Gatland: Ireland are favourites to win Six Nations
Wales boss Warren Gatland believes that this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship is "a little bit of an unknown quantity" - but he has installed titleholders Ireland as favourites.
Wales' Six Nations opener is against Ireland in Dublin on February 7, while both England and France will be under the guidance of new coaches in Eddie Jones and Guy Noves, respectively.
Ireland are chasing a hat-trick of Six Nations crowns with head coach Joe Schmidt at the helm, although they go into battle without second-row talisman Paul O'Connell, who has retired from Test rugby, and have also been hit by some injury setbacks.
But Wales head coach Gatland said: "I think one of the things about the Irish is that they would like to go in with people writing them off, even though they have won the championship for the last two years.
"They have to go in as favourites. The thing about any Irish team is that you write them off, and you do that at your peril.
"We go into this tournament respecting them immensely, and particularly what they have achieved under Joe Schmidt over the last two seasons.
"I think they are favourites for the tournament, given the experience they have at knowing how to win, particularly under pressure. They have lost a couple of experienced players, but it is going to be a tough proposition for us.
"The Six Nations is a little bit of an unknown quantity, I suppose, in terms of a couple of new coaches with France and England.
"I think there a number of teams that can go out and do well in this competition. I think the opening round of games will give us some indication about where teams are at, and potentially who is capable of winning this competition."