Clive has to find his way to the open road

I'm expecting the Six Nations to be far more open this year – it had better be. If any of our teams hope to do well in next year's World Cup they know, or they should do, that try-scoring is the key to fulfilling that ambition.

I'm expecting the Six Nations to be far more open this year – it had better be. If any of our teams hope to do well in next year's World Cup they know, or they should do, that try-scoring is the key to fulfilling that ambition.

Defences have been dominant throughout the world for a few years and only teams capable of breaking down the barriers have any real hope. If you can't score tries, you can't win the World Cup. The Six Nations makes special demands but I'd be surprised if any of the coaches go into it without this realisation burning in their minds.

This quest to make tries the top priority will result in a more exciting championship but, to be fair, it usually has a shock up its sleeve to keep things interesting. I hope Clive Woodward is thinking that way. England can't continue to rely on Jonny Wilkinson kicking a path to victory. There has to be another deadly dimension to their game, which is why I expect England to be ruthless in attempting to break down the opposition and rattle the tries in.

They won't be alone in that aim but they start as clear favourites and have every incentive to start delivering. Going to France on 2 March will be their biggest problem. The French will be confident after a successful autumn and have some excellent young players to call on – and Fabien Galthié is likely to play an influential part.

Apart from being a terrific player, the Stade Français captain speaks good English and will be a valuable communicator between his colleagues and the referees. Part of the French tradition of poor discipline is due to a lack of communication.

Their opening games are Italy, home, and Wales, away, so France could be welcoming England with two victories. The French will probably be more vulnerable against the Celtic teams. In fact, take England and Italy out and the other four are all capable of beating one of the others.

The difference between winning and losing is often a little mistake. Much of this is due to the expectations of the home crowds. Players can perform better away from home where the pressures aren't so great.

Italy could do well in the odd home game but they cannot sustain a long campaign. They have a couple of match-winners but they must work on their defence.

Wales must play a quicker game. They are not going to break down defences unless their rucking is efficient and allows Rob Howley, Iestyn Harris and Jamie Robinson to hit holes. Scott Quinnell is playing his best rugby but he will be targeted and needs other ball-carriers to relieve the pressure. His brother Craig could be one and Martyn Madden, not yet in the squad, could be another.

If Ireland play like they did against England you can't ignore their claims but they need to start well against Wales in Dublin next Sunday.

Graham Henry has yet to have the benefit of a good start in the Six Nations. It makes such a difference. Lose the first and it becomes a damage-limitation exercise.

I can never understand how Scotland, with such a narrow club base, manage to raise such a high-tempo, chaos-causing game but they do. The visit of England to Murrayfield on Saturday will require a massive raise but you wouldn't put it past them. That's the magic of the Six Nations – you can't rely on anything.