Preview: 6 Nations Round 1

The tournament kicks off on Friday evening when Ireland take on Italy at the venue of their wonderful win over France last season.

Never have the Irish women been playing better than the current squad and anything other than an Irish win against the only 6 Nations side who will not be at the World Cup would be a big opening round shock.

But Italy have shown signs of improvement, as they ran both Scotland and France close last season and indeed they were out-scoring Ireland at the half-way point of their game last year only for the Irish to pull away late in the game.

First played: 1997 (only Italian win, 13-5)

Overall: Played 7, Irish wins 6, Italy 1

In Ireland: Played 1 (2008 - Ireland 19, Italy 0)

Largest Irish win: Italy 17, Ireland 35 (2009)

The fixture makers have not done the 6 Nations any favours this season. While its a great game to start the tournament, the risk with England and Wales - the top two teams from three out of the last four tournaments meeting on day one is that the destination of the 2010 title could potentially be sewn up by next Sunday.

It wont be easy for England on Saturday afternoon, but the simple fact is that if the Wales home win last season against a less-than-full strength England team was a surprise a win a over the first choice England XV playing at home would be astounding.

It's not impossible, but the fact that England have played and beaten - every other team in the worldwide top five since last March, while Wales have only played Sweden, though they beat them comprehensively, is just one indication of the uphill task the Welsh face at Esher on Saturday.

First played: 1989

Overall: Played 26, English wins 25, Wales 1 (16-15 in 2009)

In England: Played 11, all won by England

Largest English win: Wales 11, England 83 (1999)

As it has been in many recent seasons a new beginning for Scottish rugby is promised this year, with a new coaching team and renewed confidence following their World Cup qualification.

If a new dawn is coming, then a home game against the notoriously unpredictable French could be an ideal start. If Scotland are to lift themselves beyond an annual battle for the Wooden Spoon this is probably their best chance. However, recent French performances against Canada have shown a team growing in confidence if that continues at Lasswade then it is difficult to see beyond a French win.

Scotland v France

First played: 1998

Overall: Played 15, Scottish wins 4, France 11

In Scotland: Played 6, Scottish wins 1 (19-3, in 1998), France 5

Last Scottish win: France 14, Scotland 19 (2003)

Largest Scottish win: France 7, Scotland 27 (at the 1998 World Cup, Amsterdam)