Shane Horgan
Former Ireland wing

Although Ireland are going for three in a row, I think France will win the Six Nations.

Dupont proved he is not just the talisman but the glue that combines that France team together.

Their challenges are big games away to Ireland and England. Will they achieve the Grand Slam? I think that may be a bridge too far.

Image source, Getty Images

We've talked a lot about France being favourites for this year's Six Nations, but let's not write off defending champions Ireland.

They head into the tournament looking to go where no team has ever been before.

A hat-trick of titles has never been achieved in the men's game, and Ireland are five games away from writing their names in the history books.

They begin their campaign at home to England on Saturday (16:45 GMT).

The Six Nations coaches pick which players they would have from rival squads.

Not too hard to guess who most of them went for!

Johnnie Beattie
Former Scotland back row

This is the best Scottish side I've seen.

It is the best-coached side and in terms of talent the best since they won the last Five Nations in 1999. However, other sides have a greater depth of talent.

Success for Scotland would be a top-three finish.

The other four nations kick off their championship tomorrow.

First up we're at Murrayfield for Scotland against Italy (14:15 GMT) and then over to the Aviva where reigning champions Ireland host England (16:45 GMT).

Here's how some former players turned pundits rate their team's chances.

Image source, Rex Features

It's a competition like no other and BBC Sport will bring you live coverage, highlights and analysis of every match, starting with France v Wales tonight.

Here's how you can follow the 2025 Men's Six Nations across the BBC.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales welcome back British and Irish Lions duo Josh Adams and Liam Williams to the starting XV, along with 2024 Six Nations captain Dafydd Jenkins.

Wing Adams has not featured for Wales since last year's tournament, while full-back Williams and lock Jenkins' most recent international appearances were on last summer's tour of Australia.

Evan Lloyd and Henry Thomas are given their first Wales starts in the front row, while Ben Thomas is preferred to uncapped Dan Edwards at fly-half.

Nick Tompkins and Owen Watkin give a familiar look to the midfield, while Tom Rogers is preferred to Scarlets team mate Blair Murray on the wing.

Nicky Smith is set for his 50th appearance from the bench.

The game has come too soon for Taulupe Faletau who is still nursing a knee injury.

Wales: Liam Williams; Tom Rogers, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams; Ben Thomas, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, James Botham, Jac Morgan (capt), Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Dan Edwards, Blair Murray.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Romain Ntamack will make his first France appearance for 17 months.

The fly-half suffered a serious knee injury in a warm-up game for the 2023 World Cup and missed that tournament as well as last year's Six Nations.

The 25-year-old returned to fitness for Toulouse but then injured his calf before last November's Test matches.

Ntamack will partner club-mate Antoine Dupont who missed the 2024 Six Nations in order to focus on sevens before his home Olympics in Paris.

While two big names return, France coach Fabien Galthie is without wing Damien Penaud, who has a toe injury, and centre Gael Fickou because of a fractured thumb.

Flanker Charles Ollivon and lock Thibaud Flament are also missing.

France: Thomas Ramos; Theo Attissogbe, Pierre-Louis Barrassi, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Romaine Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (capt); Jean-Baptiste Gros, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio; Alexandre Roumat, Emmanuel Meafou; Francois Cros, Paul Boudehent, Gregory Alldritt

Replacements: Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille, Georges-Henri Colombe, Hugo Auradou, Mickael Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Nolann Le Garrec, Emilien Gailleton.

Image source, Getty Images

Good evening, welcome to Paris for the opener of the men's Six Nations.

The Championship is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the form we know it, with Italy joining the tournament in 2000.

Kicking us off this year are France and Wales, two sides that have given us some memorable nights.

But not many are giving Wales much of a hope in this encounter - they are on their worst run in Welsh rugby history with 12 Test losses.

Will tonight prove to be unlucky number 13 or will Wales claim a famous victory in the French capital?

We'll find out soon enough, but first let's take a look at how the teams line up.