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Grand Slams are not always won by a team dominating all the others. Just look at Ireland last year.

The only requirement is to finish on the right side of the scoreline, by hook or by crook, in all five matches.

If as seems likely, France go on to win a third Grand Slam - and fifth title - of the Six Nations era, they will look back on as the one where they flirted with a faux pas but ultimately took a major step.

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The resumption of Six Nations hostilities this weekend serves up a deliciously unpredictable .

The tastiest of them, in terms of entertainment anyway, is likely to come in Cardiff tomorrow where the Millennium Stadium hosts the first Friday night match of the competition in Britain.

If it is anything like the , which featured the same teams, a classic try for Wales full-back Lee Byrne and a frenetic, nail-biting finish, then we should be in for a treat.

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With all due respect to fans of Wales, Scotland, Italy and England, there is no doubt about the big game in the Six Nations this weekend.

France v Ireland shapes up as one of the, if not THE, pivotal fixture in deciding who will go on to win this year's title.

Having said last week I believe this year's champions will be whoever emerges victorious on Saturday in the Stade de France, I see no reason to change my mind on the evidence of the opening weekend.

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"The players are not computers to be programmed. Passion and emotion is still hugely important. It always will be and should be. If it goes out of the game, there is no joy in it. That is what it is all about."

Any ideas as to who uttered those words on the eve of this year's ?

Yep, you guessed it, that old merchant of mirth himself, synonymous with all things joyful in rugby matters, one .

As the man in charge of an England team whose coaches acknowledged they were overly "prescriptive" during a dismal autumn, these are surely encouraging words for supporters of a red rose persuasion.

But before images come to mind of England players pumped up on John Bull, gambolling around Twickenham laying waste to their Six Nations rivals, it should be noted Johnson was not specifically referring to his team alone.

He was answering a general question which served as a timely reminder why we love the Six Nations.

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