Ireland Look For Redemption In The RBS Six Nations

The 2008 RBS 6 Nations Championship is upon us with another action-packed tournament in prospect.

Europe's six top rugby playing nations will be aiming for glory in another hotly contested championship.

Defending champions France and their new coach, Marc Lièvremont, go in search of their first hat-trick with three back-to-back victories, but England will hope to be strong contenders after their exploits at the World Cup, though recent injuries have left the English coach Brian Ashton with some headaches.

World Cup hooker Mark Regan emerged as England's latest casualty on Monday, though centre Mike Tindall is set to make his Test return on Saturday after missing the 2007 World Cup campaign through injury, suffered bruised ribs during Gloucester''s Guinness Premiership victory over Wasps

Ireland, last year's Triple Crown winners, will want to forget their World Cup form and prove to their fans that they can perform under pressure.

Despite falling flat during the recent Rugby World Cup, Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll remained optimistic, saying, "We have come off a very disappointing World Cup but we have a certain element of confidence in our side.

"We know when we play well we are a very hard side to beat.

"It is a matter of finding that form again that we showed in last year's Six Nations. If we re-enact some of that we will be there or thereabouts."

He also expressed the disappointment he felt last year when a late French try in Dublin denied Ireland a chance at securing the Grand Slam and resulting in the nation falling short in the Tournament on points-difference alone: "It is disappointing that we haven't won a Six Nations championship. We are striving for silverware and it is great that we have won three Triple Crowns in four years, but we didn' pick up the Six Nations title.

"We feel as though at times we have probably left something behind, but there is always the current season to put that right.

"We don't have a point to prove to anybody other than ourselves. We feel as though we have come together as a team again and we are still capable of great performances."

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan also remained hopeful of success this time around, saying: "The challenge is to put the train back on the tracks. Ultimately that doesn't change my job. I don't start doing things differently because I'm under pressure.

"I'll do the same as I do every day. If all the talk is going to make you act differently, then that's a bad thing.

"You still have to be true to yourself and back yourself to get the job done."

Scotland meanwhile hope to build on their World Cup form with coach Frank Hadden is confident this side can make an impact: "We deserve the right to be going in believing we have got as good a chance as anybody.

"There is a sense of confidence from players coming from a winning culture." Wales and their new coach, Warren Gatland, will hope to rediscover the form that saw them crowned RBS 6 Nations Champions in 2005. With a squad heavily dominated by Ospreys' players, Gatland obviously hopes that that team's performances in Europe this season will help them put their recent woes behind them.

Italy continue to grow stronger every year and under new coach Nick Mallett will offer a particularly stern challenge in Rome.

This year again, boosted by an unpredictable Rugby World Cup, the RBS 6 Nations Championship should provide its fans with suspense, excitement and passion.  With a number of new head coaches and upcoming young players, the championship is once again wide open.