We are just a few days away from the much anticipated 2018 Six Nations tournament, and - using a typical Six Nations cliché style - it is set to be the best, most competitive championship in years.
5 of the 6 teams involved - poor old Italy - can make strong cases for why they should have their names engraved into their countries folklore.
Let's break down the team's a little bit more, and include my predictions along the way.
Sixth - Italia
This is a pretty simple one. Italy, despite vast improvements from their early endeavors in the Six Nations, are far behind their counterparts. It seems the improved significantly a few years ago but since then, the other sides have just moved up another level.
Conor O'Shea, head coach, knows his teams limitations - "If we play our best and England play their best, then England win" - but they are building good relationships with the Italian club sides and have a great set of young players coming through. The future looks bright for the Azzurri.
Fifth - France
Oh France. What has happened to France? They have sacked their coach for the first time in the national team's history just a couple of months before the start of the championship, which can't be good preparation for Les Bleus.
France are France and will always bring a threat to the other challengers, no matter what state their squad is in, but this is the first time in many years that France have fallen behind all those considered the home nations.
Fourth - Wales
Wales are coming into this tournament with several key injuries affecting their squad. Rhys Webb. Dan Biggar. Toby Faletau. Sam Warbuton. All starters. All missing.
Wales had a poor 2017, meaning that they, of all teams, need a successful Six Nations to put to simply get the year off to a good start. Their first game against Scotland will have a huge bearing on the tournament as a whole. There are 10 Scarlets in the starting XV, and with that team running high on confidence, Wales could easily pull together a strong run for the title.
Third - Scotland
Scotland's team is on the rise and currently sits fifth in the World Rugby Rankings. The 2017 Six Nations was one of their best tournaments for a while and only a dismal display at Twickenham cast a small shadow on the team's progress.
Scotland managed to claim two victories over Australia in 2017, a massive statement on their development. Gregor Townsend has come in and taken this team on again from the ground work set up by Vern Cotter.
Scotland are my long-shot to win the tournament behind [no spoilers]. They are a young, fast, attacking team that shows no fear, no matter the opposition.
Second - Ireland
Ireland look like the complete team. A strong set of forwards who are aggressive at the scrum and can carry the ball with great tenacity, mixed with a group of backs with flair and pace that will scare most defensive lines.
The Irish denied England a second consecutive Grand Slam in Dublin last year with a convincing display, but with that fixture at Twickenham, it's hard to see home field advantage not playing a part this time either.
Joe Schmidt is a smart coach and tactically could be the difference between Ireland having a good tournament, or a great tournament. Watch out for some magic from the world class half-back pairing of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton.
First - England
I kinda hate to say it again, but it's hard to see beyond England making it three Six Nations titles on the spin. Whether the third title will be a Grand Slam remains to be answered.
Under Eddie Jones, England have risen to only have New Zealand as the nation they are yet to topple, and many would argue that England are best set to take down the All Blacks. Jones has brought confidence back to an England side that struggled at the 2015 World Cup and has only lost one match since taking charge.
Yet, he still claims that England are chasing the likes of Scotland and Ireland for the title this year - this was quite possibly a dig at the media who have hyped up the latter two countries while downplaying England's abilities.
Even so, England don't look any weaker than they did a year ago, and I feel are set to make a statement win in their overall bid for World Cup glory.
So those are my thoughts. But all we know for this year's championship? It's going to be unpredictable. It's going to be tense. But, it's going to be exciting.
What are you expecting from this year's tournament? Who's your tip to win? Share and comment.
You can read my other blogs at ScriptEye and I Can't Write Words here.
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