Captain’s Call: L-R Sergio Parisse (ITA), Jamie Heaslip (IRE), Pascal Papé (FRA), Chris Robshaw (ENG), Sam Warburton (WAL), Kelly Brown (SCO)

by Paul Cook –

It’s that time of year again. A time when old prejudices are brought to bear, hostilities renewed, ancient rivalries dusted off and reignited and massed tribes invade the lands of their enemies to claim the outright throne of Europe. Yes, it’s the Six Nations Championship.

Europe’s elite international competition gets underway again this weekend in what promises to be an intriguing six week battle between six nations who are at varying degrees on the form scale. All the indications are that it will be one of the tightest tournaments in recent memory with France and England the early favourites, Ireland and Wales sitting on their shoulders ready to pounce, Italy ready to go up another level and Scotland a dangerous wounded animal. Here’s a brief look at the runners and riders in 2013, buckle up, we could be in for a bumpy ride!

WALES

Reigning champions but have lost their last seven tests and are without the services of their head coach, Warren Gatland, whose eyes are firmly fixed on the Lions’ mane. Just over a year ago, they were in orbit. Having earned a 4th place finish at the World Cup the previous October, they secured the Six Nations title in March with victory over France in Cardiff – their third Grand Slam in 8 years.

Up next were Australia and a genuine belief that they could pull off a rare tour win Down Under but despite three extremely close and hard fought tests, they came home empty handed. Since then, the wheels have come off with successive losses at fortress Millennium Stadium to Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and their bête noire – Australia.

They also come into the tournament under an injury cloud with playmaker Rhys Priestland and influential lock Luke Charteris out for the season while doubts over the availability of several other key players remain. Out of form, missing their head coach and minus some of their big guns, retaining their crown looks like a tall order but Wales still have more than enough talent to be a major threat and the return of tight head Adam Jones to the cause is incalculable. Victory in week one over Ireland could be the spark that reignites the Dragon’s fire.

ENGLAND

Still basking in the Indian summer of their All Black demolition back in November but that may just be their undoing if they turn up with an air of over confidence and complacency. They also come into the tournament with an increasing injury toll that threatens to derail their progress if their depth is found wanting. Manu Tuilagi is out for the first match against Scotland and any further absenteeism from the pivotal centre could prove decisive but it does offer a test debut to the exciting Billy Twelvetrees. If he can make the same sort of impact as gun lock Joe Launchbury did in the Autumn, sparks could fly.

The signs were already there against Australia and South Africa in the November series of a team with a new found attacking mantra, it was only poor execution inside the red zone that cruelled them of victory. Against New Zealand, everything clicked but was it a one off?

They will find it harder to ameliorate their ball in hand approach in the fire and brimstone of Six Nations rugby, where one loss can cost you the tournament and every team brings a ‘last stand’ intensity and mentality but if the forwards can offer Owen Farrell a similar platform from which to pull the strings as they did against the World Champions, they should have the talent and the belief to go very close.

FRANCE

Looked the goods against Australia and Argentina a few months ago but struggled to despatch a vastly improved Samoa in the same series and are still in a state of transition and mindset under Phillip Saint-Andre. The former test winger has added greater structure to Les Bleus but not at the cost of curbing their natural flair and when the two find synchronicity – as they did against the Wallabies – it will be hard for any team to suppress.

The 9/10 axis of Morgan Parra and Frédéric Michalak will be key with Michalak enjoying an international renaissance after his South African hiatus and keep an eye on Parra’s challenger for the scrum-half position, Maxime Machenaud and young tyro Wesley Fofana, the wing/centre from Clermont Auvergne looks set for a prodigious career and is capable of wreaking havoc. The return of 2011 IRB Player of the Year Thierry Dusautoir will be a significant boost although the captaincy remains with Pascal Papé.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse has already labelled them with the ‘favourites’ tag just ahead of England and it may well be that ‘Le Crunch’ between the two at Twickenham in week three decides the destiny of this year’s tournament. If the French can procure what would be only their third win in 25 years at the Red Roses’ HQ, the title could be on it’s way across the Channel.

Relive the drama of the 2012 Six Nations – watch video

IRELAND

Undergoing something of a rebuilding period, with the old faithful gradually being phased out in favour of a new brand of warriors although it is injury alone that robs them off the colossal impact Paul O’Connell brings to a rugby paddock. 26 test try winger Tommy Bowe will also be sorely missed but the return of the talismanic Brian O’Driscoll for what may be his last hurrah in international rugby is as much a positive for the tournament as it is for Ireland.

O’Driscoll will be left to concentrate purely on his own game with leadership duties passing to his Leinster team mate Jamie Heaslip and if he settles back into a familiar rhythm with long time centre partner Gordon D’Arcy, Ireland have potentially the most dangerous and combative midfield in the competition. Their contributions in tandem with exciting young strike players Simon Zebo and Craig Gilroy on either wing and the thrust of Rob Kearney from full-back will force any opposition to beware an Irish attack.

The only sticking point is the ability of the forwards to give them the platform with which to profit and a lot of focus will once again be aimed at their tight-five. It may just be a year too soon for this group but home games against both England and France should shape the destiny of all three contenders.

ITALY

Have taken a leaf out of their Argentine cousin’s book and decided that they can produce players who can run the ball after all. Renowned for their love of the ‘bump ‘n’ grind’, the Azzurri have added a bit of ‘joie de vivre’ to their play under French coach Jacques Brunel, presenting a more aesthetic and all round more dangerous beast than in previous incarnations. Will that translate into results is the ultimate question?

They showed good form and plenty of desire in the Autumn series, beating Tonga, losing narrowly to Australia and frustrating the All Blacks for an hour before running out of steam, and an opening match in Rome against France has them sniffing blood. They humbled the French in the Eternal City 2 years ago and another famous win would set them up nicely for a visit to Murrayfield the following week, against a Scottish side who have failed to win on their own soil in their last five tests.

In Sergio Parisse, they have a truly world class leader and performer and despite their cultural shift towards a more expansive game, they still have one of the most potent and feisty packs in the rugby world. For now, two wins is their benchmark, anything more would be a sign of a coming power in the global game.

SCOTLAND

Avoiding a second successive wooden spoon may be many people’s gauge of success for a Scottish side currently bereft of a permanent head coach and severely diminished in the confidence stakes. Two defeats in front of their own supporters in November against New Zealand and South Africa could be forgiven purely for the quality of their opposition but a third against Tonga proved to be the ultimate tipping point and led to the resignation of head coach Andy Robinson.

His ‘interim’ replacement is charismatic Australian Scott Johnson who will inject plenty of enthusiasm, bloody mindedness and belief into a beleaguered squad. He is no respecter of reputation and that insouciance could be the catalyst for his players to steer their ship around and Scotland do have talent. Richie Gray and Euan Murray are standout performers in the pack while Tim Visser and Stuart Hogg have injected pace and threat to the backline.

They will be complemented by debutant and former Canterbury Crusader, Sean Maitland. The Kiwi born flyer qualifies through both of his grandfathers and is sure to add some Super Rugby ‘razzle dazzle’ to the Scottish attack. Under Robinson, Scotland beat Australia (twice), Argentina (twice) and South Africa but also suffered two damaging losses to Italy before the Tongan debacle. Consistency is the key to their improvement.

Let battle commence…

Saturday 2nd February

Wales v Ireland – Millennium Stadium – 1.30pm (12.30am Sun AET)

England v Scotland – Twickenham – 4pm (3am Sun AET)

Sunday 3rd February

Italy v France – Stadio Olimpico – 3pm (2am Mon AET)