Victory a green issue: Ireland aren't used to favourites tag - it's time they were

The filthy lucre, much of it in euros, is on Ireland. They have said it before in Dublin and Belfast but this time they might actually believe it - the green party have the credentials to go all the way in the Six Nations' Championship.

For one thing, the form guide is good. Ireland did not win in New Zealand in the summer - losing 34-23 in Hamilton, 27-17 in Auckland - but they provided a good test for the All Blacks, better certainly than England, France or Wales in the autumn, who conceded plenty despite having home advantage.

The Ireland squad are settled, experienced and relatively fresh and, unlike England, they do not have to plough through the interminable political morass of club versus country. With one or two exceptions, coach Eddie O'Sullivan has his players under lock and key (and contract) in the Emerald Isle, where the focus is on the matches that matter.

Last November they recorded impressive victories over South Africa and Australia, all part of the long-term plan. "We've talked about England and their World Cup," Paul O'Connell, the leader of the pack, said. "They didn't just show up in Australia and start doing it, they'd developed a habit of beating southern hemisphere teams. It's something we wanted to emulate."

O'Connell is aware that Ireland have to kick another habit, that of losing when they are expected to win. Favouritism is not one of their favourite mantles. It seems to work on them like a ball and chain. "It's an un-Irish thing to be favourites," O'Connell acknowledged. "Traditionally we always liked to play under the heading of underdog, but that's something we're desperately trying to change. We can only play that card for so long. We have guys in the team who believe they should be winning everything."

Brian O'Driscoll, the Ireland captain, is one. "We've been favourites before and got nothing," the world's greatest centre said. "It's not that it's now or never, but why shouldn't it be now?" Last season the Irish won the Triple Crown, their second in three seasons, their only defeat coming in Paris, where four tries in the second half failed to erase a nightmare first half. Ireland were 43-3 down before losing 43-31.

"When you think about it, two Triple Crowns isn't a whole lot," O'Connell said. "We've had two great chances to win a Grand Slam and left them both behind. Until we start winning things, Ireland are bound to be underrated. There is something bigger out there for us. There haven't been so many quality players like this in an Irish team for an awful long time."

Maybe, but O'Sullivan's reservations about his front row - "it's all about collision now" - came back to haunt him in Limerick last week when mighty Munster, captained by O'Connell, were mangled by Leicester in the Heineken Cup. O'Driscoll's Leinster were also undone, by Gloucester, and all of a sudden Ireland's halo was somewhere below their knees. As a wake-up call it came very late in the day.

Conversely, the achievement of Leicester and Wasps in gaining home quarter-finals in Europe has provided England with a "real buzz", according to Brian Ashton, their new head coach. Whereas Ireland's opener, against Wales at the Millennium Stadium next Sunday, looks too close to call, England could not have asked for a more accommodating start: Scotland and Italy in successive weeks and both at Twickenham.

Ordinarily they would be home bankers, but we are looking at a Red Rose back line that could contain old Andy Farrell at centre and young Toby Flood at stand-off. "If youngsters can help us win again then I'll put them in," Ashton said, "but I don't want a host of inexperienced players in my team. I may be forced down that route."

The England pack look as strong as ever and could carry them to a successful Six Nations. In a tournament in which a good start is important England could, should, be sitting at the top of the table after round two. By then they might even have Jonny Wilkinson back at No 10, calling the shots (a long shot, admittedly) and kicking the goals.

Once again Scotland's regions have failed to stand their ground in the Heineken, and the injury to Jason White has left them with a huge hole to fill. When Scotland beat England 18-12 at Murrayfield 12 months ago - it was the beginning of the end for the Red Rose coaching team - White led the way with an astonishing performance, his magnum-force tackling an inspiration.

Frank Hadden, the Scotland coach who made such an impression last season, can only guess at what his team face at Twickenham on Saturday. "We won't have to spend much time on video analysis because there's a heavy element of uncertainty about how England will approach the match," Hadden said. "What we do know about is Brian's track record. He's had very little time to turn things around and get his message through. We also know they will play with massive energy, because the people selected will be desperate to remain part of his plans in World Cup year.

"That's about it. We've got injury problems, but there's great competition for places in a number of areas. There have been times in the past when players haven't needed to walk over broken glass to get a game for Scotland. That's changing."

France, in common with other countries, could do with a talented performer at No 10. Where are the stand-offs when you need them? The stardust is very thin on the ground. Toulouse have missed the injured Frédéric Michalak, even though he is a hit-or-miss operator, and France may go for David Skrela of Stade Français. The French are the champions, but it was not a vintage campaign and there is no guarantee that their skipper, Fabien Pelous, an ageing member of a pack who are getting long in the tooth, will last the event.

Wales have a problem of a different kind at stand-off, where the debate centres around the captain, Stephen Jones, and the pretender, James Hook. Hook won rave reviews during the autumn and there are those who think the 21-year-old is a natural pivot and better suited to running Wales's attacking game. But Hook can play elsewhere, which Jones cannot. In any case, Jones has done a fine job in helping Llanelli to the last eight of the Heineken, and they did so in a style reminiscent of Wales's 15-man stuff when they won the Slam the season before last.

Jones and his club partner Dwayne Peel are probably the best in the championship, and coach Gareth Jenkins knows them like the back of his hand.

No, it is at centre where Jenkins has to place hand over furrowed brow and agonise over the future of the country's prodigal son. Nobody is sure whether Gavin Henson is a match-winner and a playmaker or a playboy and a hell-raiser. When he isn't making headlines for some off-piste escapade with his partner, Charlotte Church, the perma-tanned multi-talented C-list celebrity occasionally turns it on for the Ospreys, but not often enough and rarely to influence the bigger matches. On the endangered species list, Henson is just behind the osprey.

The First Test: How England's head men fared

1. Geoff Cooke (16 Jan 1988) France 10 England 9

Cooke began in Paris with debuts for Micky Skinner, Jeff Probyn and one WDC Carling of Durham University. France were favour-ites but trailed until a Blanco-inspired try turned the tables.

2. Jack Rowell (4 June 1994) South Africa 15 England 32

Rowell began in fine style in front of Nelson Mandela in Pretoria. But this was Rob Andrew's match. The elite rugby director-to-be collected a try, two conversions, five penalties and a dropped goal.

3. Clive Woodward (15 Nov 1997) England 15 Australia 15

A new captain at Twickenham, Lawrence Dallaglio, and five new caps, including Will Greenwood. Englandneeded five penalties from fly-half Mike Catt to draw.

4. Andy Robinson (13 Nov 2004) England 70 Canada 0

Another new captain and a No 12 recruited from rugby league. Skipper Jason Robinson was soon injured, while centre Henry Paul would win only two more caps.

Hugh Godwin

Six Nations 2007: The Schedule

Saturday 3 February:

Italy v France, Stadio Flaminio, 1.30

England v Scotland, Twickenham 4.0

Sunday 4 February:

Wales v Ireland, Millennium Stadium, 3.0

Saturday 10 February:

England v Italy, Twickenham, 1.30

Scotland v Wales, Murrayfield, 3.30

Sunday 11 February:

Ireland v France, Croke Park, 3.0

Saturday 24 February:

Scotland v Italy, Murrayfield, 3.0

Ireland v England, Croke Park, 5.30

France v Wales, Stade de France, 8.0

Saturday 10 March:

Scotland v Ireland, Murrayfield, 1.30

Italy v Wales, Stadio Flaminio, 3.30

Sunday 11 March:

England v France, Twickenham, 3.0

Saturday 17 March:

Italy v Ireland, Stadio Flaminio, 1.30

France v Scotland, Stade de France, 3.30

Wales v England (Millennium Stadium, 5.30)

All games on BBC Television