Test rugby season opens with stunning result

Spain's international "double" last season - European champions at both 7s and 15s - was largely overlooked by many people, mainly because it was perhaps so many leading players and teams were concentrating on the World Cup.

Well, now everyone is back - and today Spain showed that 2010 was no flash in the pan, taking Scotland apart by five tries to one. The final score - 28-13 - was only as close as it was thanks to the kicking of Scotland's Caroline Collie (with two penalties and a conversion), while all but one of Spain's kicks were missed.

Scotland - 8th in the World Cup, and 4th in the last Six Nations - fielded 10 players from the World Cup, so this is likely to be pretty much the team they will be fielding in this year's Six Nations. They will be kicking that tournament off one month tomorrow, against France. Its a tournament that will be even more unpredictable than ever, with all squads including a great many changes.

In fact the only predictable thing is that Spain - arguably the third- (or even maybe second-) best side in Europe - will not be there... because the Italian men's team is better than their men's team.  There are times when rugby makes no sense at all...