Brown’s predicted finish

IRELAND Prediction: 1st

Player to watch: Tadhg Beirne

Their club sides look really strong in Europe. If Johnny Sexton stays fit then they are the team to beat. They’re extremely well coached and having France and England at home gives them an advantage.

FRANCE

Prediction: 2nd Player to watch: Yoram Moefana

They’re missing a few big-game players in Jonathan Danty, Cameron Woki and Gabin Villiere. They’ve got such big ball carriers who are hard to stop and X-factor guys who thrive off that gain-line ball.

ENGLAND

Prediction: 3rd Player to watch: Cadan Murley

I expect them to come in re-energised and full of enthusiasm, like you always see when a sports team has a change at the top. Given how Borthwick operates, they should be a team who will have their fundamentals nailed down: strong set piece, strong defence and strong kicking game. Hopefully we’ll also see the start of something new in attack, too.

WALES

Prediction: 4th Player to watch: Jac Morgan (left)

Warren Gatland will have them fired up. They have unbelievable strength in the back row, with players who turn up to big occasions. They’ve got an ageing squad but I don’t necessarily see that as a problem.

SCOTLAND

Prediction: 5th Player to watch: Ruaridh McConnochie They’re too hit and miss. I don’t see them as a threat to the top teams but they always pile into the England game. They can have a worldie of a game and then be hopeless the following week.

ITALY

Prediction: 6th Player to watch: Ange Capuozzo Beating Australia and Wales last year will give them a lot of confidence and they may have an upset in them. Their final game in Edinburgh could be the wooden spoon decider, but Scotland will have the home advantage.