SIX NATIONS SQUADS ANNOUNCED

England
They have a tough year, with all the Blue teams at home, but Wales and Ireland away, which they will need to beat at least one of (probably both) to win the Championship. Eddie is bragging that he has all his big guns back - Vunipola x 2, Tuilagi, Launchbury, Lawes, Cokanasiga, Teo and Farrell (assuming fit), and has a simple game plan - to smash em up! Good to see Dan Robson of Wasps getting a run at 9.

Wales
In contrast to England, Wales have two strongest teams, Ireland and England, at home in the Principality Stadium, and go away to Blue teams, although France in Paris in first game, will not be easy. Warren Gatland has a few injuries in back row, including Faletau, and out wide, where Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Patchell still have concussion. Still, despite no Welsh region making the knock out stages of the European Champions Cup, they have impressive strength in depth, and are a good tournament team, and could beat either of the two big teams in Cardiff, so will definitely have a say in the Championship winner outcome.

Ireland
Joe Schmidt has the luxury of the strongest Irish squad ever, and even with a few injuries, they have depth in every position from front row, back row to centres and back three. Assuming Sexton and Murray are fit, they should win the Championship, but may struggle to top both England at home and Wales away, especially, if one of their talisman gets injured. They will entertain, courtesy of a backline full of world class players - Murray plus Sexton, along with Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Keith Earls, Rob Kearney and Jacob Stockdale, to name a few.

Scotland
Despite recent improvements, with only two professional teams, Gregor Townsend was always going to suffer from lack of strength in depth with injuries to key players such as John Barclay, Hamish Watson, David Denton, Richie Gray, and Byron McGuigan. Strength in the back three and half back may be nullified by lack of power up front to get the backs on the front foot - injuries to front row will further exacerbate this. However, with Edinburgh the most improved team in Europe, thanks to their pack overpowering Montpellier and Toulon in the process, Scotland will be competitive, and may turnover either Wales or Ireland at home.

France
Swings and roundabouts selection wise for the French. On the plus side, much needed experience returns from injury in the form of Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra and Wesley Fofana, and they select five talented uncapped players, including Romain Ntamack, Dorian Aldegheri, Gregory Alldritt, Thomas Ramos and South African born Paul Willemse. On the flipside, key players missing include Teddy Thomas, Yoann Maestri, Cedric Gomes and Mathieu Babilot. They will be big, brutal and French, so expect the unexpected, including edging Wales at home in the first game.