There were definitely some encouraging signs during the autumn internationals. If you look at the way England played against New Zealand, where they put in a very spirited performance and lost, there is something to be gained out of it.

The forwards are showing that they can compete with the best in the world, but if you look at the ambition, style and skills of the New Zealanders or even the Australians, they put our backs to shame.

I think France will be the favourites for this season's RBS 6 Nations, with England closely behind them.

England play France away, which is a difficult game for any side in the world and, if I were a betting man, my money would be on France.

Wales will challenge, even with their injuries. They will still try to play the same attacking, exciting game they played last year and will still be a threat.

However, they caught a few teams on the hop last year, which I don't think they'll do this time as a few teams will be waiting for them.

Ireland will be there or thereabouts. They seem to have lost their aggressive forwards - a few years ago you knew you had been in a really hard game against the Irish pack, but at the moment they don't seem to be doing it.

I think Scotland and Italy will be below those, but Italy seem to be improving year on year and, with a new coach in Pierre Berbizier, they may be able to pull off a few shocks.

Everyone wrote Scotland off against New Zealand in autumn and they actually performed quite well, so you can't write them off either.

That's probably the secret of the RBS 6 Nations: There's no such thing as a favourite.