Friday 29 January 2016 12:42, UK
Wales coach Warren Gatland says the Six Nations is the greatest competition in world rugby - because of the supporters.
Gatland ranks the tournament - which begins next weekend - above the Rugby Championship and World Cup.
The New Zealander acknowledges the qualities of the other tournaments, and in some cases their advantages, but he says the atmosphere at Six Nations matches makes it his favourite.
"There is no doubt there is some absolute quality in the Rugby Championship," the New Zealander said.
"We have seen that and we can't argue with that in terms of the World Cup.
"But as a competition, nothing rivals the Six Nations. It's not just a rugby game, it's an event, it's bragging rights for 12 months," added Gatland, who has won three Championships, including two Grand Slams, with Wales.
"What's brilliant about it, and what the southern hemisphere can't replicate, is the amount of away fans.
"That's what creates the atmosphere in stadiums. That's special, it's absolutely brilliant. There's the history of the tournament as well."
In the Six Nations, the teams play each other just once in the course of a Championship and Gatland said: "Perhaps where the Rugby Championship has a slight advantage is those home and away fixtures and the flexibility to be a bit more expansive in the way teams play.
"This tournament is over so quickly, there's a lot of external pressure on teams and coaches to get results and perform. You lose a game and everyone's desperate to get a result.
"It's all about winning rather than the way that you play."
Gatland believes that the northern hemisphere would benefit if they played expansive, pressure-free rugby, rather than playing purely for victory.
"On the final weekend last year, we saw when the shackles came off and teams had to go out and play, we saw what we are capable of doing," said Gatland in a reference to a day where 27 tries were scored in three matches, with Ireland winning the tournament on points difference.
"We saw some brilliant rugby. If we were able to produce that on a more consistent basis, then I think we would compete more with the southern hemisphere.
"Maybe long term the best thing for northern hemisphere rugby is to forget about the pressure of just winning. Sometimes you are going to have great games of rugby and one team is going to lose,"
