Robert Kitson

Finishing positions

1= England and Ireland (England to win title on points difference)

3 Wales

4 France

5 Scotland

6 Italy

Most significant match

Wales's two away games in Dublin and London. If they want to be the first team to win three successive Six Nations titles they will have to win at least one of them

Key figure

Joe Schmidt Ireland

If he can coax some Leinster-like performances out of Ireland, even in the absence of the injured Sean O'Brien, it will make Brian O'Driscoll's farewell fling a memorable one

One to watch

Billy Vunipola England

If the English front five give him a decent platform the young giant will take some stopping. Still raw but has huge potential

Potential upset

Ireland to win in Paris for the first time in 14 years. What a fitting final waltz for O'Driscoll

Top try-scorer

Wesley Fofana France

He is bound to cut someone apart at some point

Can't wait for

England to show they have the back-line talent to outwit even the best defences

Michael Aylwin

Finishing positions

1 Ireland (no grand slam)

2 England

3 France

4 Wales

5 Scotland

6 Italy

Most significant match

England v Ireland. It's round three. Ireland have had two solid home wins of escalating difficulty; England have had two ugly away wins, but wins all the same. The winner (England, ugly) will be talked up massively

Key figure

Joe Schmidt Ireland

If his obscenely successful three years as Leinster coach are anything to go by, he should get Ireland playing again. Positive early signs in autumn against New Zealand. Less so a week earlier against Australia

One to watch

Matt Scott Scotland

Scotland have their problems, but they have developed a few options in the three-quarters, even without Tim Visser. Scott is likely to prove a linchpin at 12. Recent injury means he starts on bench

Potential upset

Italy-England. It's round five and we've seen it all before. Young England team going for grand slam at hostile venue of impassioned hosts. We all know what happens next "Judge me on the World Cup," says Stuart Lancaster.

Top try-scorer

Penalties

Scrum five; collapse, random penalty; reset, bind on arm, yellow card; reset, slip, penalty try. Repeat until next law change

Can't wait for

This weekend. Lately, it seems the first weekend has proven the best. Certainly, last year. It's the weekends after that that have proved the problem. Defences improve, pressure mounts. Rain starts to fall...

Eddie Butler

Finishing positions

Paul Rees

1 Wales

2 England

3 Ireland

4 France

5 Scotland

6 Italy

Most significant match

Ireland v Wales. There will be thunder in the air whatever the weather in the clash of the two main suppliers to the Lions who are both coached by Kiwis. The O'Driscoll-Gatland issue will be among the rumbles in a contest that should go some way to deciding the title

Key figure

Jonathan Sexton Ireland

The tighthead props will be influential after the scrum engagement change, charged now with delivering good ball rather than penalties, but it is time for Jonathan Sexton to deliver consistently for Ireland and make a difference

One to watch

Matt Scott Scotland

A DVD entitled Scotland's best attacking moves would not last long, but their centre Matt Scott, who will be on the bench this weekend after returning from injury, is a second-five who brings subtlety and an extra dimension

Potential upset

France beating England would count as one given their finishing positions last year, but Scotland to win at least one of their home matches to England and France

Top try-scorer

Alex Cuthbert Wales

… ahead of Wesley Fofana

Can't wait for

Ireland-Wales: see above

Eddie Butler

Finishing positions

1 Wales (title, no grand slam)

2 England

3 Ireland

4 France

5 Scotland

6 Italy

Most significant match

Ireland v Wales. The two best equipped sides slugging it out with a little bit of grudge thrown in – the more they deny it, the more it's there

Key figure

Toby Faletau Wales

He's just about to hit full maturity and become an outstanding player – to be fair, he already is, the Lions should have picked him from the start last year. He is one of those workhorses with that bit extra: he reminds me of Kieran Read

One to watch

Jack Nowell, left England

He's got real energy, he obviously is not a great try scorer but the Exeter youngster is one of those irrepressible characters who makes things happen, either directly or indirectly and in both defence and attack

Potential upset

Er, no, can't see one happening

Top try-scorer

Alex Cuthbert Wales

Proven tryscorer who always does it at the right time

Can't wait for

The England v Wales weekend. I think there will be two teams who decide to give it a go. Stuart Lancaster's team are looking to branch out and Wales might be in top gear by then

Andy Bull

Finishing positions

1 Wales – title (no grand slam)

2 France

3 Ireland

4 England

5 Scotland

6 Italy

Most significant match

Wales v France. France have only beaten Tonga and Scotland in the last 12 months, but have won the championship after every Lions tour of the professional era. Everything is in their favour, if they can click. With three home games, this match will be their toughest test

Key figure

Leigh Halfpenny Wales

The best player of the 2013 Six Nations, and the best player of the 2013 Lions tour. He kicks, tackles, runs, steps, passes. In short, he does everything you could ask a back to do

One to watch

Jules Plisson France

A real gamble to give him a debut against England, but if he can handle the pressure he could be a revelation. He is a dangerous runner and a dead-eyed drop-kicker, and has been in superb form for Stade Français this season

Potential upset

In the last decade there has never been more than a single try between the teams when England play Scotland at Murrayfield. This game could be close again, especially if the weather forecasters are right and it rains all week in the run-up

Top try-scorer

George North Wales

He has scored five in his last seven internationals

Can't wait for

Ireland v Wales, just to see whether Brian O'Driscoll, despite all his placatory words, feels he has a point to prove to Warren Gatland