Will Greenwood England are in flux – Ireland can capitalise

Joe Schmidt’s team look the real deal but all six Championship sides have reasons to be cheerful

Ireland

Weaknesses Not many. A couple of new faces have little experience at the top level and may find the step up tricky. But perhaps the biggest hurdle in the next 18 months is discovering the key to mental calmness at the World Cup. Ireland are, after all, still to reach a semi-final in that tournament.

Strengths Where to start? Central control by the Irish Rugby Football Union allowing players – top players – to return from a Lions tour and rest and play according to individual needs. The understudy players stepping up. A win list in the last 18 months that allows them to take the field without a shred of doubt they are the best side. And then a fixture list they could barely have hoped for: France away, first up, followed by three home games and then England at Twickenham on St Patrick’s Day. Are you kidding me? Player to watch Bundee Aki (left). He has a seismic smile and impact on games. A midfield cannonball, he is dynamic, an explosive defender and carrier, and also offloads effortlessly. Opponents will know him well by the full-time whistle.

Verdict There is a genuine self-assurance and confidence about so many of their players. Whether in club or country mode, Irish rugby is smiling.

Scotland

Weaknesses A small playing squad means an injury list in the front five that could prove really painful in Cardiff today. There is always the fear that Scotland could succumb to a big pack and not be able to play at the pace their coach Gregor Townsend would like.

Strengths Players who have witnessed changing rooms where hope was at a premium must now be loving life and their newfound readiness to take on the world. The flip side of having a small playing squad and two top teams means that players who join the squad due to injury have usually played with their teammates before. And do not forget their lethal back line.

Player to watch Hamish Watson (left). A Tasmanian Devil on the openside, and one who is likely to lead the turnover count by the end of the championship.

And turnovers are often the most common cause of defensive lapses. It is difficult for teams to readjust when on attack and transition into defence.

Verdict Only the most dour non-scots could have sat on their hands in the autumn when Scotland let loose. It has been a joy to watch them come flying back into top-level contention.

England

Weaknesses So much change. No matter the strength of a squad, when a new(ish) group of players comes together and lacks game time then you are always a fraction vulnerable. No question this squad will get better as the championship goes on.

Strengths England will be grateful for the fixture list. Away to Italy and home to Wales allows them to build nicely and this is a team with absolute confidence in what they are doing. Not one player in that group will be thinking about who is not available.

Player to watch George Ford. A different sort of challenge will present itself for Ford (right) in the coming weeks. There are fewer comfortable ball carriers and handlers in his pack and the net result will be more breakdowns and more time with the ball on the floor, which will allow the opposition to set. There will be less high-tempo ball for Ford to show his skills so he must manoeuvre and conduct a team around the field, allowing the side to build up pressure.

Verdict Are England vulnerable or do they boast a terrifying depth of squad? Head coach Eddie Jones is aware of the opportunity injuries offer but has been quick to mention the sheer size of his injury list. A keen play for the underdog status.

Wales

Weaknesses Adapting their style. There seemed a shift in “air-time” for the ball in Cardiff in the autumn. I have never been a fan of the ‘Warren-ball’ tag. Pragmatic yes, hard-edged, yes, but Gatland has always wanted his teams to play.

Strengths A squad that loves the Six Nations, and many of whom enjoyed a cracking summer in New Zealand. Scarlets on fire in Europe. Necessity is the mother of all invention and the introduction of a couple of fringe players who might yet deliver glory.

Player to watch Aaron Shingler – a simply outstanding back five player in the pack. Comfortable at lock or in the back row, injuries should dictate that the big man gets regular game time at six. Shingler (below) could be an All Black in his style: his awareness of the game situation and what his team need in the here and now means he is the “right place, right time” man.

Verdict There are 21 days in February that will make or break Wales’s year taking in Scotland at home, England and then Ireland away. They finish off with France and Italy at home, but what state will they be in by then? If they have picked up two from three in those opening games they could have a shot at the title.

France

Weaknesses Plus ca change, plus

c’est la meme chose. I often think France are simply rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic: so much change, so much upheaval for so long. This is not an attempt at ridicule: I am actually a little sad. French rugby could be so good. But consistent coaching staff changes and player squad upheaval guarantee instability.

Strengths All of France will be hoping for the classic Premier League “bounce” yielded by hiring a new coach. It is not guaranteed. Still, you cannot doubt the calibre of so much of their playing squad. Fitness is also strong. There are now Top 14 teams willing to play against each other with ball in hand, and not just have a Grecoroman mud wrestle.

Player to watch Dany Priso. Friends of this column will know I have marvelled at the quality of La Rochelle in this year’s Champions Cup. At the forefront has been Priso. A player who could compete in Mr Universe but is also willing to play with ball in hand. When La

Marseillaise bangs out at St-denis, watch this brute fly. Verdict Absolutely no idea.

Italy

Weaknesses No track record of consistency at this level. They have troubled opponents, they have beaten opponents, but they have never been able to repeat. Any win will be viewed as a minor miracle.

Strengths Getting so much fitter than they were. Conor O’shea is aware of the size of the challenge and is ducking nothing.

Player to watch A few stand out. Marcello Violi, the scrum-half, has super core skills. Giovanni Licata, in the back row, has huge potential – he only goes full-time next year. Renato Giammarioli is superexplosive and a great off-loader, while Tommaso Castello at centre is the glue that holds the midfield together. Finally, Matteo Minozzi at full-back is everything you should not be in the modern game – roughly 5ft 8in, and just over 80kg (12st 8lb), but blessed with magic, dancing feet.

Verdict I write with hope for the country where I spent so many happy years as a child. They are up against it. The unrest in France may offer an opportunity in Paris in the middle weekend of the championship. But other than that, it is difficult to see a win.