WE should look on the bright side. A Six Nations Championship without Jonny Wilkinson will at least create a more level playing field.

It also gives someone else the chance to emerge as a superstar. Will it be Frederic Michalak, who was threatening to usurp Jonny as the world's best No 10 until he flopped with the rest of the French side in the World Cup semi-final?

Or will it be Chris Paterson, newly-installed captain and fly half of a Scotland team in dire need of inspiration?

Or someone in a less glamorous position like second row, such as Ireland's stand-in skipper Paul O'Connell or Wales' Robert Sidoli?

It might have been Teessider James Simpson-Daniel had he not suffered a rib injury, extending the jinx which seems determined to stall his England career.

Hopefully he'll recover in time to play some part in an event which has gained impetus from the World Cup, rather than shrinking in its shadow.

The only match for which tickets are still available is France v Italy, and with all games being shown on BBC everyone will be watching. Well, everyone except Alistair Campbell, perhaps.

The only trouble with the TV arrangements is that the Beeb's search for maximum benefit from the deal has resulted in a bewildering array of kick-off times, the only standard being 3pm for the one Sunday match in the first four weekends' programmes. On the final weekend all three games are on Saturday, March 27, when France v England kicks off at 8pm GMT and is widely expected to be a Grand Slam showdown.

The only stumbling block to that scenario could come in Cardiff on Sunday, March 7, when Wales might have a chance of toppling France if they can build on their World Cup form.

Even without Jonny, England should arrive in Paris unbeaten as the fixtures could hardly work out better for them. They start in Rome then move on to Murrayfield before tackling Ireland and Wales at Twickenham.

Ireland finished second last year, but they start in Paris today and it is inconceivable that they can turn around their thrashing in the World Cup quarter-final.

France produced the best rugby of the tournament in the first half of that match, only to perform like damp squibs in the Sydney rain in the semi-final.

The weather gods certainly favoured England that day, and France will be praying for a fine Paris evening on March 27 to help slake their thirst for revenge.

England: No team can be the same without Wilkinson and Martin Johnson, yet Sir Clive Woodward has so much talent at his disposal that he can afford to axe Neil Back. The World Cup is ancient history to Woodward, whose determination to move on means that at 35 there is unlikely to be any way back for a flanker who overcame all reservations about his size to provide wonderful service throughout 66 internationals. Woodward has gone for the safe option in picking Paul Grayson, who can be relied upon to kick his goals. But there will be little point in gambling on an adventurous threequarter line featuring Jason Robinson at centre unless Grayson's hands and brain are quick enough to give them the ball in space.

If it doesn't click, Woodward has the option to bring on Henry Paul at centre, knowing he will kick goals equally as reliably as Grayson. But the hope is that Robinson, Iain Balshaw, Ben Cohen and Josh Lewsey will ignite the sort of thrilling display which England never quite managed in the World Cup

They have shown they know how to win, but they would prefer to do it in style.

France: It still takes some believing that the previously brilliant back row of Magne, Betsen and Harinordoquy, were so effectively subdued by England - and the rain - in the World Cup semi-final. Now they have to perform without their little general, Fabien Galthie, inspiring scrum half and captain, snapping at their heels. There was no obvious replacement and France have gone for Frederic Michalak's partner at Toulouse, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, winning his fifth cap at 26. The captaincy goes to established lock Fabien Pelous, but it is the performance of Elissalde which will be crucial to France's fortunes.

Ireland: The Irish will not waste time mourning the retirement of the legendary Keith Wood, who for all his inspirational presence was powerless to prevent a drubbing by France in the World Cup quarter-final.

Ireland have to move on from that, but unfortunately they start without talented backs Brian O'Driscoll, Geordan Murphy and Denis Hickie through injury. O'Driscoll is expected to return soon to captain the side, in the meantime the job goes to 24-year-old lock Paul O'Connell, who is tipped to be one of the stars of the tournament. Leinster centre Gordon D'Arcy, making his first international start today, is also said to be hugely gifted.

Wales: Hopes are high that Wales have turned the corner because they were the only team to threaten the established order at the World Cup. With so little expected of them, they gave a fright to both the All Blacks and England with their adventurous attacking. Prominent in that was previously unheralded flanker Jonathan Thomas, so it is a surprise that he only makes the bench against Scotland at Cardiff today. They do, however, have Gareth Thomas at full back, where he was a revelation in the World Cup, and just in case there's any doubt that this is truly a Welsh team there's a trio of Williams and a veritable quartet of Jones. Whether Stephen Jones can prove that the Welsh fly-half factory is back in top working order has yet to be confirmed, but the competition from Ceri Sweeney should keep him on his toes.

Scotland: It is a little harsh to describe Scottish rugby as a shambles, because they no doubt do their best with the limited resources which have put them at a disadvantage in the professional era.

For a country with a deep-rooted tradition of club rugby in areas like the Borders, embracing the regional concept has not been easy and two of their three districts languish at the bottom of the Celtic League. Edinburgh have started to prosper, however, doing well in Europe, which is a step in the right direction. So is the insistence by new Australian coach Matt Williams that in future all his squad should be home-based. In the meantime, with the likes of Gregor Townsend, Bryan Redpath and Kenny Logan gone, he will concentrate on youth and it would be wrong to expect too much too soon.

Italy: Just when they are showing signs of making real progress, Italy have been hit by several injuries to players such as captain and scrum half Alessandro Troncon, for whom there is no obvious replacement. But with former All Black wing John Kirwan enlisting the help of former Wallabies backs coach Glen Ella, Italy can be expected to show some attacking flair if they can win the ball. They will tackle their hearts out and their defence will not be easily breached until they begin to tire. The insistence on playing England and Scotland at Rome's 25,000 capacity Flaminio Stadium, rather than the Olympic Stadium, has seen tickets sold out well in advance, suggesting Italian rugby has outgrown its home.