There is a sense of excitement among Wales fans ahead of this year’s Six Nations and rightly so. Not only is Warren Gatland, a three-time Grand Slam winner, back in the hot seat, but all four regions are in fine form, with the Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff and Dragons all reaching the knockout stages in Europe.
Players will be going into the championship with confidence, something many could argue has been lacking in recent Welsh performances, especially during that disappointing autumn International campaign.
But there has been a changing of the guard and with Gatland back, there is an expectation that this Six Nations will be a successful one for Wales. Whether it’s an improvement on last year, a second or third place finish, or they go all the way and win the championship or even a Grand Slam, you can't help but feel they will come away with something.
I’m sure Wales fans all remember when he came on board the first time after the 2007 World Cup and we won the Grand Slam in his first Six Nations, taking our first win at Twickenham in 20 years on our way to the tile. The belief that gave the fans was immense and it feels like that public confidence is back again upon his return. And if the fans feel like that, then I’m sure the players feel it too.
They're sure to be lifted by the sense of occasion, too. The Six Nations is such a special tournament, and it’s one that spectators, players and officials all look forward to. There is a real sense of occasion with every game, a one-off clash against the opposition.
No two championships are the same, and the story always changes week on week. There’s always a new hero to be found, a new rivalry to emerge. It can all change so quickly, one game can be the difference between a championship win and a third or fourth place finish.
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As a referee, it was an honour to take to the field at the Six Nations so many times. Aside from the big games of the World Cup, they were the games I looked forward to officiating most. From the spectacle of Le Crunch to England v Scotland in the Calcutta Cup, they are some of the biggest clashes in sport.
The atmosphere was always incredible, the stadiums were buzzing, but the pressure was always on as it was very rare that there was nothing to play for. All games are big games in the Six Nations.
Saying that, we've always tended to be slow starters in the Six Nations and it’s a big ask for Gatland to get a win in his first game back. Ireland are the opposition on the opening weekend and, in my opinion, they're the championship favourites. It will be between them and France, but with Les Bleus travelling to Dublin, I’d say that Ireland probably have the edge.
It’s hugely important that we start that game well, Ireland are a strong side and if they get a hold on the game before we do, it will be a tough task.
We need to perform from the first whistle, not just in the opening round but in every game. Confidence is key to those performances but luckily there should be plenty of it among the group of players that Gatland has selected.
Those players will be looking to prove themselves throughout the tournament, with this year's Rugby World Cup fast approaching. The likes of Keiran Williams and Mason Grady will be looking for their big break after earning their first call-ups, while others who have proven themselves at club level will be hoping to cement their place in the starting XV ahead of September.
We've got a lot of quality players all vying for those spots. One man I've been really impressed with is Jac Morgan, he's shown over the last couple of years that he is top class. But having that kind of competition in the squad can only be a good thing for Gatland.
It's not just players that I'll be watching out for, either. The championship will also be a last chance saloon for a few referees to put themselves forward, not only for the World Cup final but also for the big matches in the pool stages. If you perform well, then it will put you in a good position for the knockout stages, so there's a lot at stake for the officials too.
As a tournament like no other, you can never know what to expect from the Six Nations. This year's build-up has certainly been entertaining, with big changes in the Welsh camp, as well as Eddie Jones leaving England and being replaced by Steve Borthwick.
But there are bound to be as many stories told on the pitch as off it, with the top two sides in the world - Ireland and France - going head-to-head, while Italy look to continue their fine form from 2022 which saw them beat both Wales and Australia.
So while it can be impossible to call a competition where everything can change in a heartbeat, what we can be sure of is that the standard of rugby won't disappoint. With old rivalries reignited, new ones forged and the World Cup now just months away, the stage is set for a brilliant five weeks of rugby.
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