By Andrew Baldock THIS season's RBS 6 Nations Championship promises to be a wide-open contest.

There is no obvious favourite, although recent World Cup form suggests England could finish top of the pile.

For a country that reached the last two World Cup finals, England's Six Nations form since their imperious 2003 Grand Slam campaign has repeatedly slipped below par.

They have not challenged for Six Nations title glory during the past four seasons, and it is not about to get any easier, with England facing successive away games this term against Italy, France and Scotland.

Of their last 20 Six Nations matches, England have won just 10, which underlines the scale of improvement head coach Brian Ashton needs to oversee.

Scotland achieved what most believed was a realistic level at the 2007 World Cup, claiming a quarter-final place before bowing out to Argentina in Paris.

But it could have been so much better had Scotland possessed enough confidence to play a wider, more expansive game, rather than rely, once again, on Chris Paterson's boot.

Coach Frank Hadden will relish the Murrayfield visits of France and England, but Scotland need to rely on more than Paterson for their points.

Meanwhile, something is stirring in Wales. And about time, given their chronic run of results since Mike Ruddock masterminded a 2005 Six Nations Grand Slam - and then left.

Wales' miserable World Cup campaign spelled the end for Gareth Jenkins' coaching reign, and New Zealander Warren Gatland has been ushered in to restore a feelgood factor by making the team competitive again.

Gatland has already made a mark, assembling arguably the tournament's strongest coaching staff through appointing Shaun Edwards, pictured, and Rob Howley to assist him, while also talking star flanker Martyn Williams out of retirement and appointing Ryan Jones as captain.

With three games in Cardiff - against Scotland, Italy and France - Wales should fare well, but much will depend on the opening day and a trip to Twickenham, where they have not won since 1988, and conceded 62 points on their last visit five months ago.

The World Cup proved an unmitigated disaster for Ireland, who collapsed in the so-called pool of death, finishing third behind Argentina and France.

Clearly over-rated, the tournament passed Ireland by to an alarming degree, and coach Eddie O'Sullivan faces a colossal task picking his players up by the bootlaces.

No-one doubts Ireland possess great players - which coach in the world would not want Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and Paul O'Connell at the peak of their powers? - but too often, there is a buckling under pressure.

Ireland have to visit Twickenham and Paris, which does not augur well.

It will be a new-look France that takes the field during this season's Six Nations.

Long-serving coach Bernard Laporte has departed for pastures new, while World Cup skipper Raphael Ibanez and flying wing Christophe Dominici have called time on their Test careers as new boss Marc Lievremont prepares to reshape the squad.

Lievremont has already appointed lock Lionel Nallet as Ibanez's successor, while it will be fascinating to see which newcomers are integrated at the start of a four-year cycle towards World Cup 2011.

France have home advantage against England, Ireland and Italy, with consistency the key to them mounting a successful Six Nations title defence.

Nick Mallett, one of world rugby's most respected international coaches, has taken over the hot-seat in Italian rugby following a disappointing World Cup campaign.

Italy enjoyed the most successful Six Nations season in their history last term, winning two games for the first time, as Scotland and Wales both fell victim to the Azzurri.

The task for Mallett is to build on that achievement, although it will be tough, given that Italy face Ireland, Wales and France away from home.

Ireland and England are first up for Mallett's men, two games that will shape - or destroy - their season.

11:49am Tuesday 5th February 2008

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