ENGLAND
Englands 2013 could be described with two apt words; Joy & Pain. The 2013 Six Nations for Lancaster's men started with a bang, and fizzled out completely. Scotland were thumped and Ireland were broken down, that was the starting point, then a narrow win in an insipid display against Italy preceded total embarrassment against Wales. Back to square one. The rest of 2013 didn't really add to or take from England's standing: a poor Argentina team were beaten three times then Australia was narrowly defeated. Then came the game against New Zealand, a team hell-bent on revenge. It started disastrously for England, then the intensity was upped to the point where England had eked out a wafer-thin lead, then it fizzled out again as New Zealand's superiority won the day. One step forward and one step back.
Stuart Lancaster, England's head coach, is a fastidious man when it comes to rugby. Like a chess player, he is thinking five moves ahead. He has already plotted, in meticulous fashion, England's perfect day in 2015 and this Six Nations campaign forms an integral building block to his overall ambition for this English side. Injury to key players, like the behemoth Manu Tuilagi, may hinder England this spring, but the simple counter is that they have the resources and strength in depth to deal with it. The biggest concern over England is the backs and the threat they pose, or rather the lack of it. But behind a formidable pack, which is up there with the very best in world rugby, and holding crucial home advantage in the probable title-decider against Wales in game four, I back England to end eleven years of pain.
PREDICTION = 1st (+ Grand Slam Champions)
Key Player:
Owen Farrell. England's fly-half is a very reliable goal-kicker; that statement is not questioned. What is , however, is Farrell's ability to get England's back-line moving at a tempo to seriously threaten the defences of top-level teams - something which England have struggled with in recent time. If Farrell can do that, England have a great chance of silverware this year.
WALES
2013: Wales completed the most unlikely, and yet the most deserved, Six Nations triumph in 2013. Hard as it may be to recollect, Wales were 3-23 down at half-time in their first game of 2013 at home to Ireland, seemingly unable to stop a horror run that had begun after the Grand Slam triumph of 2012. A mini-comeback in the second half of that game wasn't enough to curtail defeat, but it did serve to revitalise them. A late try saw off a dogged French side in Paris, Italy and Scotland were next to be brushed away, and then came the game against England. What followed was a resounding victory (30-3) & result which will forever go down in Welsh rugby history. But the year didn't end so well with the hoodoo against two of the "big three" continuing; Australia and South Africa both winning in Cardiff.
Whilst the away game to England is likely to be of most importance in the outcome of this 6 nations, Wales can't afford to underestimate Ireland on a trip to Dublin or the French (for which they hold home advantage). Yet one assumes they will have too much for both; likewise Scotland & Italy. The explosive quality from nine through to fifteen; George North and Alex Cuthbert in particular, should be enough for them to see off the off these four. But the fifth challenger, England, I feel have an advantage in the forward area, although one who bore witness to the 30-3 drubbing may scoff at that suggestion, and it is that area where I feel the titanic tussle, and indeed the Championship, will be settled.
PREDICTION = 2nd
Key Player:
Sam Warburton. The captain. The leader. A Wales and Lions legend. He has come in for some criticism in recent time over his performances but, if he remains injury-free, how he does over the next five games will be absolutely key to how his country does over the next five games.