Reference point for the first international 6N match.

One week out from the opening weekend of the 6N. Excitement levels are high as well as anticipation for the opening exchanges. I'm curious as to what you think are going through the minds of the players in the week leading up to the tests.

In the SH, the June internationals are preceded by the Super rugby tournament. The extended tournament means the winners are not yet known but the players go into the June tests to a large extent with the confidence and form gained from the Super tournament. Yet the last international reference point is the November internationals of the previous year. Quite a distance of time separates those two internationals. Plenty of time for players to fall out of form or regain it.

Certainly from a fan's point of view, I think the SH distinguishes club form and international form. The Chiefs winning their first title, for example, did nothing to alleviate the sting of the England defeat in 2012. The France series and the subsequent 4N was set up as a way of 'correcting' that defeat at Twickenham. What happened in club rugby was irrelevant.

My question is to the 6N fans, what is your previous reference point for the 6N matches? Are you thinking back as far back as the previous 6N? For example, are England fans still smarting from the loss to Wales despite winning all their previous games in the tournament? Does Wales have revenge on their minds for their first half humiliation against Ireland? Or are the November internationals fresher in your minds? Does Ireland take the first half positive memories against NZ or do they focus on the second half frustrations? Or does club form come into it? Is confidence based on players' current form or do you distinguish between club and international form and the 6N is a fresh start for the test players?

England: 2003 world cup
Wales: last red card
Ireland: First 51 minutes vs new zealand
Scotland: No point in actual time just the yearly "dark horse" bullshine
Italy: Doesnt really matter, their form is always pretty much the same so long as they dont put bergamsco at scrum half
France: Meh

Sadly sea biscuit, there's a lot of truth in what you say.

If modify Wales to "last victory over England" though.

Motivation:

England - We're British, it's natural to succeed. Don't ask us again, it's insulting.
Scotland - we're not British and this is the best year to prove it.
Wales - "International form, International form, International form, please come back now that seasonal club pretending is gone"
France - 'Motivation' is hidden away in a secret hidden camp in some dark forest that's hidden somewhere in France.  300 million Euros spent on top level science and conditioning expertise to get it into shape.  Clock ticking.
Ireland - The Ballad of Back-Stabbing Gatts, old traditional song written two weeks ago by BOD's baby.
Italy - Parisse.  It's always Parisse.