The Six Nations before a Rugby World Cup always has a strange atmosphere to it. Normally the pinnacle of European international Rugby, it has to make do with playing second fiddle to its quadrennial younger, but much larger, sibling. All the talk around the pundits will be about preparing for the big tournament in Japan later this year, and how form and injuries will play their part for every team hoping to compete for the game’s biggest trophy. Not us! We at Shop Rugby live in the moment, and as such, we’ll be looking at the Six Nations as if the world will come to an end at the end of March (ahem).

Let’s talk about England. Forever a danger in this competition, they will be willing to do anything to avoid another 5th place finish. However, losing their latest openside hope Sam Underhill will do them no favours, adding yet another big name to their already hefty injury list. The positive is that having 12 professional sides means you don’t often lack for depth, and Eddie Jones will find himself spoiled for choice with all the young and oft snubbed players out to prove themselves. One we’d all like to see is the return of Alex Goode, who has been tearing up defences for fun at Saracens and would inject some much-needed flair into England’s back three. Of course, they won’t be happy with anything other than taking home the trophy, but a top three finish would be a marked improvement after a very tough 2018.

Across the channel, we’ve tried to look at that team so often the subject of a tired cliche without falling into it ourselves, but… How on Earth do you predict France’s form this year? The talent they have is in no doubt at all. Their forwards are chunky and Gallic, their backs intelligent and skilful, but that didn’t help them against Fiji in the autumn. We’re left wondering what the plan is if there is one at all. We just can’t help but predict a bottom three finish, it’s so difficult to keep trusting that a team will finally break through when they show no signs of changing.

To the Emerald Isle, where the players and fans alike cast aside any favourites labels like they didn’t just beat the All Blacks for the second time in two years. It’s hard to find something other to say than “Ireland will be unlucky to not get a Grand Slam in 2019”. They’re just too good. This is a golden generation for Irish Rugby, not just with the old heads of Sexton, Murray, O’Brien etc but the young stars like Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Jacob Stockdale and Jordan Larmour. With a tough opener against England and having to face Wales and Scotland away, the fixture list has certainly set a challenge for the World number 2s.

Off to Italy now, where the weight of expectation has often been too great a burden for the Azzurri to be able to rise above 4th in the final table. However, things have been changing domestically for the Italians. Zebre has made a marked improvement in their short life, from winning no games at all to being a fierce competitor when playing at home. The Benetton formerly known as Treviso made the biggest strides of the two this season, with scalps from Glasgow and Harlequins the cherry on their cake as they sit in a Pro14 playoff position at a crucial time of year. It’s hard to keep the hope that Italy will finally have a good Six Nations going, but if any year is going to be their year…

Up in the far north, Scottish fans and players alike will be preparing for one key part of this year’s tournament; keeping the Calcutta Cup. Won in thrilling fashion last year, they had the advantage of playing in the fearsome atmosphere of Murrayfield, as well as Finn Russell throwing a one in a million pass to Huw Jones to create the highlight of that year’s competition. England at Twickenham are a different beast though and Scotland’s away form still has enough question marks above it to make this a mightily unpredictable clash. They’ll also be hosting Wales and Ireland this year, meaning the Scots could very well be making a quiet run for the title.

Lastly we come to the home of Shop Rugby, rampant rugby pessimism and stadiums with roofs. After a shockingly good 2018 which included a Summer tour clean sweep, getting the Wallaby off their backs, and ending the Autumn undefeated, Wales will be cautiously confident heading into the Six Nations. Away to France is the opening fixture, a tough prospect but Gatland will be thankful that it could have been a lot worse. With the regional academy system finally seeming to pay off, Wales are also blessed with a new found depth that means that despite a horrific injury to Ellis Jenkins, they have a Thomas Young waiting in the wings to fill in. Rhys Webb controversially unavailable to play because he’s in France? Tomos Williams is there to bolster the bench for Aled and Gareth Davies. For once it feels like they’re not just hastily filling in gaps wherever they can, and a strong 23 instead of just a strong 15 may just spell success.

Now it’s time to think with our heads instead of our hearts. How do we think the table will look after round 5?