Starts Feb 2nd !
( add +2 for TTime)

Saturday, 02 February 2008
England v Wales, 16:30
Ireland v Italy, 14:00

Sunday, 03 February 2008
Scotland v France, 15:00

Saturday, 09 February 2008
France v Ireland, 16:00
Wales v Scotland, 14:00

Sunday, 10 February 2008
Italy v England, 14:30

Saturday, 23 February 2008
France v England, 20:00
Ireland v Scotland, 17:00
Wales v Italy, 15:00

Saturday, 08 March 2008
Ireland v Wales, 13:15
Scotland v England, 15:15

Sunday, 09 March 2008
France v Italy, 15:00

Saturday, 15 March 2008
England v Ireland, 15:00
Italy v Scotland, 13:00
Wales v France, 17:00

England squad:
Backs: Balshaw (Gloucester), Cipriani (Wasps), Cueto (Sale Sharks), Flood (Newcastle), Gomarsall (Harlequins), Hodgson (Sale Sharks), Noon (Newcastle), Richards (London Irish), Sackey (Wasps), Strettle (Harlequins), Tait (Newcastle), Tindall (Gloucester), Wigglesworth (Sale), Wilkinson (Newcastle), Vainikolo (Gloucester).
Forwards: Borthwick (Bath), Croft (Leicester), Chuter (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), Easter (Harlequins), Haskell (Wasps), Kay (Leicester), Mears (Bath), Moody (Leicester), Payne (Wasps), Rees (Wasps), Regan (Bristol), Shaw (Wasps), Sheridan (Sale), Stevens (Bath), Vickery (Wasps, capt), Worsley (Wasps).

My view: England's chances in the 6 nations will bizarrely pivot on their backs rather than their forwards. A weaker pack will be put out than was avaliable for the world cup (although I am hoping for some massive performances from Sheridan). However, in the backs there is some real excitement (Cipriani, Sackey- who has had a great domestic season so far, and the powerful Vainikolo).

Shame that the likes of Varandell and Simpson-Daniel missed out though. Would also have liked to have seen a few new faces blooded in the pack.

I agree and would love to see the backs getting some ball and actually using it to run some lines instead of the centres running hard and straight. Some new faces would have been nice as now is the time to start trying new players, not just in the year before the world cup.

Having said that I think it is important to note that whilst I love the world cup I don't want it to overshadow the 6 nations as this competiton has always been so good in the past and I don't want to see it lose its importance in the calendar.

I have mixed views on the appointment of Vainikolo, mainly because so many English (possibly British) fans complain about New Zealand featuring islanders then we risk becoming hypocrites if we continue to whinge. Then again, when haven't we been just look at Mike Catt or indeed my 2 previous paragraphs (world cup vs six nations).

I still wonder how they will resolve the Argentina issue, the IRB has stated that they cannot enter the 6 nations but they need to be included somewhere as if they are ignored then Rugby will never grow as a sport.

The Falcons boys will pull England through.

Although Charlie Hodgson is from my team, I think England will benefit if he gets injured again (slightly) before the tournament. Him missing out in the world cup was England's salvation.

i would guess that i'm not alone in looking for some fellow fans to watch the games on the upcoming weekends? I have been reliably informed that Balans next to the James Joyce is an excellent place to watch the rugby, anyone else a view on this???

btw - you can all mutter as much as you want about your Enlish backs and forwards - you're all doomed anyway....... This is Wales' grand slam year once more!!!

Indeed Jono - Balans will be the venue of choice. I do admire your optimism. Whether it is mis-placed though, we will have to wait and see.

i'm almost peeing me pants , cant wait for the start, and will be at Balans.

so does Balans have a large crowd in for the games then? or is it a case that if there's an evening game they'll turn the sound down and stick Robbie Williams over the top of it?

Nah - a crowd will gather (just like an execution) and wee rabbie will not be heard.