After last year's six nations was lost, the return of Antoine Dupont for the 2025 championship is a brilliant news not only for France, but for all rugby fans.
The only people who will not be happy are those who have to play against him!
We are lucky to be seeing one of the best times in action in the coming weeks. Dupont is simply magnificent.
He was delighted to have played Sevens for France at the Olympic Games last summer and won a gold medal for his country in what was a game at home.
For me, that really distinguishes it from the rest. I have constantly maintained that the shortest rugby format is a large talent culture broth.
Not only that can also help players established even more, and Dupont is a brilliant example of that.
The return of Antoine Dupont to the six nations is something that every rugby fan should celebrate
Half of the France Scrum lost last year's tournament while preparing for the Olympic Games
Dupont won gold in Paris in one of the most spectacular sporting events of 2024
Clearly, he was already one of the best in the world before playing Sevens. But his Olympic performances were simply extraordinary in the way he assumed new roles such as competing for the ball in the breakdown.
You can't hide in Sevens. You can be very exposed. But Dupont shone and I can't give him more praise than to say that, in my opinion, I classify it there with Sir Gareth Edwards as the best scrum to have played.
Is Dupont the greatest of all? It is very difficult to say because in many ways, rugby has changed a lot over the years.
In fact, I played against Edwards in my career, so what I can say with certainty is that there has been no other no 9 over the years that a candle can have for those two.
Those who are in charge of the French rugby deserve a great credit for how they have handled Dupont, especially with their participation of seals.
It is something that we must look in England and Great Britain. Sevens has gone sadly along the way in our country.
It is a shame. Can you imagine how good it would be if Marcus Smith played Sevens for Great Britain and the interest he would bring?
Unfortunately, there is too much policy in English rugby so that things like that happen. In France, it is different. They simply do the job, and that's why they are where they are.
Wales lost the 12 tests in 2024 and I am struggling to see them ending that race
Warren Gatland must have some insomnia nights after a turgid the last 12 months
My international rugby experience is that to be successful, he needs a couple of world class in NO 9 and No 10. France has it for these six nations, with Dupont back with Romain Ntamack for his first game with Wales on Friday .
I have to be honest, I can't see a way in which Wales can win. It would be one of the greatest discomfort in the history of the six nations if they did.
I like Warren Gatland and the championship needs a strong Wales, but it must have some insomnia nights at this time.
The six nations have to do with competition. But I think the opening night could be a seriously unilateral game that we don't want to see. Wait for Dupont to be in the heart.
On Saturday, Scotland begins his campaign after having lost his Captain Sione Tuipulotu, a significant blow since the center of the lions could have been easily.
It will give Italy an impulse and I think they are on the right path and have all the possibilities of ending over their first round opponents in the final table.
Last year, Italy beat both Wales and Scotland and drew with France. The French game was also one that they should have won, so the signals are promising.
Italy should be very sure of winning Wales at home in the second round and Tuipulotu injury stockings for me, Scotland's draw is shaking.
Losing Captain Soone Tuipulotu (center) is a great blow to Scotland ahead of the six nations
Scotland has won the last four games of the Calcutta Cup, but I can't see them win the title
Scotland is a very frustrating team. They have had the number of England in recent years and defeated France in Paris. But for some reason, he never joins for everyone to join.
Tuipulotou is not his only absence, with Scott Cumming and Josh Bayliss also injured, so Gregor Towsend has a great job in his hands. Scottish fans thought this would be the year for a title offer, but I can't see what happens.
After a hard 2024 in which they won only five of the 12 games, it is not easier for England at the beginning of these six nations.
Ireland far and then France at home is as difficult as it is done for Steve Borthwick and his players when it comes to the first two rounds.
But as I have constantly maintained, international rugby is always and only about your next game. For Borthwick and England, Ireland's game is everything. There is no tomorrow. Forget about France.
If it were in Borthwick's position as a chief coach, the pressure would really be increasing. Is England good enough to beat Ireland? Absolutely yes. Anyone who says is wrong is deceived.
No one thought that England had an opportunity against men in Green last season. But they produced a brilliant exhibition to go down to the Grand Slam defenders in death thanks to Smith's last goal.
That game was in his homeland. There is no doubt that it will be more difficult to replicate that result in the Aviva Stadium, but it is also completely possible that England does exactly that.
England produced a brilliant exhibition to beat Ireland last year, but it will be more difficult on Irish soil
Marcus Smith's last goal gave the final touches in an excellent performance
Borthwick has my support. But it is also true to say that its honeymoon period in charge of the team is over.
I think he is a very good coach, but after 18 months or so to the helm, he needs to start delivering results.
England players must appear for him. Borthwick Pre-Ilanda's message must be that his international races and players are at play in Dublin.
I certainly think that is true. Entering a game with this type of narrative as a coach is certainly a bold movement because if you lose, you are in a very complicated place! However, you can do wonders.
When I was England coach in 2003, we went to Ireland with a great blow to the line. My message before that game was that if we took ourselves seriously as a World Cup contestants later that year, we had to win.
The players involved responded by producing a brilliant performance to seal a clean sweep with a integral victory of 42-6.
Clearly, England cannot wait for a repeated score this time, but a repeated result is undoubtedly feasible.
England has done much good in the game.
Promoting the star man Maro Iteje to Captain was the right decision of Steve Borthwick
Borthwick had an amazing support staff of 25 with him at the Girona Training Camp of England
I am sure that promoting Maro Itje for the captain about Jamie George was a difficult decision for Borthwick. But it was also correct and has been done for all the right reasons.
The most important thing for England is how they play the game. They have no excuses because English rugby has more depth and financing than any other nation.
For England to have 25 support employees in their training camp of the pre-seis nations in Girona is extraordinary! Twenty-five! When I was a coach, we had no place near that number.
Ireland losing Tadhg Furlong is another positive for England. Time will say if this is the case, but the Borthwick team team suggests that it will go bankrupt.
With the full-back George Furbank wounded, I can understand why he has left for Freddie Steward in No. 15 and has not been tempted to move Marcus Smith at half the flight.
The real intrigue is in the back row, where England has selected essentially dual opensides in the curry twins: Tom and Ben.
Doing it will allow England to play with the maximum rhythm, something that I have said for a long time, and with a threat of triple breakdown.
The other face of that is England will lose an online sweater. I am sure that Ireland, as a result, will kill a lot of ball to the corners and seek to point to your piece.
Joe McCarthy and Ireland will try to wreak havoc at the Lineaut de England this weekend
Ireland's game is a great game to match the Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence center
England must be intelligent. They cannot grant sanctions and allow Ireland to be easy territory, since it will be difficult to interrupt the starting lineout.
England will want to keep the ball in the field and run Irish Ireland. They did the last time the two parties met and it was worth it.
With luck, a high octane game adapts to England. They need to start the game with a strut and calm the crowd.
It is a great game for Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence centers.
That association has not yet clicks and the time is being exhausted for them.
I am supporting England to win by little in the first round and such a result would do wonders for the team's confidence.
But I can't see beyond France for the general tournament, even if a Grand Slam can try beyond them.
I know they have to play Ireland and England. But the players of France, led by the irresistible Dupont, are in such a remarkable way that on paper, they look almost unbeatable.
Romain Ntamack will form a devastating association with Dupont in the center of the France field
Louis Bielle-Barrey is another star from France to take into account in the six nations of this year
Toulouse and Bordeaux have been on fire this season and their players form the heart of the French side.
France's rugby system is years of light ahead of England. That is for its great credit, but it is also a condemnatory accusation of the execution of the RFU game in this country.
If England ends second or third in these six nations, that would represent a good tournament.
The brutal truth is that I would be surprised if they won it.
Prediction of six nations of Sir Clive Woodward
6th: Welsh
5th: Scotland
4th: Italy
3rd: England
2nd: Ireland
1st: FRANCE