THE SIX NATIONS rugby union jamboree kicks off this weekend and fans of each nation have a few hours to indulge Grand Slam dreams.

But by the close of play tomorrow three nations will have that bubble burst.

This could be the closest championship yet as five teams are all in with a shot at the title, with Italy destined to be bottom again.

So who is most likely to come out on top?

The autumn internationals gave an indication of potential form with France and Ireland enjoying victories over the mighty All Blacks and England edging a narrow win against South Africa.

But home advantage and the draw has given some teams a better chance than others and France kick off their campaign tomorrow with a home tie against Italy.

Almost a certain banker for a resurgent France to build some momentum with a mouthwatering second home tie to follow against Ireland.

But Les Bleus have not won the Six Nations since 2010 and face away trips to Scotland and Wales, both potential banana skins for head coach Fabien Galthie’s side. 

Les Bleus struck gold when they enticed Sean Edwards to join their coaching team. The hallmark of Edwards’s teams is their defensive strength and iron discipline. 

This has been coupled with French flair and the team looked potential world champions as they racked up 40 points in November against the mighty All Blacks.

The half-back pairing of fly-half Romain Ntamack and captain and scrum-half Antoine Dupont is a world-beating combination.

Wales are the champions, but enter the tournament with a perennial question mark against them because a spate of injuries during the autumn internationals disrupted coach Wayne Pivac’s team building.

The head coach was forced to pick inexperienced players who lost heavily to New Zealand, but managed to stay within a converted try in their loss to the Springboks.

Blooding so many youngsters increases the depth of Pivac’s squad, which has been hit again with a lengthy injury list including Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric ,George North, Ken Owens and Taulupe Faletau.

Taine Basham at open-side flanker is the latest off the Welsh conveyor belt of talent at number seven and is making his Six Nations debut.

But the 22-year-old Dragons back row marked his Wales debut last summer with two tries against Canada, before a man-of-the-match display against New Zealand in the autumn.

An opening game away from home in Ireland is a difficult task for a depleted Wales, but the backs have some serious pace and talent with an in-form Louis Rees-Zammit on the wing and Josh Adams in the centre.

Ireland had a glorious set of autumn internationals with a convincing victory over the All Blacks and a heavy win against Argentina.

While Ireland will be concentrating on Wales, head coach Andy Farrell is building his squad with next year’s World Cup in France in mind.

Jonny Sexton is his side’s talisman and playmaker and will be a huge target. 

Ireland are relatively injury free and during their autumn campaign developed a flowing attacking approach.

The strength in depth Ireland are developing should see them edge out Wales in the opening match.

Scotland host the auld enemy at Murrayfield and enjoy the bragging rights after victory at Twickenham last season.

That historic result ended a 38-year run of losses at England’s citadel — victory in Paris also showed the Scots can win anywhere.

Scotland have few injuries and have a rejuvenated Finn Russell at fly-half to pull the creative strings.

Captain, and full-back, Stuart Hogg is enjoying a fine season at Exeter Chiefs — coupled with a backline including Russell, Duhan van der Merwe, Cameron Redpath and Ali Price the Scots can play at tempo and rack up points.

A settled and talented set of forwards will have the fans dreaming of a first Six Nations title, despite only ever reaching the heights of third place as their highest finish.

A home victory against England will give the side some momentum to travel to Cardiff and what has become a bogey ground for the Scots.

Meanwhile Azzurri fans will dream of at least one victory and perhaps not being automatic winners of the wooden spoon.

Italy’s place in the tournament has become an increasing talking point as the other teams compete to rack up the points against the weakest side.

Playing France in Paris first up means that realistically the game the Azzurri have the best chance of winning is their fourth round game against Scotland in Rome.

Eddie Jones’s England finished a disappointing fifth place last year with just two victories from five games.

Much of the criticism of the side came from the stubborn coach’s selection of out-of-form and not fully fit players from Saracens and the team’s propensity to concede soft penalties.

The Vunipola brothers and Owen Farrell will not be taking part in the tournament, while England regained some form last autumn as Jones brought in fresh talent.

The injury that will keep Farrell out of the tournament could be a blessing in disguise as it means Marcus Smith will be the side’s undisputed playmaker.

The match-up against Scotland of the two magicians at fly-half is one of the mouthwatering battles on offer.

England’s forwards had a torrid time in the scrum in their November victory over South Africa, but the home side scraped home by a point over the World Champions.

The key to whether England can open their campaign with a victory at Murrayfield will be whether the forwards can withstand the pressure that will be heaped on them by their opponents and a hostile crowd.

The forward battle is the crucial area for teams and World Rugby and Six Nations Rugby have confirmed the use of a closed law trial in this year’s tournament that aims to advance scrum stability and player welfare. 

Both hookers will now be required to ensure one foot (the “brake foot”) is extended towards the opposition during the crouch and bind phases of the scrum engagement sequence with referees penalising failure to comply with a free-kick.

What impact this will have is anybody’s guess but it does add even more uncertainty to a mouthwatering tournament.

Let’s get ready to rumble!