Questions, questions, questions

This week we will be mostly concerning ourselves with questions, questions, questions…

Welcome to Loose Pass – our weekly assortment of disjointed thoughts. This week we will be mostly concerning ourselves with questions, questions, questions…

Having trouble sleeping? You are not alone. The greatest show on earth is upon us and we are way beyond excited. Bring it on!

We've read all the Six Nations previews, mulled over selections and have listened as the protagonists continue to talk the talk.

But there are still a number of questions keeping us up at night.

We thought it might be therapeutic to jot them down, so here they are.

And please offer up answers if you have them!

:: Can Ireland defend the spoils? It took 62 years of hurt to inspire them to last year's Grand Slam. Will the lure of the 'double' summon up the same sort of spirit?

:: There's always added spice when the Championship follows a British & Irish Lions tour. Who will be the first pair of Lions to punctuate the pause in national hostilities with a swinging handbag? We'll have a cheeky punt on Simon Shaw and Andy Powell.

:: Can England finally silence their critics? Considering that they finished second to Ireland last year, an improvement could be a tall order.

:: How will Italy cope without the great Sergio Parisse?

:: Just what will be going through Andy Robinson's head when his Scots meet England at Murrayfield? And which anthem will he sing?

:: Will Martin Johnson finally lamp Sky's Graham Simmons? Go on, Johnno! We dare ya!

:: Who will deputise for Phil Godman on Sunday? Neither Dan Parks or Ruaridh Jackson made Scotland's bench. Fulgence Ouedraogo will be licking his lips…

:: So, Wilko, how would you like it served up? Flat or deep?

:: Just who will be the broadcasters' go-to-girl-in-the-crowd now that Charlotte Church is no longer an interested party? Might we suggest Ben Foden's squeeze, Una Healy? Please?

:: How long will it take before BBC commentators Eddie Butler and Brian Moore begin to bicker? We'll have a punt on the second scrum of their first match.

:: How much will the RFU make with their latest foray into the world of haute couture? After failing to hit a purple patch against Argentina in November, England will go all retro for the game against Wales. The one-off jersey is a nice piece of kit, but where will this madness end?

:: Will it go to the wire? The Championship has a beautiful habit of building to a crescendo, so is the scheduling of 'Le Crunch' auspicious?

:: Will Mathieu Bastareaud be dancing on the streets of Edinburgh come Sunday night? Whatever the outcome of the match, we doubt it…

:: What sounds will accompany Lee Byrne's first touch of the ball at Twickenham on Saturday?

:: Can Mathew Tait make it 32nd time lucky and finally establish himself as a first-choice England player? And how many times will that debut against Gavin Henson be mentioned in the build-up to Saturday's game?

:: Who will be the 'find' of the tournament? A tricky one, perhaps. With RWC 2011 bearing down on us, there aren't too many new faces around. Perhaps 'revelation' would be a better term.

:: Will Ryan Jones be able to extend two fingers to the 2009 British & Irish Lions selectors?

:: “Steve Borthwick did not even make the Lions' reserve list. Fact.” Can the England captain force Lawrence Dallaglio to eat his words?

:: Who will proffer the best soundbite of the tournament? Whatever it is, surely it can't beat Brian O'Driscoll's winner of 2009: “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”

:: Will Wales's all-Lions Test unit of Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees and Adam Jones live up to its top billing?

:: Can England find a pair of props that can adequately fill the boots of the ever-absent Andy Sheridan and Phil Vickery.

:: Who will win the battle between Ronan O'Gara and Jonathan Sexton?

:: How will the joint captaincy of Scotland's Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair work out?

:: Will France blow hot or cold? Or cold, hot, hot, cold, hot. Or hot, hot, cold, cold, hot? Ah, 'tis the riddle of our ages!

:: Who will come out on top? Complete this sequence: England, England, France, England, France, Wales, France, France, Wales, Ireland, xxxxxxxx.

Okay, over to you – set us straight!

Failing that, we shall return with answers after the tournament comes to a close on that distant March day.