| Let battle commence This
year’s Six Nations looks set to be as wide open as ever. Gareth
makim assesses each of Ireland’s competitors for the title.
WALES
Coach: Mike Ruddock
Captain: Gareth Thomas
Key players: Colin Charvis, Gavin Henson, Michael Owen,
Shane Williams
 The Grand Slam winners of
2005 have it all to do if they are to match the remarkable achievements
of last year. Wales won it all with an all-action run-and-gun style of
rugby, using the skill and speed of backs like Shane Williams to pick
teams apart in broken play. They will badly miss talismanic centre Gavin
Henson in the opening two games as he serves his suspension and how Henson
reacts in his first game back against Ireland will go a long way to discovering
if he has recovered from a difficult 12 months.
With Henson’s midfield partner Tom Shanklin injured expect young
Llanelli Scarlets centre Matthew Watkins to burst on to the scene after
a successful autumn Test breakthrough. Mike Ruddock’s injury woes
mean he will also be without Lions forwards Brent Cockbain and Ryan Jones
for the duration of the Championship, putting more pressure on the likes
of former captain Colin Charvis and back-row colleague Michael Owen.
Prospects: A Grand Slam repeat looks unlikely, especially given their
injury problems. Any success will be built on brave performances from
a pack that consistently matched more feted opposition last year. Could
be battling with Ireland for third spot.
FRANCE
Coach: Bernard Laporte
Captain: Fabien Pelous/Jerome Thion
Players to watch: Serge Betsen, Frederic Michalak, Yannick
Jauzion, Yannick Nyanga
 France are everybody’s
favourite to win it all this year. After victories over Australia and
South Africa in the autumn few are betting against a third Grand Slam
in five years for Les Bleus. Coach Bernard Laporte is unashamedly building
towards next year’s World Cup on home soil and has put together
a strong blend of forward power and silky skills behind the scrum. Fabien
Pelous should regain the captaincy although his second row partner Jerome
Thion did an admirable job in his absence during the autumn. The pack
have matured quickly and a marauding back row of Serge Betsen, Yannick
Nyanga and Julien Bonnaire will gain plenty of hard yards.
Much will depend on the form of mercurial out-half Frederic Michalak and
a back-line in which Yannick Jauzion has supplanted Brian O’Driscoll
as rugby’s premier outside centre during the Irishman’s injury
lay-off.
Prospects: More likely to be beaten by their own inconsistency than by
the strengths of others. Face big test when huge English pack arrive in
Paris for the second last game while Wales will fancy their chances of
sneaking an upset in Cardiff on the final day.
ENGLAND
Coach: Andy Robinson
Captain: Martin Corry
Players to watch: Josh Lewsey, Andrew Sheridan, Lawrence
Dallaglio, Lewis Moody
 England are finally showing
signs of life after their World Cup hangover and look to have gone back
to the basics. Andy Robinson showed against Australia that he has built
a pack designed to wear down and finally break their opponents’
spirit. Massive ex-second row Andy Sheridan has been a revelation at prop
but he remains a raw talent, and with Phil Vickery absent his inexperience
at both Test level and in the front-row could leave England exposed.
Robinson has also welcomed Lawrence Dallaglio back into the fold in the
hope he can co-exist in the back row alongside captain Martin Corry and
Lewis Moody. Robinson’s dependence on his pack betrays the lack
of creativity in the back division. Charlie Hodgson has improved hugely
since last year but England are still not creating enough chances for
Josh Lewsey and Mark Cueto to finish.
Prospects: Will have revenge on their minds going into season opener against
Wales and a good start is essential to build momentum. Will probably have
to win in Paris to have any chance of finishing on top. Regardless of
the result there, will probably welcome Ireland to Twickenham with a Triple
Crown on the line on the final day.
SCOTLAND
Coach:Frank Hadden
Captain: Jason White
Players to watch: Sean Lamont, Chris Paterson,
Chris Cusiter, Allister Hogg
 Scotland are showing signs
of progress under new coach Frank Hadden after a torrid couple of years
but two Six Nations scalps would still represent a good return.
Felt hard done by out of the Lions tour and full-back Chris Paterson was
a surprise omission from the tour party after his exciting counter-attacking
rugby and deadly accuracy with the boot highlighted him as Scotland’s
outstanding player last season.
Scotland’s strength continues to lie in their back-row where captain
Jason White and Allister make their presence felt with some huge hits.
Scottish fans are still looking to the future and will be hoping for further
progress from talented scrum-half Chris Cusiter and powerful wing Sean
Lamont, who is developing into a fine finisher.
Prospects: Open against favourites France but will realistically be targeting
subsequent trips to Celtic rivals Wales and Ireland as opportunities for
success. Defeats in Cardiff and Dublin could see the Scots travelling
to Rome to take on the Italians with the wooden spoon at stake.
ITALY
Coach: Pierre Berbizier
Captain: Marco Bortolami
Players to watch: Sergio Parisse, Andrea Lo Cicero, Mauro
Bergamasco
 Have replaced Kiwi coach
John Kirwan with French legend Pierre Berbizier but the task facing the
Italians remains the same — avoiding the wooden spoon. The combative
Italian pack, led by second-row captain Marco Bortolami and the giant
Sicilian prop Andrea Lo Cicero will be a match for any opposition, but
their deficiencies behind the scrum will mean they will be struggling
once again. In 22-year-old number 8 Sergio Parisse, though, they have
one of the most exciting ball-carriers in the tournament.
Prospects: Traditionally play their best rugby at the start of the campaign
and Ireland are guaranteed a hard fought encounter to begin at Lansdowne
Road. Best chance of a win will come in their final fixture in the Stadio
Flaminio against Scotland.
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