WALES go into this week's Six Nations Champio-nship as the dark horses, the team the rest fear.

That in itself represents a remarkable transformation for a nation that for far too long has been at the bottom of the pile languishing among the also- rans.

Only two years ago Wales suffered the humiliation of being whitewashed, including a first defeat by the Italians in Rome.

Now Wales are climbing back up the ladder and are posing a real threat to the previously dominant England and France who have between them won nine of the last 10 titles, only Scotland breaking the mould in 1999.

It may be a national disease to translate a time of promise into a new dawn only for the dreams to be shattered as reality dawns.

But this time the green shoots of a recovery look as though they could really flower this time.

Performances in the Autumn series, notably against South Africa and New Zealand, have been duly noted by all the rivals, even if they did end up in narrow defeats.

At last week's Six Nations launch with the sombre setting of Westminster Abbey in the background, opposition coaches and captain were almost reverential about Wales and their prospects.

And it wasn't the usual talking the opposition up tactics either as you sensed the other countries regarded Wales as a real danger.

Without being a formidable force up front, Wales nevertheless came out of some pretty fierce confrontations with a certain amount of credit. But it was in their rediscovered passion and flair behind that the Welsh team announced themselves back on the international stage beginning in Australia 15 months ago in the World Cup.

One player who was there and one who wasn't are presenting a dual threat to all the rest - Shane Williams, a real jack-in-the-box who frightened the life out of New Zealand and England in the World Cup and Gavin Henson, who is now fulfilling the promise which made him the international young player of the year a few seasons ago.

They have to get the ball first, of course, before they can inflict any real damage on the opposition. If they do then Wales can definitely shake the rest and upset the favourites.

England, for all their injuries and retirements, still pose a real threat.

Despite the high scores that are so prevalent today forward domination still wins matches and the English front five look pretty formidable, tight head prop Julian White probably the best in the world in his position.

England's chances rest with a largely untried midfield axis with players of the calibre of Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall, Will Greenwood and Stuart Abbot all ruled out while Martin Corry and Richard Hill are also sidelined from the back row, while giants Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back have long since retired from international rugby.

Ireland are many people's tip if only because the fixture list presents them with a real opportunity, opening up with Italy in Rome, with England and France both at home, Scotland away and a possible championship decider in Cardiff to finish up with.

Favourable though that appears, I still don't fancy the Irish.

To me they are on the wane, getting a bit long in the tooth up front in some cases and with too little imagination behind.

I really hope they don't make it either because Ireland treat the Celtic League in such a cavalier fashion, fielding weakened or full strength teams virtually on a whim almost as if they enjoy being awkward.

Ruling out Scotland and Italy, for they are surely too weak to make any impression and believing that Wales are not the finished article yet while England could struggle and Ireland are too limited, I'm going for France to win the title.

Inconsistent they may be as they vary from being positively astounding to completely disinterested, but if they feel like it and if they hit form then the rest might as well give up now.

They possess awesome power up front as Biarritz, Stade Francais and Toulouse have shown in the Heineken Cup while their backs combine power and skill in equal measures with players of the calibre of Damien Traille and Frederic Michalak.

So it's France for me, with England still a threat, Wales a danger, Ireland under achieving and Scotland and Italy bringing up the rear.