Six Nations 2002 - Wales

Hope always springs eternal in the Valleys at this time of year, but heavenknows why since Welsh rugby at club and national level has very little toshout about - apart from Llanelli's rousing shows in Europe.

That's good newsin as far as new skipper Scott Quinnell is in the form of his life but youcan't rely on the Welsh Keith Wood, a world class scrum half in RobertHowley and Iestyn Harris, a talented rugby league convert but still in thereception class when it comes to controlling international games.

The Walescamp, hardly bursting at the seams with world class performers, has notbeen full of happy bunnies either and the Colin Charvis debacle could nothave happened in a true professional enviroment. How could they lose theSwansea flanker's experience and quality at the expense of family holiday?

But coach Graham Henry and his uncompromising forwards' coach, fellow KiwiSteve Hansen, have begun to play hard ball with the players in terms ofself-discipline and application in an effort to drag them out of thedoldrums. The result will be seen in how well the pack deal with Ireland'sfire and athleticism at Lansdowne Road , a lucky ground for the Welsh.

TheSix Nations will be vital for Wales to find an embryonic World Cup teambarely 18 months before the championship. Henry is hoping that a crop of promising youngsters,including Cardiff centre Jamie Robinson and wing Craig Morgan, can step upa level - but his biggest dilemma must be whether to play Harris , shown upby Felipe Contepomi in the November defeat by Argentina, at 10 or 11.

Nodoubt Stephen Jones will act as his minder again but for my money theadmirable Llanelli man is still the best fly half in the principality atthe moment.