England are the highest ranked and most well-resourced rugby team in Europe.
Ireland are on an eight-test winning run including knocking over the All Blacks.
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France also have a recent victory over New Zealand and are improving quicker than any Test nation before hosting next year's Rugby World Cup.
Wales won the 2021 championship out of nowhere and have pedigree with four titles in the past 10 years.
Good luck picking a winner in the upcoming Six Nations.
The northern hemisphere rugby tournament that rarely fails to deliver is rolling around again — this time with fans and less certainty than ever about where the trophy will be heading.
Of course, there are some cast-iron guarantees around the Six Nations: Fiercely sung national anthems, press conference jibes from Eddie Jones, post-match chaos at railway stations outside Twickenham and the Millennium Stadium.
Oh, and it's fairly likely Italy will be limping to the final weekend already sure of the wooden spoon.
But almost everything else seems up in the air, especially given what transpired over the autumn internationals, which ended with European rugby sticking out its chest with pride.
For the first time since 2002, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia were all beaten on the same weekend — by France, England and Wales, respectively.
Ireland also devoured Argentina on that statement weekend for the northern hemisphere that provided the perfect set-up for the Six Nations.
The French — with a mighty pack, a sense of togetherness, a coach with a plan in Fabian Galthiemight be the favourites this year — after back-to-back second-place finishes.
As for the Welsh, retaining the title just got that much harder with stalwart lock Alun Wyn Jones, likely to miss the tournament because of a shoulder injury, among key injury absentees.
The fact the Welsh are starting out at Ireland and also have to visit Twickenham makes their title defense even tougher.
England can never be discounted but this tournament might be filed in the drawer marked "transitional" with Jones still rebuilding his team.
With Italy, now under the stewardship of New Zealander Kieran Crowley, almost a lock for last place — after all, the Azzurri haven't won a game in the Six Nations since February 2015 — a question to ponder is where Scotland fit in.
The Scots have the ability to compete with more fancied side, so don't be surprised if they give old enemy England a tough time first up in the oldest international fixture of them all.
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For that's the weekend that will see full capacity crowds back for Six Nations matches for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak rocked world sport in 2020.
As it stands, only Italy — where attendance is capped at 50 per cent — are expected to have limits on the number of spectators.
The fans will no doubt add to the spectacle, although the drama hasn't abated during the pandemic with the past two editions settled in the final round.
Expect that again this year.
