Ireland are my favourites for title

This year’s 6 Nations Championship promises to be a close and exciting tournament if the autumn internationals against Southern Hemisphere opposition are anything to go by.

Scotland need to get off to a good start in Cardiff if they are to be realistic contenders.

And there is no reason why they should not be, despite the front-row injury crisis.

I’m sure the Scots will want to get one over their Welsh counterparts, who are without Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies, Talupe Falatau and Sam Warburton – Lions one and all.

That the Welsh had a huge representation of Lions in New Zealand should really hurt the Scots, so nothing would be more satisfying than to beat Warren Gatland’s team in their own backyard.

Thereafter, France and England come to Murrayfield, and what a coup it would be to hand out defeats to those two teams, particularly following Scotland’s humiliation last year at Twickenham.

After the autumn internationals, visiting teams should have real cause to fear an away match at Murrayfield.

Under Townsend, and Vern Cotter before him, Scotland have become a force to be reckoned with at home.

The tricky tie for Scotland will be the next one, on March 10, in Dublin.

‘ I doubt any team will win a Grand Slam, but Ireland impress

I believe that Ireland should be favourites for this Championship, even though they have to travel to Twickenham on “Super Saturday” – the last day of the Championship.

The Irish have been impressive, both in their autumn series but also in European competition.

As ever, France are an unknown quantity. They have some great players but over the last few years have really struggled to find a coach to bring out the best in them.

They always have the capacity and capability to beat any team in the world, but equally, they can fall to the most unlikely of opponents.

Similarly, whether Conor O’Shea can get his Italian charges to pull a victory out of the bag this year will be something all will be watching for, given the pressure that Georgia are placing on the game’s governors for access to the 6 Nations.

The final home match against Scotland may be O’Shea’s greatest hope. But by that time, I would hope Scotland will be looking to get the best points differential that they can to challenge for the title.

I doubt whether any team will win a Grand Slam this year. Whichever country lifts the trophy on March 17 will, I predict, have lost one match.

I suspect it may be Ireland’s title, but Scotland have their best chance for many years to be in the mix by St Patrick’s Day.