MORE SIX NATIONS SQUADS ANNOUNCED

Scotland

Scotland select two uncapped props, Zander Ferguson and Rory Sutherland. John Barclay, omitted from the RWC 2015 squad, makes a surprise comeback, at the expense of Ryan Wilson, who was cleared of testicle grabbing Lee Dickson. Tim Swinson was only given a one week ban for punching so is cleared to play in England game. Some will make their 6 Nations debut, including John Hardie, Willem P Nel and Josh Strauss, whilst Tim Visser, Peter Horne and Mark Bennett are injured at present.

Props: Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh). Hookers: Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby). Locks:Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh). Back-rowers: Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Scarlets), Blair Cowan (London Irish), David Denton (Bath), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), John Hardie (Edinburgh), Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors).

Back three: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (London Irish), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Harlequins). Centres: Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Duncan Taylor (Saracens). Fly-halves: Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors). Scrum-halves: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester).

Ireland

Ireland has chosen Rory Best as captain, to succeed Paul O'Connell. They also have four new caps, CJ Stander, Ultan Dillane, Stuart McCloskey and Josh van der Flier. Cian Healy, Mike Ross and Chris Henry are included, despite being currently injured, but Tommy Bowe, Peter O'Mahoney, Iain Henderson and Dan Tuohy all excluded because of long term injuries. Robbie Henshaw makes a comeback having been out for six weeks.

Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster, captain), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), James Cronin (Munster), Ultan Dillane (Connacht), Nathan White (Connacht), Marty Moore (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster).

Backs: Conor Murray (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Kieron Marmion (Connacht), Jonny Sexton (Leinster), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Jared Payne (Ulster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Dave Kearney (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Simon Zebo (Munster).

Wales

Wales has included Tom James in their squad, six years after his last cap, and uncapped Aled Davies. Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies and Hallam Amos all return following injury, and Rhys Priestland is also included, having initially retired from international rugby following a move to Bath (bet Bath are really chuffed at that volte face). Sam Warburton is included, despite having not played since November 2015.

Forwards: Rob Evans (Scarlets), Paul James (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Dominic Day (Bath Rugby), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Josh Turnbull (Cardiff Blues), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, captain).

Backs: Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues) Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Tom James (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Morgan (Bristol Rugby), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

France

France has a new coach in Guy Noves, and new captain in Guilhem Guirado, replacing Thierry Dusatoir, with notable absentees in Mathieu Bastareaud, Rory Kockott and Sebastian Tillous Borde. Those involved, but not in the RWC 2015 squad, include Francois Trinh-Duc, Jefferson Poirot, Jonathan Danty, Paul Jedrasiak, Sebastian Bezy, Yacouba Camara and Hugo Bonneval.

Forwards: Uini Atonio, Eddy Ben Arous, Antoine Burban, Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat, Damien Chouly, Alessandre Flanquart, Kevin Gourdon, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Paul Jedrasiak, Wenceslas Lauret, Yoann Maestri, Louis Picamoles, Jefferson Poirot, Rabah Slimani, Sebastien Vahaamahina

Backs: Sebastien Bezy, Hugo Bonneval, Jonathan Danty, Jean-Marc Doussain, Alexandre Dumoulin, Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Remi Lamerat, Maxime Machenaud, Maxime Medard, Morgan Parra, Jules Plisson, Scott Spedding, Virimi Vakatawa

CITING SEASON HAS STARTED

Is it me, or are players suddenly starting to be cited, just in time for 6 Nations squad to be announced? It may not be the case, and we are only starting to notice because they receive more publicity as the tournament approaches, or that there are more high profile players involved.

Unfortunately, for England, the omens do not look good for Chris Ashton, accused of gouging on Saturday whilst playing for Sarries against Ulster. His absence would open the way for Jack Nowell, who is injured at present, but should be fit for Scotland game. Ryan Wilson, the Scottish back row has also been cited, along with fellow Glasgow team mate, Tim Swinson, for testicle grabbing and punching respectively. Swinson was yellow carded for his offence, so is more likely to escape relatively unscathed compared to Wilson, who has only just returned to the game, following a three month ban for an assault in a Glasgow bar. Scotland has cover in the back row with Denton, Cowan, Strauss and Ashe all able to cover blindside flanker. It could be an opportunity for Cotter to recall Barclay!

Other players cited this weekend, include the ex Welsh hooker, T Rhys Thomas for biting and Viktor Kolelishvili, the Georgia back row, for pushing over "our very own" Wayne Barnes, whilst playing for Clermont Auvergne. I have to admit, but I have been gouged, pushed over, bitten and punched on the rugby field (and that was bringing the drinks on), but never had my testicles squeezed. I can imagine it is very painful, and makes you release the ball immediately.

UPDATE 20/01/16: Ashton gets 10 week ban, so misses entire 6 Nations, and Swinson gets one week, so free to play against England. Ryan Wilson found not guilty of grabbing testicles, although the disproportionate coverage in the press regards the allegation didn't help his cause, partly because he has form (for a fast food outlet brawl). He probably feels like Stephen Avery, poor fellah!

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO BATH?

For a club with so much history, and so much invested in talent on and off the pitch, what is happening to Bath this season? They lie 9th in the Aviva Premiership, having lost 5 out of 8 games this season, including a defeat by Newcastle, and are out of the European Champions Cup, with one game to go, having lost 3 out of 5 group games. Okay, you could argue that they are in a very tough European group with Toulon, Wasps and Leinster, and, also, that they have played most of the top five teams in the league. However, two of their wins in Europe were late or narrow victories over Wasps and Leinster, and they only beat Worcester in the league by one score. If I was a school teacher (heaven forbid), then I would give them a D grade for performance.

Even since their many internationals returned from RWC 2015 duty, their results have not improved. How can a forward pack with the likes of Webber, Thomas, Hooper, Day,  Louw, Houston and Denton fail to dominate the opposition, and win quick ball for the likes of Watson, Agulla, Rokoduguni, Joseph, Eastmond, Banahan, Matawalu and Ford to do some damage. And how could they let homegrown talent like Ollie Devoto, go to their West Country rivals, Exeter, especially as he has just been named in England's Six Nations squad?

Maybe we should look at the coaching team, surely the envy of other clubs, not capable (or willing) to invest up to the salary cap limit.

The cast of Ben Hur coaching at Bath Rugby

I would think that Mike Ford, along with his First Team coaching cohorts of Hatley, Booth and Edwards are under pressure at present, as the Bath shareholder(s) review the ROI they are getting on their considerable outlay. With Europe soon out of the way, at least they can focus on improving performances and results in the Premiership, with crucial games against Sarries, Gloucester, Worcester and Wasps over the coming month, set to decide their season (and the fate of some of the players and management).

Come on Bath, you can do it!