No longer constrained by a rugby referee's responsibilities in remaining neutral at all times, officiating extraordinaire Nigel Owens is backing France to win the 2022 Six Nations.
Les Bleus are back in the saddle as favourites to lift the northern-hemisphere title for the first time since 2010, although this wouldn't be the first time France have failed to meet expectations should they fall short.
Owens, 50, was a frequent fixture of the tournament for 15 years before his retirement in 2020, becoming as synonymous with European rugby as many might consider most players during that period.
As arguably the sport's best referee—certainly its most adored—for much of his pro career, Owens has experienced what it's like at the heart of some of the world's top stadia when tensions are at their highest.
Despite the temptation to back his own injury-ravaged Wales for an unlikely-looking title defence, he believes France's 12-year wait for the crown could finally be at its end.
" England [who finished an all-time joint-worst of fifth in 2021] are always strong," Owens told Mirror Sport ahead of Saturday's opening Six Nations fixtures.
"The strength in depth they have, and they've got some big names [from the Premiership ] in big form—if they get it right, it's very, very rare England are close to the bottom, so you never write them off.
"And then I think you look at the fixtures, where they're playing. Ireland played well in the autumn but they've got to go to Twickenham and Paris.
"If Ireland were at home to France and England, I'd be going with Ireland this year. The fact they've got to go to Paris and go to Twickenham, it's going to make it a bit more difficult.
"But for me, I think the French will do it this year. They're just on some wonderful form at the moment."
Fabien Galthie's men play three of their Six Nations fixtures at the Stade de France this year; they begin at home to Italy (Feb. 5) before hosting Ireland (Feb. 12) in Round 2 and closing the campaign against England (March 19).
Those latter two games in particular fly in their favour, particularly after both Les Bleus and Andy Farrell's Ireland each beat New Zealand during the most recent autumn internationals.
Wales were only just denied a Grand Slam during last year's Six Nations, losing 32-30 to France at the final hurdle as they were forced to settle for just a Triple Crown.
And Owens forecasts this championship will be decided by even narrower margins, with the margins agonisingly close as we prepare to enter a Rugby World Cup year.
"If I had to put money on it, I'd go with France," he added. "And that's because the fixtures fall to suit them this year.
"I also think it may not be a Grand Slam, it may well be a championship win.
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"It's going to be very, very interesting, but if I had to put my money on somebody, I'd go for France.
"But—and this is key here—what is adding a big question mark behind things is: We don't know what Covid is going to do."
The favourites recently suffered a squad scare following a recent outbreak of Covid-19, with star fly-half Romain Ntamack and reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Antoine Dupont among those forced into isolation.
Both players have since returned to training with their team-mates as they step up their recovery ahead of Sunday's fixture at home to Italy, but there's little telling whether further disruptions are to come.
"We don't know how many players are going to be testing positive, and all of a sudden, your three or four or five key players are not training, or are not in the squad, and that can make a huge difference," Owens continued.
"If France lose the likes of Ntamack or Dupont, it makes a huge difference. They are that X-factor that can be the difference between winning and losing games.
"My tip would be France because of the way the fixtures have fallen—otherwise, if they were home to England or France, I'd have gone for Ireland."
It's not only those overseas fixtures that warrant warning, either, as England get their campaign underway with a precarious-looking trip to border rivals Scotland on Saturday.
Eddie Jones will head into the tournament missing captain Owen Farrell after he was ruled out following ankle surgery, while Anthony Watson and Jonny May will also sit out the entire tournament.
Courtney Lawes (head), Joe Marchant (Covid) and Jonny Hill (foot) are also doubts to face Scotland, who last year defeated England at Twickenham for the first time since 1983.
Manu Tuilagi and Sam Underhill could return later in the tournament but are lacking fitness for now, fuelling Owens' suspicion of a shock at Murrayfield: "Scotland are always capable of an upset.
"There's still a bit of a question mark about Scotland, they could well surprise this year," Owens added.
"If they beat England on Saturday, which they're quite capable of doing, then all of a sudden, oof."
After so much uncertainty regarding Covid-19 crowd restrictions in Wales, Scotland and Ireland, it now looks as though each of those countries will welcome back capacity crowds in 2022.
It will be in stark contrast to those games from last year played behind closed doors, a factor that somewhat tainted Wales' second championship in three years (and their first under Pivac).
For that reason, Owens may have felt somewhat bittersweet about his goodbye to the sport, although there might be part of the rugby romantic that felt glad he wasn't officiating those fixtures.
Echoing Louis Rees-Zammit's recent sentiment that "rugby is nothing without fans," farmer Owens agreed this edition of the Six Nations could present a more official form of closure on his exit.
"I think it will [feel like a second farewell]," he said.
"Last year's Six Nations, I think everyone in Wales was really surprised by glad about the outcome of it! But this one definitely feels like the Six Nations is back, and that just shows what it means to everybody.
"The crowd, that's what makes the Six Nations so special. Wales play England once a year—except for maybe in a World Cup year—so it's special.
"And obviously the crowd make it so special. So the last one was just kind of ticking the box really, but this is the one now where you feel 'Right, the Six Nations is here again', for sure."
Nigel Owens was speaking to the Mirror in conjunction with William Hill.
