten years ago.  They are now hard to beat, disciplined and a match for anybody in the forwards.  Their back play is still some way short however, and is hampering them making the step up to the next level.  It is not that they do not have players of quality - the Bergamasco brothers are good players and captain Sergio Parisse a commanding number eight, but for all their enthusiasm they lack the nous and creativity of some of the other sides.   Yet to win a game away from home in the six nations history, their home form will be crucial.

VERDICT:  It is difficult to look beyond another wooden spoon for the Italians.  They are capable of giving everyone a game, but it is hard to see how they are going to score the points needed to win a game.  Four of their six victories have come against Scotland, but sadly, they play the Scots at Murrayfield.  Prediction: 6th
Fixtures: England (A), Ireland (H), Scotland (A), Wales (H), France (H)

SCOTLAND
COACH:  Frank Hadden
CAPTAIN:  Mike Blair
ONE TO WATCH:  Chris Patterson- nearly all Scotland’s better moments have come through Patterson in recent years and his goal kicking will also be important.
Scottish rugby is in dire need of a pick-me-up.  The side has only managed a solitary victory in the last two seasons and are some distance from the other sides.  Scotland lack the cutting edge and creative talent of the others but what they lack in guile they make up for in heart.  They have had some memorable victories in recent years over England and France and they will need to draw on these to compete this term.  A lot will depend on Patterson’s goal kicking as it looks unlikely they are going to be able to churn out a large number of opportunities to score points.

VERDICT:  Scotland’s fixture list is prohibitive to them making a realistic challenge for honours.  Trips to Paris and Twickenham are

unlikely to prove fruitful, but they do have three games at home and will fancy their chances of causing an upset in the opening game against Wales. 

Prediction: 5th
Fixtures: Wales (H), France (A), Italy (H), Ireland (H), England (A)

WALES
COACH:  Warren Gatland
CAPTAIN:  Ryan Jones
ONE TO WATCH:  Shane Williams - the diminutive winger is electric with ball in hand and thrives off Wales’s counter-attacking style
Last year’s champions come into this year’s game in good form.  They recorded a memorable victory over Australia and competed well with New Zealand for long periods.  Their counter-attacking style of play is fantastic to watch and they are widely tipped to retain their crown.  Certainly they have the players to achieve a third Grand Slam in five years but pressure they may struggle against anyone who plays a tight and tactical game.  Wales’s game is all about turnover ball and quick counter-attacks.  Shut that avenue
down and it will be interesting to see how they respond.

Verdict:  Wales are in good shape and are rightfully favourites.  The fixtures have been kind to them and I think that it will come down to whether or not they can beat France in Paris as they did so thrillingly in 2005.  Prediction: 2nd

Fixtures: Ireland (A), England (H), France (A), Italy (A), Ireland (H)

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