After he missed last year’s Six Nations, Antoine Dupont’s return for the 2025 Championship is brilliant news not only for France, but for all rugby fans. The only people who won’t be happy is those who have got to play against him!. We are fortunate to be watching one of the greatest of all time in action in the coming weeks. Dupont is just magnificent. I was delighted he played sevens for France at last summer’s Olympics and won a gold medal for his country at what was a home Games.

To me, that really sets him apart from the rest. I’ve consistently maintained that rugby’s shorter format is a great breeding ground for talent. Not only that, it can also help established players get even better, and Dupont is a brilliant example of that. Antoine Dupont's return to the Six Nations is something every rugby fan should celebrate. The France scrum-half missed last year's tournament while preparing for the Olympics.

Dupont won gold in Paris in one of the most spectacular sporting events of 2024. Clearly, he was already one of the world’s best before playing sevens. But his Olympic performances were just extraordinary in the way he took on new roles like competing for the ball at the breakdown. You can’t hide in sevens. You can be badly exposed. But Dupont shone and I can give him no higher praise than saying that in my view, I rank him up there with Sir Gareth Edwards as the best scrum-half to have ever played.

Is Dupont the greatest of all? It is very difficult to say because in lots of ways, rugby has changed a lot over the years. I actually played against Edwards in my career, so what I can say for certain is there has been no other No 9 over the years who can hold a candle to those two. Those at the helm of French rugby deserve a great deal of credit for how they’ve managed Dupont, especially with his sevens involvement.

It’s something we need to look at in England and Great Britain. Sevens has sadly gone by the wayside in our country. It’s such a shame. Can you imagine how good it would be if Marcus Smith played sevens for Great Britain and the interest it would bring?. Sadly, there is too much politics in English rugby for things like that to happen. In France, it’s different. They just get the job done, and that’s why they are where they are.

Wales lost all 12 Tests in 2024 and I am struggling to see them ending that run. Warren Gatland must be having some sleepless nights after a turgid last 12 months. My experience of international rugby is that to have success, you need a world class pair at No 9 and No 10. France have that for this Six Nations, with Dupont back alongside Romain Ntamack for their opener with Wales on Friday. I’ve got to be honest, I just can’t see a way Wales can win. It would be one of the biggest upsets in Six Nations history if they did.

I like Warren Gatland and the Championship needs a strong Wales, but he must be having some sleepless nights right now. The Six Nations is all about competition. But I think the opening night could be a seriously one-sided game which we don’t want to see. Expect Dupont to be at the heart of it. On Saturday, Scotland begin their campaign having lost their captain Sione Tuipulotu, a significant blow as he could easily have been the Lions' starting inside centre.

It will give Italy a boost and I think they are going the right way and have every chance of finishing above their first-round opponents in the final table. Last year, Italy beat both Wales and Scotland and drew with France. The French game was also one they should have won, so the signs are promising. Italy should be very confident of beating Wales at home in round two and Tuipulotu’s injury means for me, the Scotland tie is toss-up.

Losing captain Sione Tuipulotu (centre) is a huge blow for Scotland ahead of the Six Nations. Scotland have won the last four Calcutta Cup matches but I can't see them winning the title. Scotland are a very frustrating team. They’ve had England’s number in the last few years and beaten France in Paris. But for some reason, it never sees to all come together. Tuipulotu isn’t their only absence either, with Scott Cummings and Josh Bayliss also injured, so Gregor Townsend has a big job on his hands. Scottish fans thought this was going to be the year for a title bid, but I just can’t see it happening.

After a tough 2024 in which they won only five of 12 games, it doesn’t get any easier for England at the start of this Six Nations. Ireland away and then France at home is as difficult as it gets for Steve Borthwick and his players when it comes to the first two rounds. But as I’ve constantly maintained, international rugby is always and only about your next game. For Borthwick and England, the Ireland game is everything. There is no tomorrow. Forget about France.