analysis With the World Cup over, where do the RBS 6 Nations contenders stand ahead of the 2012 campaign?

The tournament kicks off in just over three months, on February 4, with France hosting Italy as the prelude to the Scots confronting the English at Murrayfield. It continues on the following day, when Ireland renew their acquaintance with Wales following their quarter-final meeting in New Zealand.

Yet, despite the quick turn-around, the next Six Nations will feature at least two new coaches -- and probably more than that -- while many of the players who illuminated the World Cup will be desperate to maintain their momentum on the European stage, and the Scots and Italians, in particular, will be keen to escape from the morass of mediocrity, which has dogged their recent campaigns.

Here, Herald Sport asks some of the pivotal questions and predicts how the competition will unfold.

 

HOW HAVE THE SIX NATIONS FARED SINCE THE LAST TOURNAMENT?

France, who were a shambles for much of the last tournament -- in which they slumped to defeat against Italy and were branded “cowards” by their coach, Marc Lievremont -- were hardly any better for much of the proceedings in New Zealand, yet eventually came within a score of lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy, following earlier defeats to New Zealand -- which was in the script -- and Tonga -- which most certainly wasn’t.

That was a significantly better return than the efforts of Scotland, who failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, and became only the second side in World Cup history (the other being Spain in 1999) to go three matches without scoring a try.

England, too, were almost comically inept, whether in their off-field blundering into a series of tabloid scandals, or their elite players continuing to demonstrate that spontaneity is an alien concept to automatons.

It was almost a mercy when they were put out of their misery by the French. The Italians, who entered the event with modest expectations, duly lived down to them, whereas Ireland, who had endured a torrid build-up to the World Cup, re-discovered slivers of their best form in defeating Australia and then crushing Italy.

The Welsh, for their part, were a revelation, their youthful squad producing a series of effervescent performances and, but for a contentious refereeing decision in their semi-final against the French, would probably have advanced to the final.

 

HOW ARE THE COACHES SHAPING UP FOR THE 2012 BATTLE?

At least a third of the countries will have fresh faces in charge by the start of the New Year. France have already replaced the controversial Lievremont with their former player, Philippe Saint-Andre, and the Italians have recruited the one-time French assistant coach, Jacques Brunel, after the departure of Nick Mallett.

England have thus far delayed any announcement on the future of Martin Johnson, but it seems inconceivable that the Rugby Football Union will persist with an individual whose side have actually gone backwards in the last 12 months, and it is likely that names such as Shaun Edwards, the Welsh defence coach, and Sir Iain McGeechan, Jake White and Mallett will be mentioned when it comes to finding a replacement for Johnson.

Wales would love to cling on to Warren Gatland, but the coach might find the possibility of taking the All Blacks to the next level an irresistible challenge. Ireland, meanwhile, will probably stick with the solid Declan Kidney, but in the knowledge that he faces a difficult task in bringing through the next generation to an ageing squad.

The Scots will not change coach having handed a long-term contract to Andy Robinson before the World Cup, which makes one wonder whether anybody at Murrayfield actually bothered examining the Englishman’s record before reaching for their cheque book.

 

WHAT SHOULD THE TEAMS MAKE THEIR PRIORITY?

Scotland have failed to score a try in 13 of 23 matches under Robinson, which is simply unacceptable and, whatever action the Scottish Rugby Union implements to rectify that deficiency, the players have to accept responsibility and display the requisite ruthlessness and clinical finishing which they are paid to do.

England need a grand strategist, who can attempt to stem the flood of foreigners into their domestic league. The French, under Lievremont, tinkered and toyed with their squad to an absurd degree, and Saint-Andre has to settle on his best 20-25 players and persevere with them.

The Italians must offer evidence that they are advancing beyond the lumpen, one-dimensional forward-dominated approach, which has yielded only modest success since they entered the expanded Six Nations in 2000.

The Welsh should strive to retain the services of both Gatland and Edwards and do their utmost to consign Gavin Henson to the realm of tacky reality TV shows, rather than get anywhere near the Test squad.

As for the Irish, they have to be cruel to be kind in telling their old stagers when their time is up, rather than wait for opponents to expose the creaking bones during a match.

 

WHICH PLAYERS WILL SHINE IN THE 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP?

Richie Gray wasn’t at his best in New Zealand, but remains a marauding dervish with the ability to bewitch and bother opponents on the Test stage. The Scots should also be looking to fast-track Duncan Weir into the international set-up, because he has a bit of welcome pizzazz about him.

England must turn to Manu Tuilagi and ask him to excel in line-breaking and desist from jumping off ferries in the future. Ireland have Sean O’Brien, who has been an outstanding impact player throughout the past year, while one suspects that Wales’ George North and Sam Warburton will only build on the impact they made at this year’s World Cup.

The French can anticipate similar great things from their half-backs, Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc, and the Italians will be reliant, as always, on their ubiquitous captain and impeccable No.8, Sergio Parisse.

 

HOW WILL THE CHAMPIONSHIP UNFOLD?

It’s just a hunch, but Ireland and England could be the sides who struggle most to pick up the pieces from their contrasting World Cup sorties.

The RFU is in disarray at the moment and the Irish have the look of a team who are crossing over to the wrong side of the hill, so they might have to settle for mid-table positions in the tournament.

Scotland, meanwhile, have three away matches, so they badly need to defeat the English in the opening round of the tournament, otherwise it could develop into another dispiriting campaign.

At the moment, the standings could well be 1 Wales, 2 France, 3 England, 4 Ireland, 5 Scotland, and 6 Italy.