The Six Nations is about to begin. All eyes will be focussed on Paris where Wales start the ball rolling against France. For Robin Davey, though, his eyes are green and envious of the Ireland team he predicts will win it all over again.
Irish rugby is on the crest of a wave – Leinster supreme in Europe and the national team rivalling the All Blacks at the top of the world rugby tree.
And I’m backing Ireland to go all the way again by winning the Six Nations title.
The best international competition on the planet gets under way on Friday night when France host Wales followed next day, with apologies to Scotland v Italy, by an absolute firecracker with Ireland taking on England.
The results in the European capital cities of Paris and Dublin could well decide the destiny of this season’s crown.
France parade a new-look team while Wales boast a run of nine successive victories. But more of those two rivals later as for my money the final outcome is set to be all green.
The Irish go in with a glorious double over the formidable All Blacks behind them, one in America which was perhaps a phoney war and the other that unforgettable November triumph at the Aviva Stadium when they achieved a memorable 16-9 victory.
They have leapt from a lowly eighth in the world rankings to second, a terrific achievement under the inspired coaching of Joe Schmidt.
His meticulous methods initially revived Leinster, who won two European Cups, a Guinness Pro 14 title and the Amlin Cup under his command.
Then, when he took over at the helm with Ireland, they gained their first win in South Africa, their first victory over the All Blacks, followed by another, and in his five years they have won two Six Nations titles and the Grand Slam.
That is a wonderful record by any standards and I reckon they start as favourites for the title again though, as Sam Warburton says, there is unlikely to be a Grand Slam this year – such is the intense level of competition.
The Irish do have injury worries at lock despite the arrival of the hugely promising James Ryan, but they possess such depth across the board it will make little difference.
James Stockdale is flying down the wing, Johnny Sexton will take to it like a duck to water again as the Six Nations master controller, while up front the pack – led by the abrasive Peter O’Mahony, C.J Stander not far behind – will be nothing less than formidable.
Ex-international centre Gordon D’Arcy is already tipping the Wales-Ireland game on the final day of the competition to be the championship decider.
But while I fancy Ireland to carry off the honours again, it would be foolhardy to write off England under the canny Eddie Jones.
While most of the Irish players are comparatively rested as they come under the jurisdiction of the IRFU, so play a limited number of games, England’s players are battle-hardened after the rigours of the Premiership.
They have Billy Vunipola back at his driving best at No.8 while Maro Itoje is in the kind of form that makes him one of the best all-round players in the world. The brilliant Owen Farrell will pull the strings behind, as well as kick the goals.
England have three home fixtures this time, hosting France, Italy and Scotland with Wales and Ireland away, a sequence which could work in their favour.
It took a last minute kick by Sexton to beat France on the opening day of last season, and the Irish went on to win the title. It could require something similar this time – with a similar final outcome.
The Friday opening could be a real cracker, too, with France possibly getting back to some of their former glories.
At least they have signalled an exciting intent with 19-year-old Romain Ntamack stepping up in place of the massive Mattieu Bastareaud in the centre.
Wales, like Ireland, are full of confidence, coming in on the back of nine wins in a row, their best run since 1999, and a clean sweep of autumn victories, as well as successive victories over South Africa.
Wales have got home advantage in the tougher games against England and Ireland with France, Italy and Scotland away which could be to their advantage.
They are without key players in Leigh Halfpenny and Taulupe Faletau, but Warren Gatland deserves great credit for turning Wales around while creating a lot more depth in the squad.
He is now a vastly experienced coach and like his able lieutenant, defence chief Shaun Edwards, is finishing after this year’s World Cup so he’ll want to go out with a bang.
Gatland has been in charge since 2007 and Wales have won two Grand Slams and three Six Nations titles during his time at the helm. He’ll be eager to pit his wits against his rivals again.
Wales finished second in the Six Nations last year and could well be in line for a repeat. So much depends on the outcome of that first game. Win that and Wales will be in business.
Key players will be Jonathan Davies in the centre, one of the best in the business, together with the marauding, ball-handling Justin Tipuric in the back row.
The team that could well have a major influence in the title race, though, is Scotland – as redoubtable former England hooker Brian Moore says in his newspaper column.
They are playing a thrilling, open brand of rugby and in-form full back Stuart Hogg, who is heading for Exeter next season, believes they can go all the way and become the first Scotland side to win the Six Nations title.
They’ve got three matches at Murrayfield where they have won 10 of their last 12 fixtures, including Wales and Ireland in 2017. So write them off at your peril.
They are a bit lightweight up front, but prop A.P. Nel is said to be back at his best while hooker Stuart McInally is tipped by Lawrence Dallaglio to be one of the players of the tournament.
But if they are to fulfil Hogg’s prophecy they will need to win in France for the first time since 1999 and at Twickenham for the first time for over 30 years. No problem then!
As for Italy, they look like being the whipping boys yet again despite the vastly improved form of Benetton in the Pro 14 competition and the experience provided by coach Conor O’Shea.
They haven’t won a Six Nations game since beating Scotland in February 2015, though they came mighty close on the final day of last year’s tournament when they were pipped 29-27 by the Scots.
One thing is for sure. We’re in for another great Six Nations competition with probably every team apart from Italy in with a shout of winning the title.
But I’m going all-green. It’s Ireland for glory again.