Rising in the wake of the World Cup, the Six Nations is characteristically unpredictable.

Management has changed hands, players have retired and rookies have inevitably put their hands up for selection in Europe's showpiece event.

Scotland, along with joint-favourites Wales, head into this year's championship as one of the few settled sides. And like their Celtic cousins, the Dark Blues, have unfinished business lingering from the autumn.

Hosts England bowed out of their own tournament in the pool stages along with Italy, whilst Ireland and France were well beaten in their respective quarter-finals against Argentina and champions New Zealand.

Now, just under four years away from the next tournament in Japan, the current crop of bosses will seize the opportunity to blood the next generation of talent for their respective nations.

Here are six to watch over the next eight weeks:

The tighthead prop position has been a troublesome one for Scotland over the past few years. However, since Edinburgh's WP Nel qualified to wear the dark blue last August, front row options seem a lot healthier than in past campaigns.

That bodes well for 20 year-old Zander Fagerson who will become the youngest debutant prop in over half a century should he see any action in the coming weeks.

Standing 6 foot 2 inches and weighing 18 stone, Fagerson is already an incredible specimen for a front row forward. Since making his club debut a little over a year ago, the Perth-born prop has been ever-present in the Warriors matchday squad, catching the eye with a powerful display in the away defeat to Racing 92 in January.

Having already donned the dark blue jersey at age-group level, expect Fagerson to make a similar powerful impact if he is called upon by Vern Cotter in the coming weeks.

Much has been said about the controversial appointment of Northampton's Dylan Hartley as England skipper in Eddie Jones's new-look squad, but many believe it is another hooker that will grab the headlines this month.

Since coming through the Sarries academy in 2009, Jamie George has been a mainstay in the Premiership champion's front row and performs his cores tasks at the set piece with conviction and precision. The 25 year-old also consistently offers himself as a ball-carrier and frequently pops up as a support runner to finish off sweeping team tries.

Expect to see him start against Italy, or when Hartley picks up an inevitable suspension.

There hasn't been much for Munster fans to cheer about this season, but the emergence and nationalisation of the dynamic CJ Stander, who joined the province as a "project player" from his native Natal, has been something to behold.

Since scoring two tries on debut against Glasgow Warriors in 2012, Stander has made over 70 appearances for Munster and scored an incredible 23 tries in less than four years.

With incumbent number 8 Jamie Heaslip now in the latter stages of his career, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt may look to Munster's adopted South African for some badly needed forward power at the base of the scrum.

It would seem odd that a rugby-mad nation like Wales would be short on wingers but since the retirement of Shane Williams four years ago, only George North has been a mainstay for Warren Gatland. A spate of injuries suggests fringe players will be called upon.

Standing at 6 foot 1 inch Hallam Amos joined the Dragons in 2011 and has since crossed the try line on 17 occasions, leading to a Wales call-up in the autumn of 2013. The 21 year-old was named in the 2015 Wales World cup squad but was injured in the victory over England at Twickenham.

With Leigh Halfpenny ruled out and Liam Williams struggling to recover from injury there is uncertainty as to who will wear the 15 jersey when Wales travel to Dublin on this weekend. Amos possesses all the attributes required to make a positive impact in Halfpenny's absence and is comfortable on the left wing if required.

France enter this year's tournament at something of a crossroads since their quarter final defeat to the All Blacks at the World cup. Veteran Toulouse coach Guy Noves has come in to steady the ship and he's brought some exciting new talent with him.

Livewire 24 year-old scrum-half Bezy has been playing well in a mis-firing Toulouse team this year, but his accuracy from hand and from the kicking tee puts him just behind Maxime Machenaud and Morgan Parra, both three years his superior, in the scrummy pecking order.

The French rugby public expect their 9 to be able to do everything and Bezy is no exception. Expect to see him slot any late Les Bleus conversions, and he's also not a bad pick for your fantasy team.

The Azzuri head in to this year's championship desperately seeking some sort of redemption for their under-par performance at the World cup last Autumn where they finished third place in Pool D.

Head coach Jacques Brunel has shed some of the dead wood from last season and has selected only two recognised 10s for this year's Six Nations, Carlo Canna's seven caps making him the most experienced. His understudy for club and country Edoardo Padovani, by comparison, has yet to make his International debut.

Canna will be responsible for orchestrating Italy's under-performing backline but the Zebre man has the ability to bring runners such as Gonzalo Garcia and Leonardo Sarto into the game with his varied style of play.

A tough schedule for the Italy sees them play away from home on three of the five weekends. Though expectations of the side are humble, playmaker Canna can help reignite the struggling Italian attacking game and lift some of the doom and gloom surrounding Italian rugby.