THIS WEEKEND 2-3 FEBRUARY

The 9th Six Nations Tournament follows the 6th Rugby World Cup. There are many changes in all 6 sides especially with regards to player retirement. 3 Coaches have survived, as have 3 Captains. The wholesale changes have come from France, Italy and Wales. All 3 above mentioned sides had poor World Cups, so change was inevitable! After the World Cup, the Six Nations is probably the best International Tournament one can witness.

ENGLAND

Build-up: All teams only had a World Cup as a build-up. England of course had a roller coaster of a Tournament. Played so poorly against the Eagles and followed that up by an embarrassing defeat against eventual Champions South Africa. However with the return of Jonny Wilkinson, they managed to resurrect their campaign by defeating Island opposition in the form of Samoa and Tonga. They really started to take flame in the knock-out stages as they squeezed past Australia (12-10) and the Hosts France (14-9). They hammered away against the Springboks in the Final, yet fell short by 9 points. Closer to home London Irish, Gloucester and Saracens have all qualified for the Heineken Cup Quarter-finals. However none of the Heineken Cup sides are truly representative of the country's residence.

Squad: After all World Cup Tournaments, certain players call it a day. England has lost many a star! The list includes Lawrence Dallagio, Martin Corry, Mike Catt and Jason Robinson. All of them are former British Lions players who had made significant contributions to Englands’ past 2 World Cup campaigns. Nick Easter is in serious doubt about his aspirations to be a part of England's squad after he damaged his knee in a Premiership game. Mike Tindall who missed the World Cup due to an injury, returns to the Squad. Josh Lewsey and James Simpson-Daniel have missed the boat. Andrew Sheridan is rated by journalists around the World as the best loose-head in the business. When the official squad was announced the biggest surprise was that of League recruit Lesley Vainikolo.

Leadership: Despite the fact that Dallagio and Catt claim that it was the players who turned England's World Cup performance from dross to excellence during the Tournament, England head coach Brian Ashton and his assistant coaches (John Wells and Mike Ford) have all been re-appointed following an in-depth review into the state of the National Team. John Hall, former Bath Skipper, and an England International himself in his day, has also come on board for the Championship as a Video Annalist. Ashton himself has also been awarded with honours in the New Year as he now has a MBE title behind his name. He has retained the skipper services of Phil Vickery, despite him often finding himself in the "Dog Box" due to foul play incidents.

Win Ratio: 70.00%

Prediction: England did the near impossible in the World Cup, especially if their opening 2 fixtures was anything to go by. I think France away is too much of an ask, Ireland have had the wood on England in their last 4 fixtures. In fact England has last beaten Ireland in 2003. England have never lost to Italy, while Wales and Scotland really lack the firepower to take on England. If they beat France, the Roses should win the Championship, I just believe that will be a bridge too far.

FRANCE

Build-up: As Hosts of the World Cup, were expected to do very well. Yet France lost the Opening Fixture of the Tournament to Argentina. Took care of Namibia and Georgia and defeated Ireland (25-3), to qualify as the runners-up in their Pool. Faced Tournament favourites New Zealand in Cardiff, and after an average first-half bounced back brilliantly to win the fixture in controversial circumstances. However lost to their bogey side England and were taken to pieces by the Pumas in their play-off for 3rd/4th place position. Perpignan along with Stade Toulousain has made the play-off's of the Heineken Cup.

Squad: Yannick Jauzion has a fractured hand, and may miss the start of the Six Nations. He underwent an X-ray which showed that two metacarpi were fractured. Doctors said he would be sidelined for 45 days. Jauzion can still play a large part in the Tournament, yet French second-row Fabien Pelous has drawn the curtain on his International playing days and has officially retired from all International Rugby. Joining him is former skipper Raphael Ibanez, Christophe Dominici and Serge Betsen.

Leadership: Marc Lièvremont is the new French coach. A new captain had to be appointed with the retirement of Ibanez. The player entrusted with the responsibility was an interesting choice, the lock forward Lionel Nallet. Nallet isn't always a regular in the Tricolour set-up, and is already 32 years of age.

Win Ratio: 72.50%

Prediction: Have the draw on their side. England and Ireland both at home. England did win last year in the World Cup in France, yet have only beaten France last in a Six Nations game in 2000, as did Ireland. Over the years England has at times lost narrowly, while Ireland has lost by a healthy margin. These 2 sides over the last 5 years have been Frances' biggest threat. The win and lose ratio against Italy at home, and Wales and Scotland away, are good too. With so much old wood calling it a day, and players who would want to redeem themselves after what happened in the World Cup, France is good bet.

IRELAND

Build-up: Ireland was shocking in the World Cup! Perhaps the biggest shock that here was a team who had won 3 Triple Crowns in 4 years, had the same side and supporting staff yet everything fell to pieces come World Cup time. Struggled against the weakest team in the Tournament Namibia, were fortunate to beat Georgia, yet they were well beaten by France and Argentina to miss-out on the business end of the World Cup. Munster is the only Irish side that will participate in the Heineken Cup Quarter-Finals.

Squad: Rory Best has sprained an ankle, but should be ready for Ireland's opening Test against the Italians. Paul O'Connell however is not that lucky, and will certainly miss the Tournament if his back injury sustained during the World Cup, does not recover in time. In fact surgery is a real threat. Simon Best and Stephen Ferris also failed to make the squad due to injury while winger Denis Hickie has retired. Jerry Flannery has received a serous suspension due to foul play, so serious in fact that he will miss the entire Tournament.

Leadership: Despite a horrendous World Cup campaign, Eddie O'Sullivan has been retained, and according to reports has signed a four year deal with the IRFU, which means he will coach the side up and through the 2011 World Cup to be staged in New Zealand. Brian O'Driscoll, who was one of the very few Irish stalwarts at the World Cup wears the arm-band, as he has for the past couple of seasons.

Win Ratio: 72.50%

Prediction: Before Ireland think of beating anyone, they have to confront their own Demons, demons which they bread in France. Have they killed the Beast or will Satan return, twice as strong. Their Test against England could be the feature Match of the Championship. Might struggle a little against Wales in Cardiff, yet should account for the Azzurri and the Scots at Croke Park.

ITALY

Build-up: If Italy ever had a genuine chance of qualifying for the World Cup Quarter-Finals, this was in 2007. They lost hugely as per normal against the All Blacks. Yet they did beat Romania and Portugal, to meet Scotland in a "Sudden Death" fixture for Quarter-Final qualification. Squandered too many opportunities and missed out by a mere 2 points.

Squad: The squad is very similar to that of the World Cup. The only players missing are Matias Aguero, Valerio Bernabò, Paul Derbyshire, Fabio Ongaro, Silvio Orlando, Fabio Staibano, Maurizio Zaffiri, Paul, Griffen, Christopher Burton, Roland de Marigny, Alessio Galante, Marko Stanojevic and Manoa Vosawai.

Leadership: Nick Mallet is Pierre Berbezier's successor. Mallet has an immaculate coaching resume as he coached Stade Francais to 2 French Club Championship titles, and of course headed the coaching stakes in the Springbok side between 1997 and 2000. Added to that he has been Western Provinces' Director of Rugby, yet that bared no fruit, little wonder that he seeked a new challenge. His support staff is Jean Cariat, Carlo Orlandi, Alex Marco and new video analyst David Fonzi. Former captain and scrum-half Alessandro Troncon will be part of the National team as an assistant coach. With a new coaching staff, Mallet decided it was time for a new captain, so 24 year old Sergio Parisse (loose-forward) has been selected to lead the side above the usual figure of 27 year old Marco Bortolami (lock).

Win Ratio: 12.50%

Prediction: Mallet has said that his long-term goal is more important than the short-term goals. The ultimate achievement is to see to it that Italy qualifies for the Quarter-Finals in the 2011 World Cup. He has no idea of who Italy will be pooled up with. In the previous 6 Tournaments they have been paired 5 times with Hosts in 2011 New Zealand. That then only leaves open one more space for qualification, and if the All Blacks share a Pool with Champions South Africa, or perhaps Runners-up England, Italy stands no chance of making the play-off's. Current goals are naturally more important though and the Stadio Flaminio is to increase its capacity by 6000 seats with the use of mobile structures. Home Tests against England and Scotland have already been sold out! It's all stations go for the Azzurri, will Mallet be able to continue the success Berbezier started to instil, or will their bubble burst! Their most likely chance of a win is against Scotland.

SCOTLAND

Build-up: The Scots managed to reach the Quarter-Finals of the Rugby World Cup by the skin of their teeth. They accounted for Romania and Portugal. Lost by a healthy margin to the Kiwis, yet took every single scoring opportunity to beat Italy in the Pool decider for second place! In the Quarter-Finals they started off extremely poorly and subsequently bended the knee before Argentina (13-19).

Squad: The team has received a crushing blow with the news that Sean Lamont will miss the entire remainder of the season and therefore of course the Six Nations as he has sustained serious damage to his anterior cruciate ligament, and will require surgery. Lamont was selected as Scotland's, best player last season and subsequently won the award for that achievement. Amazingly Sean's younger brother Rory, has kept the silverware in the family as he has taken over from his brother and now wears the title his brother did last season.

Leadership: Frank Hadden has signed a new performance-related rolling contract with the Scottish Rugby Union, as head-coach. Jason White missed last Season's Tournament through injury, yet he played in the World Cup and after recovering fully, takes over from Chris Paterson as skipper.

Win Ratio: 20.00%

Prediction: Scotland's most prolific points scorer is Chris Patterson, so surely Scotland will look to him to direct things. It's a great deal easier doing this at fly-half than on the wing. Yet Dan Parks had a good World Cup, so Paterson might very well find himself amongst the back-three.

WALES

Build-up: Wales followed in the footsteps of some of their predecessors in 1991 and 1995, by failing to reach the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup. They struggled terribly against Canada for 60 minutes, lost handsomely to the Wallabies and won by a record margin against Japan. Yet Wales lost in the Pool decider against Fiji in one of the Games of the Tournament in Nantes 34-38. A month after that with care-taker coach Nigel Davies handling things, were outclassed by New World Champions South Africa. As far as the Heineken Cup goes, the Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys have both made it through to the last 8!

Squad: Martyn Williams has reached the end of road, and drawn the curtain on his days playing for Wales. That was until Warren Gatland persuaded him to return. Too the surprise of many Colin Charvis, Kevin Morgan and Michael Owen have failed to reach the squad, however there is a welcome return for Maverick centre Gavin Henson.

Leadership: Another new coach for Wales after Gareth Jenkins failed to complete his term till after the 2008 Six Nations (as his contract stated). Gatland is the new man who had limited success with Ireland, yet great success with London Wasps. He has however made his presence felt very quickly by announcing that players who have Welsh Rugby ambitions have to play their Rugby in Wales. This is hard to understand as players in Europe are contacted by clubs and not by the Unions. He has 2 assistant coaches in Rob Howley and former colleague Shaun Edwards. A new captain (Ryan Jones) has also been appointed by a coach who seems to believe in a total revolution approach in Welsh rugby.

Win Ratio: 32.50%

Prediction: Warren Gatland was considered a Rookie when he took on the Irish Job. I believe that he really laid the building blocks for Eddie O'Sullivan to enjoy the success that he has had with Ireland. Yet one must have the players at one's disposal to perform well, and I fear that this is where Gatland could come unstuck. Wales will probably look towards their home fixtures as potential wins.

CONCLUSION

1. FRANCE

2. ENGLAND

3. IRELAND

4. WALES

5. ITALY

6. SCOTLAND

Other 6 Nation Team previews

General

http://scrum.com/246_102.php

England

http://www.planet-rugby.com/sixnations/Story/0,19022,3820_3084324,00.html