It’s that time of the year again folks. The RBS 6 Nations is upon us once more and this year’s tournament promises to be best offering of northern hemisphere rugby yet. The constant improvement of the weaker nations in recent years means this could be the tightest championship to date. With a week before the first game kicks off in Paris, we’re going to look at the how the teams are getting ready for the brutal contest that awaits them; looking at the new faces, saying goodbye to some old ones and checking out on those who will miss out due to injury and how that’s likely to affect their team.

France

Marc Lièvremont’s departure after the world cup meant someone new had to take the helm at French rugby and Philippe Saint-André was the man for the job. A former French international himself, he narrowly missed out on the job to Lièvremont back in 2007. The former sporting director of Toulon has rung the changes he feels are needed to put ‘les bleus’ back on the front foot; inviting Clement Poitrenaud and Julien Malzieu back into the fold. The two missed out on world cup selection and will be eager to stake a claim in the starting 15 once more. Not surprisingly, Thierry Dusautoir will captain the French outfit after a fantastic year which saw him score a try in the world cup final, as well as being named IRB Player of the Year. New faces in the squad this time round include Clermont centre Wesley Fofana and Yoann Maestri; the lock from Toulouse. Former French captain Lionel Nallet, initially left out of Saint-André’s plans, has been called up late following the injury of the other Toulouse lock Roman Milo-Chluski. Milo-Chuski suffered a shoulder injury in a French league game against Lyon and will miss the first game of the tournament. Nallet’s experience, according to Sanit-André, is the reason the 35-year old lock was picked over uncapped candidates Mickael De Marco and Christophe Samson.

Italy

The Azzurri will also benefit from a new coach as former Perpignan boss, Jacques Brunel, takes over for Nick Mallet whose contract wasn’t renewed by the Italian Rugby Federation after the world cup. Italy are probably the most improved team over the past number of years and that is no doubt due their club sides getting more action in Europe. Benetton Trevisio’s recent form is a sign that Italy won’t be pushed about anymore. Especially when we look back at Trevisio’s shock 31-26 win over French giants Biarritz. Seasoned veteran, Sergio Parisse, will lead the Italians into battle as he has done on many occasions before. This year he will lead his side into the unfamiliar 82,000 capacity Stadio Olympico instead of the usual 32,000 capacity Stadio Flemenio; a sign of the games progress in Italy. Brunel has dropped established players like Salvatore Perugini, Carlos Del Fava & Mirco Bergamasco and introduced a number of new faces, including Aironi’s Alberto De Marchi who trained with the world cup squad and an 18-year old winger, fresh from the academy, by the name of Angelo Esposito. Mauro Bergamasco, brother of Mirco, returns to the fold this year after a shoulder injury kept him out of the squad last time out.

 

Scotland

Andy Robinson, without Scottish talisman Chris Patterson due to retirement, will be looking to re-invent the Scottish outfit. A disappointing world cup behind them; a handful of injuries is their main concern at the moment. Kelly Brown will miss out with a leg injury and so the captaincy has fallen to the 27-year old, Edinburgh hooker, Ross Ford. With 53 Scottish caps and a place on the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour, Ford is no stranger to international duty. Moray Low (knee), Ruaridh Jackson (leg) and Fraser McKenzie (arm) have all suffered injuries, allowing Ed Kalman, Phil Godman and Tom Ryder to be called up to the squad. Along with them, 25-year old Glasgow prop, Jon Welsh will feature for the first time for the thistle.

 

 

 

Wales

A decent world cup performance, losing out on bronze to Australia, Wales will come into this competition fired and ready to go. Warren Gatland has adopted a policy of invigorating the team through youth and with that we see six new players joining the side; Harry Robinson (winger) from Cardiff Blues, Ashley Beck (centre) and Rhys Webb (scrumhalf) from Ospreys and Rhodri Jones (prop), Lou Reed (lock) and Liam Williams (full back) from the Scarlets. There’s no place for Scarlets’ Stephen Jones in this Welsh side, a worrying thought when you look at the dragon’s injury list. Llyod Burns, Luke Chateris and Alun-Wyn Jones will all miss out on the championship with various injuries, whilst Jamie Roberts, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Priestland and Dan Lydiate are all carrying knocks.

England

Stuart Lancaster, successor of Martin Johnson’s throne, has completely altered this English side. There’s no longer room for Mark Cueto, Nick Easter or Mike Tindall whilst the roses’ shining lights Steve Thompson, Lewis Moody and Johnny Wilkinson have all retired from international duty. This would worry any English supporter given the recent performance of their club sides; Premiership leaders, Harlequins, lost out to Connacht who hadn’t won a game since September. Northampton lose to Munster, who put half a century of points on them, whilst Edinburgh destroy London Irish. What has happened to English rugby? Injuries to Courtney Lawes, Toby Flood and Manusamoa Tuilagi will see them miss the first game in Edinburgh. The likely centre partnership will be formed by Saracen’s Brad Barrett and Owen Farrell, completed at the backs with fellow Saracen, Charlie Hodgson as the first five-eighth. Lancaster has yet to name a captain, but likely candidate is Northampton Saint’s Tom Wood. Only young, Wood has excelled on the pitch, claiming the 2011 Aviva Premiership player of the Season award.

Ireland

Injury to Brian O’Driscoll sees him unable to lead Ireland’s charge as they go in search of a second Grand Slam title in four year. That mantle has fallen to Paul O’Connell. Whilst the current Irish outfit is full of potential candidates, O’Connell is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with and his presence on a pitch is over-shadowed by none. It’s not the first time the Munster man has captained the emerald isle, as well as having captained the British & Irish Lions in 2009 as well as Munster on a regular basis. Coach Declan Kidney came under some scrutiny for not picking any new players when he announced squad of 24 players; all of which played in the world cup. Injuries here and there have forced some changes though. Luke Fitzgerald’s hip and neck injuries have seen Munster winger, Simon Zebo called up for the Irish Wolfhounds which promoted Craig Gilroy to the main training squad. Similarly, Andrew Conway’s injury allowed Fionn Carr promotion, whilst Leo Cullen failed to recover from an Achilles injury which sees on-form, Munster back-row forward, James Coughlan get a call up.

With the teams full of fresh faces ready to make an impact and old faces looking to shake off world cup woes, this tournament is going to be phenomenal. The next seven weeks will surely see every rugby enthusiast on the edge of their seat as the northern hemisphere’s premiere rugby tournament gets into full swing.