IRELAND: The defeat by Wales clearly wasn't too good for World Cup business but currently it is providing real focus for Ireland's start next Sunday.

The problem is the trip to Paris the following weekend where France will have their tails up and Ireland traditionally have their backsides kicked. So there may not be a Grand Slam to compensate for missing out on our best ever opportunity at a World Cup.

Still, Declan Kidney should be glad that the loss of Brian O'Driscoll isn't the setback now that it would have been three years ago, and that elsewhere his injury sheet is clear, bar Leo Cullen, who might have got a start in the third round against Italy.

If Mike Ross stays fit for the campaign, then Ireland can challenge for runners-up spot behind France, providing the new load on the shoulders of Les Kiss and Mark Tainton is one they can carry successfully.

Casualties: Brian O'Driscoll, Leo Cullen

Star Turn: Jonny Sexton

Championship Odds: 4/1

ENGLAND

The last six days of their campaign involve a quick turnaround from Paris to Twickenham, where Declan Kidney's crew provide the final opposition -- an interesting wind-up, that.

There is so much uncertainty about the England squad, from how they will approach the tournament, to who will lead them, to whether their coach has any chance of making it to the summer, that it's hard to see them doing what their fans want them to do: defend their Championship title.

Edinburgh and Rome (a shift to Stadio Olimpico) will both be heaving so if they come up short there it will be carnage thereafter. Despite all the unknowns there is huge pressure on Stuart Lancaster to deliver good results immediately.

In which case dumping Nick Easter overboard seems hard to fathom from this vantage point. You wonder who is going to steady the ship in his absence. And it looks like it will need steadying.

Casualties: Danny Care, Toby Flood, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Manu Tuilagi

Star Turn: Ben Foden

Championship Odds: 4/1

ScotLAND

A Scotland international from the not so distant past last week described his lot as: "Big and mostly quite good forwards with a crap set of backs ready to stuff it up behind."

We think the second half of that sentence meant that the backs would not make much of their chances, rather than putting the ball where only a cavity search could find it.

The position of Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals and Glasgow in fourth spot in the Pro12 suggests there is life after the World Cup, which ended with the Scots distraught after losing to England.

The opportunity for revenge comes quickly in the Calcutta Cup match in the first round in Murrayfield.

The absence of Kelly Brown and Ruaridh Jackson -- especially the latter -- will mean a change of game plan from their coach. If they go to Rome again looking to avoid the wooden spoon, Andy Robinson will beat himself up with it.

Casualties: Kelly Brown,

Ruaridh Jackson, Moray Low, Simon Danielli

Star Turn: Dave Denton

Championship Odds: 25/1

wales

A year ago, Wales were wondering if their coach would survive to the autumn as they went into the Championship with two wins from their 12. Then they won -- somehow, with no set-piece -- against England first up, and by the end of the year they were wailing about missing out on a World Cup final and burning effigies of Alain Rolland. Their current position, statistically, is a bit healthier (50 per cent from last eight) but defeat in Dublin would make it four losses in a row and a change in mood. Nowhere in the rugby world does your credit run out faster than Wales.

Their challenge is to cope without an engine room of Luke Charteris and Alun Wyn Jones, who set phenomenal standards for work-rates in the World Cup.

If Warren Gatland has to factor Rhys Priestland and Dan Lydiate out from Dublin, then his team will have changed shape for the worse. A losing start in store.

Casualties: Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Gethin Jenkins

Star Turn: Toby Faletau

Championship Odds: 3/1

france

The first thing Phillipe Saint-Andre needs to do is organise discontent in the camp so the French can feel right at home and get off to a winning start -- that would take them through two rounds before they have a break to get their heads right/wrong for Edinburgh. Or perhaps not. The new man saw much he admired in the way captain Thierry Dusautoir took a lead in the World Cup crisis, supported by Imanol Harinordoquy and Julien Bonnaire.

Unlike when his predecessor Marc Lievremont took over from Bernard Laporte, Saint-Andre won't want to tear up everything and start again. So the World Cup runners look now as they did in October except at 10 where Lionel Beauxis is the likely starter, thanks to improved form since his move to Toulouse. As for his partner, he can't go far wrong between Morgan Parra and Dimitri Yachvilli. Perfect run of fixtures opens the door for Saint-Andre.

Casualties: Luc Ducalcon, Romain Millo-Chluski, Yann David

Star Turn: Thierry Dusautoir

Championship Odds: 6/4

italy

New coach Jacques Brunel has pointed to the summer tour to Argentina and North America as the first real chance to put his mark on things -- for the moment he is still trading with Nick Mallet's leftovers, on and off the field. Whatever about changes in the background team, Brunel is limited with what he can do on the pitch, but it hasn't stopped him scouring the country looking for new faces, which wasn't the Mallet way -- the South African relied on a hard core in return for loyalty, which he got. But there were too many players with no competition for their places.

Brunel is aiming extraordinarily high, with Italy being contenders inside two seasons. And his captain Sergio Parisse, while acknowledging the turbo boost that came from beating France last season, says they need five competitive games more than one big result and four hammerings. They moved past that point last season but need new blood.

Casualties: None too serious

Star Turn: Sergio Parisse

Championship Odds: 150/1

- Brendan Fanning

Tommy Bowe has been carrying a knee injury which was reviewed by both the Ospreys and Ireland medical teams and respective specialist consultants.

It was concluded that Bowe would not be fit to play against Italy in next week's Six Nations opener. The Ireland medical team will continue to liaise with the Ospreys to determine when he will be fit to return to play.

Meanwhile, number 8 Jamie Heaslip also had his ankle injury reviewed by a specialist today. it has been confirmed the he will not be available for selection for the game at Stadio Flaminio.

Heaslip will continue his rehabilitation and, at this point, has not been ruled out of contention for Ireland's second Championship outing against France on Sunday, February 13.

Ireland will carry a considerable injury list in the Championship, which includes the likes of Andrew Trimble (hand), Rob Kearney (knee), Geordan Murphy (ankle), John Hayes (groin), Jerry Flannery (calf) and Shane Horgan (knee)

Speaking at today's RBS 6 Nations launch in London, Ireland head coach Declan Kidney said: "You never like to see guys injured - we know how much playing for Ireland means to those guys.

"We've tried to build a squad over the last few years and this will be the test of that. I have a huge belief in the way Irish rugby comes from the grassroots up.

"Of course there won't be as much video analysis on the new guys, so that will be an advantage."

Defence coach Les Kiss admitted: "It may not look good at moment, but we've ambitions to do well in this tournament, and we think we can.

"We've been building a panel for a while and the exposure a lot of those guys have got at Heineken Cup level in recent times is going to serve us well.

"There are a few more injuries than we would have liked, but now it's an opportunity for other guys to stand up. We're not going to put this Six Nations away and build for the World Cup, we want to get a job done here."

MIKE PHILLIPS has backed Wales Lions-packed side to gain revenge on world champions South Africa and complete a glorious summer by toppling the All Blacks in their own backyard.

The confident scrum-half admitted Wales tough summer schedule against the two best teams in the world will be judged on results alone, but he insisted Warren Gatlands side were more than capable of upsetting the southern hemisphere giants.

The 27-year-old Osprey stood toe-to-toe with the physical Springboks, starting every Test of an ultimately heartbreaking series.

And he insisted the Welsh players had already targeted the forthcoming fixture as the perfect opportunity for revenge.

It will be great to play for Wales against them and hopefully get a victory. We owe them one and this is a great opportunity for us, Phillips insisted.

As long as the boys turn up well and we get a good side out there, then we have a great chance of beating them at home.

Wales chances of a morale-boosting victory increased earlier this week as Springboks coach Peter de Villiers confirmed no players involved in the Super 14 final will make the trip.

With reigning champions the Bulls and the Cape Town-based Stormers favourites to reach the final, the likes of Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies, Bakkies Botha and Fourie du Preez could all be absent.

They will always have a great side out no matter what because they have such a pool of players to choose from, Phillips said.

But this is one game the Welsh players are really targeting and looking forward to. We can go out there and do ourselves proud.

Wales fly to New Zealand for a daunting two-Test series just days after that Millennium encounter, and it is players like the world-class Phillips who could make the difference between potentially morale-sapping defeats ahead of next years World Cup and historic victory.

Gatlands Wales certainly looked a completely different proposition with the return of Phillips and fellow Lion Gethin Jenkins for the final game of a disappointing Six Nations against Italy.

Phillips bristled with the trademark confidence, dynamism and aggression that had been so lacking in Welsh defeats against England, France and Ireland, and it is those winning qualities Gatland would so love to be inherent in every member of his squad.

Ask Phillips if two gutsy, narrow defeats would represent a positive return from a series in the All Blacks backyard, and the answer is very clear.

No. It is about results really. When you play international games, you go out there to win and nothing else, he said.

As a player you go on the field and you expect to win. You have the determination to do that. We will be looking to go out there and get a big scalp.

Its a very important tour in terms of our preparations for the next World Cup and developing a bit of confidence. New Zealand are a great side, with a great record, but its a key time for us.

Its been a difficult year for Phillips, one that has seen him follow a reputation-enhancing Lions performance with a long spell on the sidelines through injury.

The Six Nations cameo against the Italians was a pertinent reminder of what Wales and the Ospreys had been missing, but it is the big stages on offer in the months ahead where Phillips has always been most at home.

Coming back from injury has been tough. Even in the last couple of games, the ankle injury has still been niggling me a bit, he admitted.

On the whole its been a disappointing season for me with my injuries. But Im hoping to end it on a high with the Ospreys and by playing a part against South Africa and on the tour to New Zealand.

That would be great to end the season on a big note. Thats what Im striving for now.

Before the challenges with Wales comes a potentially successful end to the domestic season with the Ospreys firmly in the hunt for Magners League glory.

Friday nights derby against the Dragons provides its own opportunity for revenge after the post-Six Nations humbling at Rodney Parade, and delivering the Magners League crown is the only way Phillips believes the Ospreys will be able to judge this season as a success.

A bonus-point win against Paul Turners side will secure a home play-off semi-final that would make them strong favourites to reach the Magners Grand final at the end of the month.

I think there is a sense we owe the Dragons one. They played really well against us and deserved their victory. We didnt play very well on the night and were really poor. We are playing at home so it is a big game for us.

We have to make sure we get a home semi-final in the play-offs. Its much easier to play at home than going away.

We love playing at the Liberty and we have to get some silverware if we are to get something out of the season after the Heineken Cup disappointment.

There is a lot of expectation down here and we have a lot of high-profile players.

People expect us to win most of our games and we are more than capable of going on and winning this league. It will be a tough ask, but it is within our grasp.

WHEN Andy Powell decided to take an early-morning ride in a golf buggy after Wales had beaten Scotland last February, there were those who said his Wales career could be over.

Having made one of the most sensational international debuts ever against South Africa in November 2008 and then enjoyed a meteoric rise to the Lions squad for the tour to South Africa last year, Powell had been one of the unqualified success stories of Warren Gatland’s tenure.

So, could we really be about to see all that fizzle out after less than two years in the big time?

Granted, the barnstorming runs that characterised the former Newport powerhouse’s unforgettable debut against the Boks, when he was an unknown quantity on the Test scene, had become known to opponents and subsequently far better policed.

But Powell’s influence as a ball-carrier with immense power and quick leg speed still made him a valuable commodity, certainly too valuable to be lost because of one moment of ill-judged tomfoolery.

Not only that, his presence in and around the squad in the shape of his larger-than-life character meant the benefits extended beyond the pitch.

Now it seems those assets have not been forgotten by Gatland.

Powell reportedly took his exclusion from the Wales squad halfway through the Six Nations and the later drink-driving ban he was handed by Cardiff magistrates pretty hard.

And, for whatever reason, not least a series of niggling injuries, his impact at the Blues in the latter third of the campaign has been severely curtailed.

Rumours he may be seeking a move to rugby league to join former team-mate Gareth Thomas at the Crusaders have been another distraction, even if they have been repeatedly dismissed by Blues coach Dai Young, who refuses to write off his somewhat wayward campaigner.

Similarly, it appears the patience threshold with Powell in the international set up extends far.

Powell remains on Gatland’s radar – to the extent that a place on the summer tour to New Zealand, says the Kiwi coach, is now a distinct possibility.

“We will have to see what his fitness is like,” said Gatland.

“But he has served his time and done his punishment and, if we want to include him, we will.”

Powell’s first chance to pull on the Wales jersey again will be against South Africa, the reigning world champions, on Saturday, June 5.

Though, whether he will make that is highly debatable given the Blues confirmed on Friday that the calf problem he sustained in the match against the Dragons at Rodney Parade last weekend would need two or three weeks more rest.

But Wales then fly out to New Zealand for a two-Test series against Graham Henry’s All Blacks on June 19 and 26, and, given Gatland is sure to want to rest players, a place on the plane to the land of the long white cloud should not be discounted .

Saying that, the New Zealander seems aware Powell may need an arm around his shoulder in the coming months.

“I think psychologically he has suffered quite a bit because of all that (the golf buggy saga),” said Gatland.

“He has struggled with the Blues, but when he comes to us, it’s a shorter time period and there is also hype around Wales.

“The ban because of the buggy affair has clearly had an impact on him and then he hasn’t played due to injuries.

“The Crusaders speculation hasn’t helped and had an impact as well.”

The league speculation snowballed after respected Crusaders coach Brian Noble admitted Powell is a player he admires and one he believes would be a smash hit in the 13-man code.

Former Wales captain Thomas, who switched codes from the Blues to the Crusaders at the end of February, has gone on the record as saying it is a move Powell should strongly consider making.

But Gatland has a different view altogether.

The ex-Wasps coach admits he cannot understand why a player in Powell’s position would want to follow Thomas’ example and leave the union game at a time when there is so much to be achieved in the near future.

Gatland added: “I spoke to Andy the other day and told him to get his head down and to keep training hard.

“He was playing well against the Dragons before he picked up the injury.

“I told him that he was important to us over the next 18 months.

“I advised him to get to the World Cup injury-free and playing well and then after that if he wanted to go to rugby league then go and do whatever he wanted.

“I just cannot understand why he would want to leave ahead of a potential massive 18 months for him

“The profile of playing in the games we are playing ahead of the World Cup and then the cup in New Zealand is huge.

“I don’t know why he would want to swap that for playing rugby league with the Crusaders in Wrexham.”

Powell may not be a new face considered for Gatland’s 27-man squad to face the Boks and the All Blacks, but there could well be a few who do fall into that bracket.

Gatland is expected to name his squad on Sunday, May 16, and Tavis Knoyle, the Scarlets teenage scrum-half, is one in particular who is being viewed as a possible deputy for Lions No 9 Mike Phillips.

“Tavis has a good kicking and passing game,” said Gatland.

“He doesn’t mind the physical stuff and we have been really impressed with him.”

Yet Knoyle is far from the only one.

The likes of Dragons trio, wing Will Harries, prop Hugh Gustafson and flanker Gavin Thomas, along with Scarlets wing Andy Fenby and fly-half Rhys Priestland, are other names being mentioned in dispatches as possible tourists.