Six Nations team-by-team preview

Six Nations key men ... Frederic Michalak, Brian O'Driscoll and Owen Farrell. Source: AP

With a Lions tour on the horizon, this year's Six Nations will provide the perfect chance to see what the Wallabies will come up against in June. Read our team-by-team preview of each team, including betting odds, predictions and key men.

ENGLAND

It is 12 months since the bright new dawn for English rugby and although the signs since have been encouraging, the pressure is now on to deliver.

The victory over New Zealand in the Spring has ramped up the expectations on England to deliver - however there is an air of self-belief among the squad.

Under Stuart Lancaster a confidence has been instilled into the players that they can beat anyone. In last season's Six Nations England won away in Scotland, Italy and France - when few gave them much of a chance - and thumped Ireland at home.

Coach: Stuart Lancaster
Captain: Chris Robshaw
Key man: Owen Farrell
Last season: 2nd
Odds: $2.75 (courtesy of sportsbet.com.au and correct at 1/2/2013)

Prediction: 1st - Buoyed by a win over New Zealand, there is an air of confidence in the England squad. They have come on leaps and bounds under Stuart Lancaster. Three home games will favour them - although trips to Dublin and Cardiff will seriously test their ambitions.

French threat ... team captain Pascal Pape. Source: AP

FRANCE

Having enjoyed a rare clean sweep in their Spring Tests - including wins over Australia and Argentina - France will head to the Six Nations in confident mood.

Philippe Saint-Andre has built on the squad that reached the World Cup final in 2011 but established a harmony that was lacking under former coach Marc Lievremont.

The Pumas were thumped in the second Test, while the Wallabies were ruthlessly demolished and Argentina and then Samoa were brushed aside with ease.

The French pack will once again be a force to be reckoned with - particularly up front - while in Mathieu Bastareaud and Wesley Fofana they have two fearsome runners in the backs. Also the form of Frederic Michalak adds an extra dimension to their play.

Coach: Philippe Saint Andre
Captain: Pascal Pape
Key man: Frederic Michalak
Last season: 4th
Odds: $3.00 (courtesy of sportsbet.com.au and correct at 1/2/2013)

Prediction: 2nd - They are on a four-match winning run and look in a strong position to contest for the title. The fixtures could count against them, though, and their clash at Twickenham against England will be pivotal to their hopes.

Tough as nails ... Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip. Source: AP

IRELAND

It was very much a case of ifs, buts and maybes for the Irish team in last season's Six Nations.
Declan Kidney's side will look back on the Wales game where a crucial decision went against them, while the postponement of the France match left them with a physically demanding schedule.

Injuries to Paul O'Connell, Stephen Ferris, Tommy Bowe and Brian O'Driscoll have meant that Michael Bent, Iain Henderson and Craig Gilroy have gained international experience - while Donnacha Ryan has really impressed.

O'Driscoll will make a welcome return for the Six Nations although the Leinster centre has dropped a strong hint that 2013 could be his tournament swansong.

"There's a strong possibility it could be my last Six Nations, but I haven't really allowed myself to start thinking about finishing," O"Driscoll said.

"If you start thinking about it too early, you've one foot into retirement already. I'm contracted until the summer and I'll see how my body feels."

A repeat of last year's opener against Wales will give the side the chance to set the record straight, while they will be targeting wins from their trips to Italy and Scotland. The crunch games could come at home against England and France.

Coach: Declan Kidney
Captain: Jamie Heaslip
Key man: Brian O'Driscoll
Last season: 3rd
Odds: $4.50 (courtesy of sportsbet.com.au and correct at 1/2/2013)

Prediction: 3rd - The victory over Argentina will have breathed new life into Irish hopes after a disappointing championship last year and a tough tour to New Zealand. While injuries might have hampered their hopes, it has given a number of players the chance to emerge through the ranks. They face a difficult opener in Wales and how they perform there could be key to their chances.

Sergio Parisse ... will lead outsiders Italy. Source: AP

ITALY

The 2013 Six Nations could well be the chance for Italy to throw down a marker for the future. Coach Jacques Brunel has been helped by the fact the players are being exposed to a higher level of rugby via the inclusion of Treviso and Zebre in the Heineken Cup and the RaboDirect PRO12.

And having avoided the wooden spoon with victory over Scotland in last season's championship, Brunel is keen to kick on.

And with three home games in this season's championship - against France, Wales and Ireland - Italy will be targeting another run of wins. Sergio Parisse remains their talisman - as part of a talented back-row of Robert Barbieri and Alessandro Zanni - while Luciano Orquera and Tommaso Benvenuti have impressed under Brunel's attacking regime.

Coach: Jacques Brunel
Captain: Sergio Parisse
Key man: Sergio Parisse
Last season: 5th
Odds: $101 (courtesy of sportsbet.com.au and correct at 1/2/2013)

Prediction: 5th - Have the potential to be the dark horses of the championship. They have an established squad and game plan under Jacques Brunel and were on the verge of beating Australia in the Spring internationals. France, Wales and Ireland will not fancy traveling to Stadio Olimpico.

Scotland's Tim Visser ... crucial to his side. Source: AAP

SCOTLAND

Scotland fans can rightly feel bemused by their country's form over the past 12 months. They entered the Six Nations last season with high hopes of success, however they suffered a spectacular slump in form as they ended up with the wooden spoon after losing to Italy.

It is now up to interim coach Scott Johnson to turn things around, with the Australian quickly freshening things with 10 new faces in his first squad as well as the recall of some experienced performers.

Tim Visser has made an immediate impression on the international stage - including two tries against the All Blacks - while a lot is expected from New Zealand-born Sean Maitland.

Interim coach: Scott Johnson
Captain: Kelly Brown
Key man: Tim Visser
Last season: 6th
Odds: $26 (courtesy of sportsbet.com.au and correct at 1/2/2013)

Prediction: 6th - It is all change among the Scotland squad following Andy Robinson's exit as coach, with Scott Johnson and Dean Ryan facing an uphill task of rebuilding the side's confidence. Wooden spooners last season and beaten by Tonga in the autumn means there is plenty of work to do. A host of new players - predominately from Glasgow - will also come into the squad and with limited time to prepare it could be a tough challenge for the Scots.

James Hook ... Wales' key man. Source: AP

WALES

The defending Grand Slam champions have it all to do this time around if they are to defend their crown.
Since their clean sweep at last season's championship, it has all been downhill for the Welsh, with losses to New Zealand, Argentina and Australia and Samoa.

The absence of Warren Gatland - who masterminded their fourth-placed finish at the World Cup as well as their Grand Slam triumph - has been a cruel blow, with the New Zealander having been first sidelined by a freak injury and then unavailable due to his secondment to the British and Irish Lions.

Injuries have hit the Welsh hard, with Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Rhys Priestland and Aaron Jarvis among those unavailable. However they have some exciting players handed a chance with Andries Pretorius, Josh Navidi and Eli Walker looking to play their part.

The battle for the No 10 shirt could be key, with James Hook and Dan Biggar vying to replace the sidelined Rhys Priestland.

Interim coach: Rob Howley
Captain: Sam Warburton
Key man: Dan Biggar/James Hook
Last season: Champions
Odds: $5.50

Prediction: 4th - Wales have struggled in the aftermath of their Grand Slam triumph last year and a run of seven straight Test defeats will have left confidence at an all-time low. Injuries to key positions will not help their cause, nor will the absence of head coach Warren Gatland - who is on secondment with the British and Irish Lions. They face three tough away games, while England and Ireland will arrive in Cardiff gunning for revenge.

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