Six Nations rugby is back again. Prepare for pain if you're Scottish...

I hope I'm wrong on that one, of course. It’s that time again. The most exciting tournament of the year for any rugby fan, in the northern hemisphere, at least. The six nations. It was the five nations when I first started watching it in the early eighties. Scotland won it in 1984. I still remember flanker Jim Calder falling on the ball from a line-out to win the match against the French. Our first Grand slam in something like sixty years. We did it again six years later against Will Carling’s much vaunted and powerful England. I once read his autobiography. I found it in a book shop in Sauchiehall street in Glasgow reduced from £16.99 straight to 0.99 pence. Was a good read. 1990 has gone down in history, of course. What a match. The Hastings brothers, David Sole, John Jeffries, Findlay Calder and the rest. What a team. Since the game became professional in 1995, we haven’t fared so well. Scotland last won the tournament in 1999, but not the grand slam, – losing closely to England – the last of the five nations. The Welsh did us a favour that year, beating England at Wembley in the sun, with a late try by Scott Gibbs allowing Scotland to take the championship on goal difference. The following year, Italy entered and promptly beat us in Rome. We were also destroyed by Ireland that year when a young Brian O’Driscoll, one of the greatest players of the professional era, made his debut and started a habit of regularly scoring against Scotland. Such humiliations have become fairly commonplace for Scottish rugby. We haven’t got near since 1999, whereas the Irish, the Welsh and the English have all had periods of dominance. France, less so, certainly in the last ten years. They remain a sleeping giant. The game has changed beyond recognition, in some ways, in the last thirty years. Physically, commercially, stylistically, even. What happened to good old fashioned rugby shirts with the collar? It remains, however, fifteen men, mostly of big to giant stature, chasing after a large egg. It also remains, for me, at least, the ultimate team game, capable of inducing massive emotion and excitement.

So recently after the rugby world cup, it is almost impossible to pick a favourite. England, having reached the final, had the most successful tournament, followed by the Welsh who made it to the semi-final and weren’t far off making it an all European final. That said, they were lucky to even make the semis. The French outplayed them in the quarters. Ireland were fairly poor and Scotland were fairly disastrous. England, surely the strongest, have their issues, notably the stramash with Saracens - Europe’s best team in recent years - being relegated for financial skulduggery. That said, one can only imagine this will strengthen the resolve of their English contingent and the team in general, but who knows? Ireland, full of class and confidence due to their club sides thriving though rather one dimensional with their incessant box-kicking, cannot be as poor as they were at the world cup. The Welsh, a very tight team, will take confidence from the world cup but are missing centre Jonathon Davies, who is world class. Despite this and with a new coach, they will be tough, I suspect. The French with a new defence coach, ex of Wales Sean Edwards, are some peoples’ favourites. With lots of exciting young talent they have much potential, but they nevertheless remain basket cases. If they keep their heads and especially beat England in their first game, they could do very well. Scotland, after their dreadful world cup, have a lot to prove. Unfortunately, the fracas with stand-off Finn Russell - their best player – being banned from their first match in Dublin, threatens to derail their tournament before it has started. Apparently, he had a few too many bevvies and it had to be dealt with. Either way, Scotland really need to have their best players on the pitch. Russell’s replacement, however, Adam Hastings, son of Gavin, has a bit of his Dad’s magic and will relish his opportunity. His kamikaze style is highly exciting but can be risky. If he continues to work on managing his game control, he’ll be something special. Italy, as always, will target their game with Scotland in Rome as their best chance of a victory that has eluded them for a few years in the tournament. It starts tomorrow and will be over in a flash, so I intend to enjoy it, even though as a Scotsman, I expect more lows than highs, though the highs will come at some stage, I’ve no doubt of that.