Six Nations: How the teams are shaping up

England

If you could blot out the loss in the World Cup Final, England would be going into 2018 on the back of a highly successful year that included a 6 Nations title and strong summer and Autumn series.And while publicly England's players and management have put on a positive face about how 2017 unfolded, the World Cup Final loss must still sting with the RFU having thrown every resource possible at its top players to win the title last summer.They they didn't will surely remain a bitter disappointment for the core of this squad though Simon Middleton is expected to give plenty of game time to the youngsters he blooded in the series against Canada in the Autumn, who don't carry any such baggage with them.In those games, Middleton handed debuts to 10 players with the likes of Ellie Kildunne (18), Hannah Botterman (18) and Zoe Harrison (19) all involved in this 6 Nations squad. Jess Breach, who shone on the wing, has gone to play sevens along with a number of other stars from last year's World Cup including Emily Scarratt.England's schedule works well for them this year, beginning away with Italy before facing Wales and Scotland ahead of what they might consider the tougher tests against France and Ireland.English rugby is going through a period of change domestically with the addition of the Premier 15s helping to positively drive the standards of the domestic competition. That is already helping to push along players who were bubbling away under the radar in recent seasons, with players like Abby Dow, Shaunagh Brown and Lagi Tuima all breaking through. Also watch out for the return of Sarah Bern, the brilliant England prop who lit up the World Cup but has been injured.England start as favourites but have a tricky away game against France to navigate, which may well determine where the title ends up this season.France

Up front Lucia Gai (52 caps) remains at prop and Melissa Bettoni (41 caps) at hooker, alongside experienced second rows Valentina Ruzza and Saracens’ Valeria Fedrighi. The back row can also call on Isabella Locatelli, Elisa Giordano and, above all, Ilaria Arrighetti/ But against this experience Giordana Duca, Giorgia Durante and Michela Merlo are all debutants, and Eleonora Ricci and Beatrice Veronese have only one cap each.

The backbone of the team is based on captain Sara Barattin (77 caps) – one of the best scrumhalves in the world – is supported by Beatrice Rigoni at fly, and Manuela Furlan at 15 of this team. Michela Sillari and Sofia Stefan are also still around, but the rest of the backline - Maria Magatti. Veronica Madia and Aura Muzzo - are much younger.

Given this wide variation in experience maintaining consistency across the full 80 minutes may be an issue - but in the end it is very hard to say how well so many relatively inexperienced players will perform.