Rugby Union: FRENCH SLAM STILL HAUNTS US

RICHARD HILL

EVERYBODY knows this is World Cup year, but that doesn't make the Six Nations Championship any less important.

We all grew up with this great competition - it is a massive tournament for the players and everyone knows that if you want to put down a marker for the World Cup the best place to do it is in the Six Nations.

England's opener is against last year's Grand Slam champions France at Twickenham, and that is going to be a huge game.

Memories of last year's defeat in Paris are still painful for me and the rest of the squad, but I believe we have learnt vital lessons from that match.

We lost it in the first 20 minutes and we need to put that right at Twickenham. On that day the French back row of Serge Betsen, Olivier Magne and Imanol Harinordoquy were crucial to their success and made sure pressure was applied to the whole team.

It's a great challenge for me to pit my wits against such world stars. Magne has been about for a long time and I think both Betsen and Harinordoquy have brought different qualities to the unit to strengthen it.

That opening pressure in Paris created holes that their scrum- half Fabien Galthie was able to expose, but I'd like to think our defence will be better in the opening 20 minutes on Saturday.

Those big holes were uncharacteristic of this England team. It put us on the back foot with a mountain to climb, so we know we can't afford to let it happen again.

As we approach the Six Nations some of our opponents might think we may be over-confident after those memorable wins against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in the autumn.

The truth is we are trying to put those games behind us. They were significant victories and things have been tremendous for us at Twickenham, but the big challenge in 2003 is to take that form on the road and win some big away games.

So nobody in this England squad is getting carried away by past results. This championship is so tough that we can't afford to take anything for granted.

One of the high points for us is the form of Jonny Wilkinson, who was awesome in those autumn games.

It's been tremendous to see the way Jonny has developed since he came into the England team. He is so dedicated and spends so much time working on his game that his success comes as no surprise.

Jonny is on form but I don't think the competition for the back row has ever been more intense than it is today.

Everyone knows about the five who are in the senior squad - myself, Neil Back, Joe Worsley, Lewis Moody and Lawrence Dallaglio - but there are also guys in the A team who could step in at any time. It has been hard to get in this England team since I made my debut in 1997, but I think that the strength in depth is the big difference in 2003!

Competition is obviously a huge motivation for me, but I'd like to think that I would train and work as hard if it wasn't there. Playing for England is a huge honour and I would never take it for granted

The preparation now is also intense. It is not so long ago that the England team would get together for the first time on a Wednesday before a match, but now everything about the England set-up screams professionalism.

I don't like to over-analyse my performance but I revel in the increased preparation we now have.

This year, the championship is condensed into a seven-week period, which means back-to-back games at the start - with a trip to Cardiff a week after playing France.

Wales have shown their intention to have a big 2003 Six Nations campaign with their preparation, and our clash after we take on France is going to be a difficult one.

They have already gone into camp and are focussing solely on one thing, which is bound to make them a more formidable opposition. They are not allowing themselves to be distracted and they are determined to put in quality performances.

As we've found in recent years, Italy play a very physical game, so we are expecting a big test when they arrive at Twickenham in March.

I've also heard that they've moved the influential Mauro Bergamassco from the back row into the backs, and it will be interesting to see how that works out as he is their focal point in both attack and defence.

Scotland are also in good form after a great win over South Africa in the autumn. Beating one of the southern hemisphere sides will have given them a huge confidence boost.

We end the championship with a huge match in Dublin against Ireland.

Obviously, we don't know what we'll be playing for yet, but the intensity will be massive no matter how both teams have performed before. Ireland are clearly very committed up front and they have a talented set of backs who can trouble any side in the world.

Personally, I can't wait for the 2003 Six Nations to start - it should be a cracker! 2002 MATCH STATS Country England France Ireland Italy Scotland Wales

Tackles 114 122 117 85 88 116

Missed Tackles 9 15 15 16 13 14

Ball Carries 123 107 77 79 92 93

Metres 697 589 405 301 434 429

Defender Beaten 21 14 11 8 13 11

Passes 181 144 110 96 151 137

Clean Breaks 13 10 7 4 6 8

Tries 5 3 3 1 1 2

Penalties Conceded 13 9 10 15 9 13

Turnover Conceded 21 20 16 13 19 18

Ruck/Maul Won 90 73 59 66 71 67

Lineouts Won 83% 83% 68% 75% 85% 67%

Scrums won 95% 96% 84% 87% 93% 93%

Bold figures indicate the best nation in that category

NB: Stats are average per game from last year2003 FIXTURESFeb 15 Italy v Wales 1.30pm Stadio Flaminio England v France 4pm Twickenham

Feb 16 Scotland v Ireland 3pm Murrayfield

Feb 22 Italy v Ireland 2.30pm Stadio Flaminio Wales v England 5.30pm Millennium Stadium

Feb 23 France v Scotland 2pm Stade de France

Mar 8 Ireland v France 2pm Lansdowne Road Scotland v Wales 4pm Murrayfield

Mar 9 England v Italy 2pm Twickenham

Mar 22 Wales v Ireland 2pm Millennium Stadium England v Scotland 4pm Twickenham

Mar 23 Italy v France 2pm Stadio Flaminio

Mar 29 France v Wales 1pm Stade de France Scotland v Italy 3pm Murrayfield

Mar 30 Ireland v England 2pm Lansdowne Road

ENGLAND

Coach:Clive Woodward.

Captain: Martin Johnson.

Man to watch: Ben Cohen: The Northampton wing (below) sent the pride of the Southern Hemisphere packing with his blistering pace and power before Christmas. He will fancy improving his 19 tries from 21 caps ratio.

Championship Form: Triple Crowns (22); Grand Slams (11), Championships (24).

Biggest win: 80-23 v Italy, 2001.

2002 finish: Runners-up.

Odds: 2-5 favourites.

Verdict: That elusive Grand Slam must be on Clive Woodward's mind having lost out at the Wales, Scotland, Ireland and France hurdles in successive years. With three home games and France at Twickenham first up, a clean sweep should be for the taking. As long as the curse of Dublin doesn't strike again.

View from the camp: Coach Clive Woodward - "It would be the perfect start to a huge year for us if we win the Six Nations. We missed out last year and we're determined not to mess things up this time round."

Squad: M Johnson (Leicester), N Back (Leicester), P Christophers (Bristol), B Cohen (Northampton), L Dallaglio (Wasps), M Dawson (Northampton), A Gomarsall (Gloucester), W Greenwood (Quins), D Grewcock (Bath), R Hill (Saracens), C Hodgson (Sale), B Kay (Leicester), J Leonard (Quins), D Luger (Quins), L Moody (Leicester), M Regan (Leeds), J Robinson (Sale), S Shaw (Wasps), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), T Stimpson (Leicester), S Thompson (Northampton), M Tindall (Bath), Dorian West (Leicester), J White (Bristol), J Wilkinson (Newcastle), J Worsley (Wasps).

ITALY

Coach: John Kirwan.

Captain: Alessandro Troncon.

Man to watch: Mauro Bergamasco: The flanker (below) is be one of the few in the Italian team good enough to play for England or France. Scorer of the best try in the 2001 championship, the Benetton Treviso star is certain to make another big impression.

Championship Form: Just one win from 15 in their short tournament history, against Scotland in Rome, 2000.

Biggest win: 34-20 v Scotland 2000.

2002 finish: Last.

Odds: 500-1.

Verdict: Former New Zealand hero Kirwan has been in charge for just eight months so don't expect miracles. Italian rugby union has hardly profited, apart from a few packed Rome houses, since it joined the Six Nations. The dreaded Wooden Spoon was delivered to Rome a year ago. They should have kept it there!

View from the camp: Coach John Kirwan: "I knew the challenge that I took on last year and the only way is up. If we can get at least one win it will boost the team's confidence."

Squad: A Troncon (Treviso), Mauro Bergamasco (Treviso), Mirco Bergamasco (Padova), M Bortolami (Padova), G Canale (Treviso), L Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), D Dallan (Treviso), S Dellape (Treviso), A de Rossi (Calvisano), D Dominguez (Stade Francais), G Faliva (Treviso), M Giacheri (Sale), R Martinez (Treviso), N Mazzucato (Treviso), A Moretti (Calvisano), F Ongaro (Treviso), S Palmer (Treviso), S Parisse (Treviso), E Pavanello (Treviso), A Persico (Viadana), S Perugini (Calvisano), R Pez (Rotherham), M Phillips (Viadana), J M Queirolo (Dax), G Raineri (Calvisano), P Vaccari (Calvisano), C Zanoletti (Calvisano).

FRANCE

Coach: Bernard Laporte.

Captain: Fabien Galthie.

Man to watch: Imanol Harinordoquy: The Basque-born No8 (pictured below) was a major hit in last year's tournament, especially in the 20-15 win over England in Paris. He has proved that he hits hard off the field as well as on it with his attack on England's 'arrogance'. Looks to be a real star in the making.

Championship Form: Grand Slams (7), Championships (13).

Biggest win: 51-0 v Wales, 1998.

2002 finish: Champions.

Odds: 5-2.

Verdict: Twickenham next weekend could well be their Waterloo! If they lose that one they will surely lose the title. Win, though, and the Championship must be theirs again. The French will be desperate to prove that England are not invincible in South West London but they do not have the best of records in the leafy suburb in recent years.

View from the camp: Coach Bernard Laporte: "Facing England at Twickenham in the first game is the toughest possible start. But if we win we would be in the pole position. Though we do also have to go to Dublin!"

Squad: F Galthie (Stade Francais), S Betsen (Biarritz), D Bory (Montferrand), O Brouzet (Montferrand). N Brusque (Biarritz), C Califano (Saracens), T Castaignede (Saracens), V Clerc (Toulouse), J- J Crenca (Agen), Christophe Dominici (Stade Francais), X Garbajosa (Toulouse), F Gelez (Agen), I Haria F Pelous (Toulouse), C Poitrenaud (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Montferrand), D Traille (Pau), D Yachvili (Biarritz).

SCOTLAND

Coach: Ian McGeechan.

Captain: Bryan Redpath.

Man to watch: Gordon Ross: Increased his chances of taking over the fly-half reins from Gregor Townsend full-time with a superb display in the pre-Christmas win over South Africa. Ross (below) was joint top-scorer with 36 on the tour of North America.

Championship Form: Triple Crowns (10), Grand Slams (3), Championships (14).

Biggest win: 31-3 v France 1912 and 38-10 v Ireland 1997.

2002 finish: fourth.

Odds: 50-1.

Verdict: Budge Pountney's 'Roy Keane' walkout has hardly boosted the team's chances of regaining some much needed pride. Unhappy at the lack of facilities open to the Scottish players, ex-captain Pountney's decision to quit international rugby looks certain to be followed by another dismal Championship showing by Geech's men in blue.

View from the camp: Coach Ian McGeechan: "England and France are ahead of the rest right now but that's why I am in this job - to try to help Scotland reach the same level of achievement and performance."

Squad: B Redpath (Sale), G Beveridge (Glasgow), G Bulloch (Glasgow), A Craig (Orrell), S Danielli (Bath), B Douglas (The Borders), S Grimes (Newcastle), D Hilton (Glasgow), N Hines (Edinburgh), B Hinshelwood (Worcester), B Laney (Edinburgh), M Leslie (Edinburgh), K Logan (Wasps), S Moffat (Glasgow), S Murray (Edinburgh), C Paterson (Edinburgh), G Ross (Leeds), S Scott (The Borders), T Smith (Northampton), S Taylor (Edinburgh), G Townsend (The Borders), J White (Glasgow).

IRELAND

Coach: Eddie O'Sullivan.

Captain: Brian O'Driscoll.

Man to watch: Brian O'Driscoll: It seems he has been around a long time but the world-class centre (below) is still in his early 20s and improving each year. The British Lion is capable of taking a crowd's breath away with one piece of brilliance and has enjoyed the extra burden of the captaincy in the absence of Keith Wood.

Championship Form: Triple Crowns (6), Grand Slams (1), Championships (10).

Biggest win: 60-13 v Italy, 2000.

2002 finish: Third.

Odds: 8-1.

Verdict: The only Celtic team to hang on to the coat-tails of England and France since the game went professional. Spoiled England's Grand Slam party the time before last and waiting in the wings to repeat it in Dublin in March. Playing England and France at home could make them the value bet.

View from the camp: Coach Eddie O'Sullivan: "Neither the English nor the French will look forward to coming to our place."

Squad: B O'Driscoll (Blackrock College), S Byrne (Blackrock College), R Corrigan (Greystones), V Costello (Leinster), L Cullen (Blackrock College), J Davidson (Dungannon), G Dempsey (Terenure College), G Easterby (Llanelli), A Foley (Shannon), K Gleeson (St Mary's College), J Hayes (Shannon), R Henderson (Young Munster), D Hickie (St Mary's College), S Horgan (Lansdowne), D Humphreys (Dungannon), J Kelly (Cork Constitution), G Longwell (Ballymena), K Maggs (Bath), G Murphy (Leicester), R O'Gara (Cork Constitution), M O' Kelly (St Mary's College), A Quinlan (Shannon), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), P Stringer (Shannon).

WALES

Coach: Steve Hansen.

Captain: Colin Charvis.

Man to watch: Iestyn Harris. The Leeds rugby league sensation (below) is yet to prove as big a hit in the 15-man stuff but this could be his chance - though it will be tough producing wondrous moments in what is still a mediocre team.

Championship Form: Triple Crowns (17), Grand Slams (8), Championships (17).

Biggest win: 49-19 v France 1910.

2002 finish: fifth.

Odds: 40-1.

Verdict: It's crucial that the Red Dragons show plenty of fire at the start of 2003 or it could be a very long year. The signs of a rebirth are not good. Hansen still doesn't know his best side. It's 15 years since they last won the title - and could be just as long again to their next success.

View from the camp: Coach Steve Hansen: "If we can finish above Scotland and Ireland it will be an achievement. We're still rebuilding and trying new players. It's going to be difficult but playing France in Paris should be a highlight."

Squad: C Charvis (Swansea), V Cooper (Llanelli), L Davies (Llanelli), M Davies (Pontypridd), B Evans (Swansea), I Harris (Cardiff), G Jenkins (Pontypridd), D Jones (Llanelli), M Jones (Llanelli), S Jones (Llanelli), C Sweeney (Pontypridd), G Llewellyn (Neath), M Madden (Llanelli), M Owen (Pontypridd), R Parks (Pontypridd), D Peel (Llanelli), R Powell (Cardiff), J Robinson (Cardiff), T Shanklin (Saracens), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), M Taylor (Swansea), Gareth Thomas (Bridgend), Gavin Thomas (Bath), I Thomas (Llanelli), M Williams (Cardiff), R Williams (Cardiff), S Williams (Northampton).

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