France

With a new coach and a raft of retirements, France go into this championship as a bit of an unknown quantity. With six uncapped players, no fewer than ELEVEN of the French World Cup squad have been dropped, including Sebastien Chabal, Jerome Thion, Clement Poitrenaud, Imanol Harinordoquy, Pierre Mignoni, David Marty, Lionel Beauxis, Yannick Nyanga and Remy Martin. The experience of Raphael Ibanez, Fabien Pelous, Christophe Dominici and Serge Betsen is lost through their retirements and lock Lionel Nallet will captain the side.

Starting away from home against Scotland will provide a tough test for this new side, but if they come through that unscathed home games against Ireland, England and Italy follow. Finishing in the Millennium against Wales to win a third successive Six Nations title is a real possibility, and while the side lacks experience and looks to rebound from three defeats at the World Cup – the worst ever showing by a host nation – a Grand Slam looks a real possibility given their schedule.
Predicted finish: 1st