Rugby union: 2003 predictions

By Nick Mullins BBC Sport rugby union commentator

FUTURE STARS

Lewis Moody
The Leicester flanker cements his place in Clive Woodward's England team and continues to play with the pace and aggression that has made him such a favourite at Welford Road.

Starting alongside Neil Back and Richard Hill, Moody is named Six Nations player-of-the-tournament and relegates Lawrence Dallaglio to a place on the bench.

Imanol Harinodoquy
The 22-year-old continues to make the hard yards for France and alongside Serge Betsen and Olivier Magne, forms one of the most powerful units in world rugby.

A superb technician at the back of the scrum and an able lineout jumper, Harinordoquy adds a presence to the French pack not seen since the great Jean-Pierre Rives.

Review: Rugby union 2002

Academy: The stars of 2003

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PREDICTIONS

Six Nations

The two teams who will spearhead Europe's World Cup challenge eight months down the line on the other side of the world meet at Twickenham to dispute the balance of power in their own back-yard.

France lead at half-time, but England re-gather and Jonny Wilkinson edges the home side towards their first win of 2003.

The decision to compress the newly-sponsored RBS Six Nations into seven weeks plays into England's hands.

Superior strength in depth allows them to overcome injuries easier and they wrap-up their first Grand Slam since 1995 on a wet day at Lansdowne Road.

Zurich Premiership/Powergen Cup

Northampton beat Leicester at a colourful Twickenham to lift the English Cup, while in one of those delicious quirks of the fixture computer, Gloucester defeat Leicester to end the regular Premiership season on top of the pile.

Mullins' top tips

World Cup: Eng/NZ

Tri-Nations: NZ

Six Nations: Eng

Hein Cup: Leicester

P Pen Cup: S Francais

Zurich Prem: Leeds

Pow Cup: Northampton

Defeat for the Tigers means they don't finish in the top three and miss out on the play-offs. Newcastle lose at Bath and are relegated - or are they?

Days later, the same brains who dreamt-up a scheme that means we can't call Gloucester champions just yet, decide there will be no relegation from the top division.

Newcastle are reprieved and Rotherham take their place in an expanded 13-team Premiership.

Some weeks later at a half-empty Twickenham and at the end of a draining domestic season, Leeds scrape past an exhausted Gloucester in the Zurich Premiership final.

The team who finished third - 20 points behind the team who finished first - are finally crowned champions.

European Cups

Leicester dramatically salvage their season by beating home favourites Leinster in the final of the Heineken Cup at Lansdowne Road, while Stade Francais overcome Pontypridd to claim the Parker Pen Challenge Cup.

World Cup - build-up

Ireland and Scotland begin the serious countdown to the World Cup in June with defeats against Australia and South Africa.

Ireland push the Wallabies hard, Scotland run-out of steam, the Springboks keep all 15 players on the pitch.

The All Blacks will claim the Tri-Nations crown

Meanwhile, Finland further their ambition to join the Eight Nations by 2020 with a resounding win against Israel.

Wales come close to shocking the World Champions before eventually succumbing at the Olympic Stadium.

England lose narrowly to the All Blacks but still underline their own Cup credentials. A week later, they beat Australia in Melbourne.

New Zealand see-off Australia to win the Tri-Nations. Doubts are raised about an ageing Wallaby team and South Africa harbour more hope than they did back in November 2002.

World Cup final

Star of the tournament, New Zealand's Richie McCaw gallops over for a last-minute try. Andrew Mehrtens misses the conversion.

New Zealand and England go into extra-time. Jonny Wilkinson's 50-metre penalty restores England's lead.

Aaron Mauger's unconverted try leaves the Blacks ahead 22-20 in added time at the end of extra-time.

Wilkinson shapes to drop for goal from 30-metres when my pencil snaps.