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SCOTLAND
COLOURS: Navy blue and white.
STADIUM: Murrayfield.
ODDS: 12-1.
COACH: Frank Hadden
Hadden signed a new contract after the World Cup. He has had to temper a natural preference for open, attacking rugby after it backfired last year as Scotland lost to Italy and ended up with the wooden spoon. But he leads a young squad with high hopes.
CAPTAIN: Jason White.
The down-to-earth Aberdonian is one of the northern hemisphere's most inspiring rugby figures - but his captaincy has been dogged by injury. He missed all of last year's championship with a cruciate knee ligament injury and it is vital for Scotland that he stays fit.
STAR PLAYER: Rory Lamont.
With Chris Paterson controversially consigned to the bench for the opening game, Hadden is clearly hoping to adopt a more fluent style than at the World Cup and that could give Lamont licence to thrill from full-back, having come on in leaps and bounds this season with Sale Sharks.
STRENGTHS: Kicking.
Whether it be from the tee or from hand, Scotland boast two of the game's best exponents at putting boot to ball. Paterson's goalkicking is renowned, but he
will have to wait his turn. Instead, Hadden is pinning his hopes for both disciplines on
fly-half Dan Parks, a clever and accurate tactical kicker who earns valuable territory for his side, but who is not as consistent from the tee as Paterson.
WEAKNESSES: Fly-half.
Over the last year Scotland have been torn between the practical and the adventurous, and part of the problem is the lack of a consistent fly-half. Parks has the chance to rectify that but with Paterson breathing down his neck.
DID YOU KNOW?Sean Lamont will miss the whole tournament with a cruciate knee injury.
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