It might be harsh on champions France and Triple Crown winners Ireland, but this season's RBS 6 Nations tournament will not linger long in the memory.

Bizarrely, it will probably be remembered for the fluctuating fortunes of those countries that finished third to sixth.

Scotland were transformed under new coach Frank Hadden, achieving their highest Six Nations finish, while Italy made giant strides and at last look comfortable in European rugby's blue riband event.

World champions England though, sunk without trace after winning their first two games, slumping to fourth place for a second successive campaign, while last season's Grand Slam winners Wales struggled on the pitch and were a shambles off it following Mike Ruddock's shock departure as coach.

Here, PA Sport Rugby Union Correspondent Andrew Baldock gives his end-of-term report on a tournament that had its moments, but ultimately left little impression.

FRANCE

Coach Bernard Laporte has achieved a fairly impressive feat in masterminding a Six Nations title triumph, but revealing little to his main rivals ahead of the 2007 World Cup.

France prevailed despite being without the services of their best player - injured centre Yannick Jauzion - yet they hardly moved out of second gear, playing only in patches against Italy and Wales, crushing England largely through the world champions' incompetence and rattling up 40 points against Ireland after profiting lavishly from their opponents' mistakes.

Laporte turned to thirtysomethings Raphael Ibanez and Olivier Magne following an opening weekend defeat against Scotland, and their experience - combined with Thomas Castaignede's dashing flair at full-back - helped them recover.

IRELAND

Undoubtedly possessed the tournament's best back division, with players like Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Trimble and especially wing Shane Horgan all having their moments, and a second Triple Crown in three seasons was a fair reward for Irish endeavour.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan also unearthed a livewire hooker in Jerry Flannery, while line-out colossus Paul O'Connell reigned supreme and the back-row combination of Simon Easterby, David Wallace and Denis Leamy was perhaps the tournament's most efficient breakaway unit.

The real test is looming for Ireland though, with two away Test matches against New Zealand awaiting them this summer.

SCOTLAND

Coach Frank Hadden deserves every accolade in the book for transforming Scotland's spirit and standing in European rugby following the miserable reign of his predecessor, Australian Matt Williams.

Hadden instilled a pride and a purpose in everything Scotland did, beginning with a stunning victory over France, continuing by ripping the Calcutta Cup from England's grasp and then beating Italy in Rome. Had lock Scott Murray not been harshly sent off during a 28-18 loss to Wales, then it is conceivable the Scots might have won four games out of five.

Captain Jason White and his fellow back-row stars Ally Hogg and Simon Taylor proved consistently impressive contributors, while Chris Paterson's nerveless goalkicking also played a critical role in an outstanding Scottish revival.

ENGLAND

World champions? World chumps more like, on the evidence of another miserable Six Nations campaign that saw England lose three successive games for the second season running and finish a wholly unacceptable fourth.

They started competently enough by brushing aside Wales and eventually winning well in Italy, but the wheels came off against Scotland before France punished the most shambolic English performance for years by inflicting a 31-6 Paris drubbing on Andy Robinson's men.

England then delivered an improved display against Ireland, but still lost, and it is time for Robinson to seriously look at young talent such as Mathew Tait, Tom Varndell, Tom Rees and Magnus Lund. This summer's Australia tour should be the starting point.

WALES

Last season's Grand Slam champions flirted with the wooden spoon, as their only Six Nations points arrived from a win against 14-man Scotland and a home draw that meant Italy's long run of away defeats came to a halt.

Wales were dealt a cruel hand in terms of injuries - Ryan Jones, Tom Shanklin, Kevin Morgan, Brent Cockbain and Chris Horsman missed the whole tournament - but their Six Nations was totally overshadowed by coach Mike Ruddock's departure after the Scotland game in mid-February.

With Ruddock gone - and fall-out is continuing over the reasons why - highly-rated Australian Scott Johnson took over on a caretaker basis, but under his stewardship, Wales managed one draw and two defeats. Johnson now looks set to head home and join the Wallabies' coaching staff, so chaos reigns supreme.

ITALY

Former France scrum-half Pierre Berbizier turned Italy into genuinely tough opponents for all their Six Nations rivals, and had certain refereeing decisions not gone against them, they could have collected more than just one point and another wooden spoon.

Italy possessed the tournament's best prop in Gloucester-bound Carlos Nieto and the best overall player in centre Mirco Bergamasco, while back-row forward Sergio Parisse proved occasionally good, but mostly very good.

Fly-half Ramiro Pez was the weak link, but with Italy facing home games against Wales, Ireland and France next season, prospects look good after finally taking their seat at European rugby's top table and not looking out of place.