It hurts to miss the start but don't rule me out of crunch games

AN exciting Six Nations, at the start of a World Cup year, means a thrilling prospect is in store for rugby in 2003 - and I just want to be part of it.

I also believe a Northern Hemisphere team can win the World Cup for the first time, provided our top players are allowed to get the mix of hard match-play, rest and training time just right for October.

Players need to be battlehardened but still fresh. That is the key to the World Cup, but now I am not looking past the opening Six Nations matches.

Making predictions is always the hardest part, and it is just the same this year.

Who is going to win it? Ask me again after the first two weeks of games!

I am very disappointed to be missing the start, but after surgery last month my neck and back problem is getting better. It's just taking time.

The injury cannot be rushed.

I've done that in the past, but this time it will be different.

I'm hugely thankful to Harlequins and the Ireland management for being so supportive. I'm doing all I can to be fit to play towards the end of the tournament, but I'm already resigned to missing the first half. Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has said his priority is to see me fit for the World Cup.

It's nice to have that kind of support.

The favourites for the Six Nations must be England and France, with the winner of tomorrow's game becoming heavy favourites. But I do believe Ireland can get into contention, especially as we play those two at home.

First of all, though, we must beat Scotland at Murrayfield Sunday. We have lost there so often in recent times, and maybe that's because we've never got our minds right for this game. If Ireland can win on the first two weekends - in Scotland and then in Italy - then it may get interesting.

We play England in Dublin on the final weekend, of course, and how I would love to play in that one! It might be particularly good fun if there was a Grand Slam at stake - perhaps for both teams!

But I don't want to get ahead of myself, that's fatal. Anyone can lose to anyone else, that is the nature of the Six Nations.

We've been reminded of that in recent times with ourselves beating both England and France, and Wales and Scotland also beating England.

Italy have not won since their very first match, against Scotland in 2000, but they've been unlucky as some of their players retired after getting them into the Six Nations.

They have had to rebuild, which is tough, but they will now be targeting several games as potential wins.

It is going to be, as ever, a very exciting tournament.

Keith Wood was talking to Mark Baldwin

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