England

Championship wins: 29

Odds: 8/11

Last 20 internationals: W10 D2 L8

One to watch: Will Greenwood (Leicester, centre, pictured below)

Whatever their own misgivings, that imposing four-game autumn schedule has been the making of England. Particularly that fourth game, the 23-all draw with the All Blacks. They discovered their best team, and no side looks as confident or well prepared. Clive Woodward appears to have hit on a mobile tight five and the most balanced and attacking English back row in years. Kyran Bracken is perfectly suited to the modern running game; ditto, the transformed, in-your-face Paul Grayson. With Greenwood on the verge of greatness and Guscott back, there's oodles of try-scoring potential.

Yet, on closer examination, there are doubts: Mark Regan's throwing, the well-being of the inspirational Dallaglio; Guscott's fitness; Healey and Catt being out of position; a failure to beat France or one of the southern hemisphere's big three in three years; six games without a win; relative inexperience and, most of all, the lack of that mean streak and hardened edge which Carling's worldly teams took to Paris. True to Woodward's principles, this looks one of the most exciting English teams in years, and with France taking up the baton, today's Parisian joust could be a veritable cracker. Fascinating favourites.

France

Championship wins: 18

Odds: 11/8

Last 20: W12 L8

One to watch: Christophe Dominici (Stade Francais, wing).

Many superior French sides failed to win Grand Slams - Jean-Pierre Rives's `84 Murrayfield Madmen spring most obviously to mind - but somehow last year's makeshift lot drew on the inspiration of those enjoying a rare day for Les Bleus. But it was a one-off, almost a freak. Reality dawned last summer. France played some good rugby but lost two tests to an undistinguished Wallabies. The rails were coming off and the Springboks' 5210 farewell to Parc des Princes proved it.

The Euro club scene re-inforced an impression of French rugby's slowness to adapt to a changing game. Monotonous ball retention seems too boring for their risky nature. Maybe they're right. England's draw with the All Blacks was the catalyst for Skrela and Villepreux. The guillotine was wielded, older heads were discarded and a young, dynamic, team has emerged with the mobile Fabien Pelous now in the second row. New skipper Raphael Ibanez is from the Keith Wood school of front-line leaders, Christophe Dominici is the latest from their great wing conveyor belt, and though Benazzi must be a loss, there's still some crusty, abrasive heads about. Villepreux looks for them to "express their freedom". Oh, so French, and so unpredictable, a new stadium adding to the mix.

Ireland

Championship wins: 17

Odds: 40/1

Last 20: W7 L13

One to watch: Kieron Dawson (London Irish, flanker)

Given the flawed playing structure, dispersed players and recently unsettled management, the outlook is less than positive. But the ship seems to have steadied, and Brian Ashton (below) is in control more at the helm. This looks very much like his team. Potentially at any rate, there hasn't been such a skilful side to represent the green probably since Mick Doyle's young `85 mix or Ciaran Fitzgerald's Brian Smith-inspired backline of `91. But are they good enough to put the theories into practice? I thinks they are, but some key performers are off-colour or brittle,

and collectively there's a vicious circle of defeats. Struggled to cope with the increased pace of game against Kiwis and Italy, and unsuited to catch-up rugby. But this seems a better selection. So much hinges on opening game. A win could do wonders for them individually and collectively.

Scotland

Championship wins: 21

Odds: 25/1

Last 20: W8 D1 L11

Player to watch: George Graham (Newcastle, loose-head)

Similar to Ireland last year, in that their depressing run of results and disaffection with coach led to Richie Dixon's departure - the difference being that Jim Telfer (right) and, in the background Ian McGeechan (below right), have been down this road before. In fact, we've all been down this road with the Scots before, whereupon dismal early-season form gave way to unexpected sorties at the championship or Grand Slam (twice in last three years).

But despite fully contracting their districts (for which the Scottish RFU deserve a win today) Euro results were again bad, and the cupboard looks bare. They're on their favourite schedule, with the self-destructive Irish as an opener and the knee-trembling, headless chicken French due at Murrayfield. But surely the cures (Telfer and McGeechan) can't always work? The tight five cannot out-muscle teams and though the middle five are a streetwise lot, there's a suspicion that one or two may be off-colour.

Wales

Championship wins: 33

Odds: 10/1

Last 20: W10 L10

Player to watch: Martyn Williams (Pontypridd, open-side flanker)

Oh dear, what short memories we have; you'd almost like to see our Celtic brethren winning again (while forgetting how unbearably arrogant they can become). Hit hard in the last years of the amateur game, they're starting to re-group. League men like brilliant number eight Scott Quinnell and centres Scott Gibbs and Allan Bateman are back in the fold. The pack is suspiciously short of quality, but the backs are truly talented; Robert Howley is an outstanding scrum-half and, a la Ireland with Humphreys, much hinges on the gifted if lightweight Arwel Thomas (right) at out-half; and, a la Ireland with Dawson, the talented linkman at open side, Martyn Williams. Take Ireland's bi-annual win at Cardiff out of the equation, and they did okay last year, seriously extending France in Paris. Cardiff had become so bad that Wembley may not be a handicap. Dark horses.