Wales made a sluggish start to last year's campaign, losing to Ireland after a particularly awful opening 40 minutes. The Azzurri, having lost their last 15 away games in the Six Nations, are regarded as softer opposition but Warren Gatland is guarding against complacency and summed things up in his own way.

"We need to make sure we get out of the blocks and don't get caught with our pants down," said the New Zealander during the build up to this game. No-one wants to see anyone get caught with their pants down today.

What are folk saying in Wales? The country's national newspaper, The Western Mail, says winning another title "amid such political chaos", external would be Warren Gatland's "greatest feat yet".

"If Wales think they have problems, Italy would happily swap them for theirs," says Paul Rees in the Guardian., external "In their 15th year as a member of the Six Nations, they are little closer to being title contenders than they were when they started out in 2000."

Elsewhere, The Independent says head coach Gatland is "spoilt for choice as Wales go for hat-trick"., external

England's Ben Foden:, external Looking forward to this afternoon's rugby! Good luck to the Saints boys out in Paris, and special mention to my boi Luther Burrell. Deserved.

Scotland's Chris Cusiter:, external Very strong start to the BBC Six Nations coverage with some Led Zeppelin. Tip of the cap...

Paul Rawson:, external Here's hoping that Wales surpass the great teams of the 70s and win three championships in a row.

Tom Stranks:, external The Six Nations wouldn't be the same without a Eddie Butler poem to kick things off"

Will:, external First BBC rugby montage of the season. They do a bloody good montage.

Jeremy Guscott
Former England centre

"It's nothing these players are not used to," says BBC pundit and former England centre Jeremy Guscott of the uncertainty surrounding the regional game in Wales.

"Wales are not so far ahead of the rest to make me think they will win the title easily. I don't see them winning all three of those key games [against Ireland, England and France], so I don't think it will be another Grand Slam."

If you haven't heard then Welsh rugby is in turmoil. Off the pitch there's strife. It's very political, a tad complicated, but the brouhaha between the four regions and the Welsh Rugby Union has not crushed the optimism surrounding the national team.

BBC Radio 5 live

No country has ever won the championship outright three years in a row. So, can this Wales side do it? Winner of 92 caps for his country, Gareth Llewelyn, has been speaking to 5 live Breakfast:

"Wales are overwhelming favourites today. The guys will be in an environment in which they've been comfortable before, and they've had great success in that environment. I think they'll be fairly confident going on the pitch.

"Alun Wyn Jones has always been a very mature player, and he's had captaincy experience with the Lions. Warburton is on the bench and I think Alun Wyn's job will be fairly comfortable as captain."

RBS 6 Nations tweet:, external Players arriving at the stadium a few minutes ago. Not long to go now...

Image source, rbs_6_nations

"Gerald Davies... What was he doing there? Bennett out to David Burcher... Burcher back inside to Fenwick, to Bennett.. Oh this is going to be the try of the championship!"

What days they were... But where to begin when selecting the greatest tries there's ever been? There have been so many since the inception of this tournament, so many side-steps, so many thundering runs, so many flicked passes and dinky kicks.

If your memory needs a jog, or if you just want to remember the good old days, then click on the 'Highlights' tab on the top of this page for our pick of the best tries.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

What a digital age we live in, eh. BBC Radio 5 live sports extra will provide live commentary of the Wales v Italy match and there are a number of ways to listen to it. One such way is by clicking the 'Live Coverage' tab on the top of this page.

In fact, you can listen, read or watch this year's tournament on whatever piece of technology you've got at your disposal. PC? Smart phone? Tablet? Television? Radio? Use whatever you've got. Heck, why not use them all at the same time.

Keeping tabs on what's happening in Cardiff and Paris today will be easy. There will, of course, be live text commentary to keep you company and, from 14:00 GMT, when BBC One get in on the act, there will be pictures of moving humans to accompany these words. You can either click the play button on the picture at the top of this page or glide your mouse (or finger) onto the 'Live Coverage' tab.

And there's a new pundit in town as former British and Irish Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan joins Jeremy Guscott and co on the rugby experts' couch. There's not an actual couch, but you know what I mean.

Image source, @federugby

Breaking news: we can report that the underdogs are inside the Millennium Stadium. Italy are looking to avoid a 10th wooden spoon in 15 Six Nations campaigns and few are giving the Azzurri a chance, but it is worth noting that they are highly competitive under Jacques Brunel - the former Perpignan coach - and have claimed notable wins over France and Ireland on his watch.

But today would be nothing - nothing I tell you - without contributions from your good selves so send your chit-chat in this direction either via Twitter using the hashtag #bbcrugby , externalor by texting 81111. And, there's more, because you can always visit BBC Sport's Facebook , externalpage if that's your thing. I don't want to have to beg but I am prepared to do so.

Who will win the championship? Who are the players to watch? What superstitious routines are you going through to ensure your team will be victorious? A number of lucky pants are being worn in Cardiff and Paris today so I'm told...

Ben Dirs
BBC Sport at the Millennium Stadium

Image source, @rbs_6_nations

"To the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, where Wales are bidding to become the first side since the tournament's inception in 1883 to win it three years in a row outright. Italy up first and one look at their worryingly inexperienced backline suggests the hosts are likely to make easy meat of them. Italy have only won once on the road in the Six Nations in 35 previous attempts. Only the most wildly optimistic Azzurri fans will be expecting their side to double that tally today."

By late evening on 15 March we will know the answer to a number of questions, but that doesn't mean it's not worth asking them right now. Will Wales create history by winning a record third successive Six Nations championship? Or will England, runners-up in the last two seasons, finally hop onto that final stepping stone?

But, then, there's France, unpredictable old France, who have history on their side having won the championship every year after a Lions tour in the professional era. So many questions and so much rugby to pack in before we finally know who will be kings of Europe.

But isn't it the SIX Nations? Yes, yes it is. Good totting up by those of you paying attention. It doesn't all happen in one day these days, you know. We're allowed to take our time over things in this day and age. There's no need to overindulge anymore. We can spread out the rugby feast, spend the weekend savouring and enjoying it.

Anyway. The final match of the weekend will take place in Dublin on Sunday where Brian O'Driscoll, external will begin his final waltz when Ireland open their campaign against Scotland in a 15:00 kick off. There will be live coverage of that on the BBC too, but that's tomorrow's story.

Our day has already been mapped out for us, which at least removes the chance of indecision. First, we will head to the Cardiff cauldron where reigning champions Wales will get the tournament started by playing host to Italy. Next, to Paris we go, for a match now known as 'Le Crunch' as France take on a cherubic-looking England.

So, in sum, here is how today looks:

Wales v Italy (14:30)

France vEngland (17:00)

Hello! If you've clicked onto this page then you probably know already that this is live text commentary of the opening day of the 2014 Six Nations.

A new month, a fresh competition, and although February seems set to cause a right old storm just like January, at least the latest version of a competition which has thrilled us through the ages will ensure spirits will remain high until we reach springtime in Paris. It's time to lose ourselves in international rugby.

Halleluiah! Hooray! Hurrah! Goodbye January, you wet and miserable old thing. At last we can let the beer slosh and swill again and be fed until we want no more. February is here! Let the bagpipes give out a piercing cry! Hear that? The people of six expectant lands, from north, south, east and west, whooping and singing and causing a right carry on. Oh, February we're glad you came along.

Image source, Getty Images