2010 SIX NATIONS PREVIEW

February 6 sees the start of the first of QoS's Big 10 for 2010 when 2009 Grand Slam champions Ireland host perennial wooden spoon candidates Italy at Croke Park to kick off the 6 Nations. Wales travel to Twickenham to face England, and France's visit to Murrayfield completes the fixtures on the opening weekend. But in six weeks time who will be throned as Kings of Northern Hemisphere rugby?

QoS takes an impartial(ish) look at the contenders...

FRANCE

Start as tournament favourites but this is perhaps more a reflection on their club sides' Heineken Cup form than the national side's recent results. Their Autumn international victory against Tri Nations champions South Africa was followed by a humiliating 27-point defeat against New Zealand.

Marc Lievremont has named a squad big on stature but perhaps missing a little of the flair of teams of years gone by. We can expect a strong challenge from France and it would certainly be a surprise if they did not at least equal last year's third-place finish.

Key Player:- William Servat - Has edged out Dimitri Szarzewski as France's starting hooker and, with what is likely to be a dominant pack, his ability to marshal the rolling maul and find his jumpers in the lineout will be essential if France are to win their crucial home games against Ireland and England.

IRELAND

2009 was a special year for Ireland who managed to avoid losing a single game throughout the year. The Grand Slam champions have a reasonable chance of retaining their crown but away games at Twickenham and Stade de France may prove too much of a challenge this year.

Key Player/s:- Ronan O'Gara / Jonathan Sexton - Ireland's strength lies in the 3-quarter line and the wearer of the number ten shirt can either enable or disable their greatest weapon.

WALES

There is a fine line between success and failure and Wales' 4th-place finish in 2009 is a case in point. The game against France finished with Wales camped on the French line but failing to cross it whilst against Ireland Stephen Jones had a kick for victory with no time on the clock but did not quite have the range. This was achieved despite a misfiring Shane Williams who of late seems to have rediscovered his form.

Key Player:- Martyn Williams - If Wales are to repeat their 2005 & 2008 success they will need to win their share of ball on the floor and there is nobody in the northern hemisphere superior to Williams in the 'dark arts'.

Latest news: Jenkins & Rees missing from Wales front row.

ENGLAND

2nd place in 2009 flattered England but they have become a hard side to beat and should not be underestimated. The selection of Matthew Tait at outside centre is brave given that he will be trying to stop Wales' marauding inside centre Jamie Roberts in the first game. Hopefully this is the beginning of a three or four game run for Tait who has, in my opinion, never been given the chance at international level to prove himself.

Key Player:- Riki Flutey - When Jonny finds himself yet again buried at the bottom of a ruck, England need a number 12 who can make decisions and influence games from inside centre, and there are few true 12s better than Flutey in this respect.

Latest news: Flutey out for Wales game.

SCOTLAND

Victory against Australia in the autumn looks better on paper than even the most devout haggis-eating, kilt-wearing, Lorraine Kelly-supporting Scot would claim it looked in reality. The appointment of Andy Robinson (and his decision to steer clear of Hadden's big yellow anorak) has given the Scots a fresh impetus but nonetheless the future looks bleak and the game against Italy may well prove the most crucial.

Key Player:- Rory Lamont - The Scots have sporadically played some very good rugby in the last couple of years but have lacked a player who can finish off some of the opportunities created. If Scotland are to progress Lamont needs to be that man.

ITALY

6th place looks very likely. Parisse aside, this is a team that would struggle to match any other 6 nations side's 'A' team. With Parisse sidelined for the entire tournament, Italy will be short of leadership and backrow power.

Key Player:- Craig Gower - The former Aussie rugby league international may be the first genuine replacement for Dominguez at fly half.