Why the 2017 Six Nations promises to be better than ever

There is something very special about the Six Nations.

I remember my first taste of the tournament’s buzz as if it was yesterday, watching the action unfold before rushing outside and touching down in the flowerbed for countless scores of my own (with the imaginary commentary of Bill McLaren ringing in my ears).

Close to three decades on and - while my way of showing it has changed ever so slightly – the excitement levels remain just as high.

It’s testament to the quality of the competition that so many sport fans feel similarly at this time of year.

For a tournament that involves the same small group of teams to retain that annual anticipation is remarkable – fully justifying the Six Nations’ status as a highlight of each sporting calendar.

And this year is no different.

Heading into the 2017 edition of the famous old competition, the Northern Hemisphere has two of the world’s top four teams in their ranks (according to the IRB at least, but two of the top three sides in the eyes of most) and a growing reputation for expansive rugby – something that certainly hasn’t been the case every year.

Plus there’s the small matter of a Lions tour looming, with competition for places dauntingly strong across the 15 positions.

It’s set up to be a cracker of a tournament, aided further by the introduction of the bonus point system, which should prevent matches in the early rounds from petering out in the second half.

A glance at the fixtures for the opening weekend won’t quell your enthusiasm. It’s set up to be an absolute belter.

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It’s about time Scotland made the most of an extremely talented group of players. In Finn Russell the Scots have one of the form fly-halves in Europe, while Stuart Hogg is a world-class match-winner. The Scottish pack is always capable of holding its own, especially with the Gray brothers paired up at lock, but it’s the inclusion of Huw Jones at outside centre that really excites. The youngster was a revelation in the autumn and gives the team an added x-factor that trumps even the excellent Mark Bennett. This is Vern Cotter’s last run in charge of the team before he leaves for the big bucks of French club rugby, so he’ll be looking for a big finish.

A home game at Murrayfield is a tough start, but visitors Ireland have been most pundits’ pick to win the Championship outright. The absence of Jonny Sexton for this opener is a blow, but Paddy Jackson is arguably playing the better rugby right now and will be desperate to take his opportunity. Ireland have a strong XV across the board, but it’s in the back row where their quality really leaps out, with CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip a terrifyingly powerful trio.

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England go into 2017 on the back of an unbeaten year and a Grand Slam victory – quite the act to follow. Injuries to key personnel – such as the Vunipola brothers, George Kruis, Chris Robshaw and Anthony Watson – will undoubtedly weaken the team, but the starting XV that coach Eddie Jones has named should be powerful at the set-piece and dangerous with the ball in hand. It's an impressive display of trust by Jones to pick Elliot Daly on the wing after his early red card last time he featured for the national team, while a move to the back row for Maro Itoje will be fascinating. This is an exciting team, the biggest threat to Ireland for the title, and could even be enough to lift the Barbour-clad Twickenham crowd out of their usual winter stupor.

Who knows what France are going to bring (or “which France will turn up” to go with the usual cliché). Les Bleus were little short of a disgrace in last year’s Six Nations, but appeared much-improved in the Autumn Series. Virimi Vakatawa has the ability to be the star of the tournament out on the wing, while the pack had power to burn. A French side with a point to prove against the team they enjoy beating more than any other - that's a dangerous prospect.

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A Rome start against the competition's most vulnerable side - Italy will be licking their lips. Sergio Parisse is fit and firing - which never hurts - and the team finally look capable of scoring tries. In fly-half Carlo Canna Italy have the string-puller that their back-line has been crying out for, and coach Conor O’Shea is of a high enough calibre to trouble the bigger teams. Win this and Italy could be on for a best ever tournament. Lose and it doesn't look good given that Ireland and England are coming up on matchdays two and three.

This is a big, big tournament for Wales. The squad have gone from the hemisphere’s best to predictable also-rans in a bizarrely short space of time, with their style of play becoming increasingly easy for opponents to negate. No Taulupe Faletau is a loss at number eight, but with Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric in the back row the Welsh have a pair of turnover specialists that no team in the competition can better. The back-line selection suggests that Wales may finally have got the message over their direct style, as on to the bench goes Jamie Roberts. Leigh Halfpenny’s much-welcomed return at full-back should add stability – but it’s questionable that that’s what Wales really need. Ospreys fly-half Sam Davies is a tad unfortunate to miss out to Mr Up-and-Under Dan Biggar, but Wales should still have enough to pick up a win in Rome. Over the course of the tournament it could be bonus points that truly scupper this squad, unless then can conjure up some unexpectedly cohesive back play.

Tom Bennett - on Twitter: @tommbennett