To mark the end of the Six Nations, we take a look at what lies ahead for each country -- with summer tours looming large on the agenda for all of them...

ENGLAND

Something to be excited by...

England will head to Australia as Grand Slam champions; it is a rare occurrence. For the first time since their trips Down Under in 2002 and 2003, there will be a fear factor about the tourists. And all this just a handful of months after English rugby was at its lowest ebb following the well-documented Rugby World Cup failure..

The good news for Eddie Jones is that there are a group of players returning to full fitness who will have hopes of gatecrashing the Grand Slam party. The likes of Exeter's Henry Slade and Dave Ewers will be challenging for a spot in the squad and Manu Tuilagi, an unused substitute in Paris, will also improve as he gets more game-time under his belt. Jones has challenged those on the fringes to force his hand with selection. Equally he has warned those currently in the team that if they let their standards slide or allow complacency to cloud their drive then they will be dropped. Jones has a great pool of players at his disposal.

Something to be nervous about...

The end to the season is likely to be fraught, attritional and exhausting. For someone like Billy Vunipola, he will have barely drawn breath since July 2014. From that point he played a whole season with Saracens, then went into the World Cup training camp, then played in the tournament itself, then returned to Sarries and then joined England. He will now be a key player for Sarries as they challenge for the Aviva Premiership title and European honours. Burnout is a concern and it is something that must be managed heading forward.

The one thing they really need to sort before the summer...

England are in a good place at the moment but you sense there may be a bit of a rejig in the midfield when they head to Australia. The axis of George Ford-Owen Farrell-Jonathan Joseph has performed well but with Tuilagi, Slade and Elliot Daly looking for a chance to impress Jones, there may be some rotation there as he looks to nail down his starting XV. Discipline was also an issue in the championship -- England are still giving away too many penalties. Jones is fairly dismissive of it as an issue, but against Australia, England must be miserly with their penalty count.

-- Tom Hamilton

WALES

Something to be excited by...

By their own admission it has been an up-and-down, frustrating championship for Wales, but the form of key players, Taulupe Faletau and Jamie Roberts in particular, will give them hope as they prepare for New Zealand this summer. Roberts, rugged in defence and barnstorming attack, has shone brightest in red but it is the form of Faletau that should have Welsh fans crowing loudest.

Wales could easily have crumbled in their opening game in Dublin having found themselves 13-0 down after less than half an hour. However, they stood up to the challenge with a period of pressure that yielded a try that helped set up a 16-16 draw. In the end it felt like a defeat for the visitors.

At the heart of that effort was Faletau, whose score it was that hauled Warren Gatland's side back into the contest, and whose 19 tackles -- none missed -- had been integral in limiting the damage prior to those precious five points. The Tonga-born No.8 continued that level of performance in the rest of the championship, adding to his Six Nations try tally in the process.

Faletau has averaged 9.4 carries and 13.8 tackles per game this campaign, stats which highlight his all-round influence on the side. But his tries against Ireland and England were only his fifth and sixth in Test rugby.

If he adds tries to his game on a consistent basis then he truly will become a No.8 to frighten the biggest teams in the world. Ahead of a tough summer tour, the 25-year-old's potential is still frightening.

Something to be nervous about...

Saturday's dismantling of Italy helped put a smile back on the face of Welsh rugby following the previous weekend's Twickenham nightmare, but it could not offer complete redemption.

Even within such a commanding victory lay cause for mild concern. Wales clearly wanted to put on a show for the 74,160 fans inside the Millennium Stadium but during the first half they tried to force things a little too much.

High risk offloads were attempted when keeping it simple -- setting up the next phase, putting the ball through hands -- would probably have been rewarded with tries. The result was that several promising moves ground to a halt as possession was lost or knocked on, Wales squandering myriad opportunities while the Azzurri were down to 14 men.

It mattered not given Italy seemed to keen to roll over, but was symptomatic of a frustrating campaign. Against Ireland, Wales tried to play with width but went wide too early and played into their hosts' hands. Meanwhile, Scotland stood up to them in the air and beat them on the ground, and England steamrolled them for 40 minutes.

Wales were bailed out, largely, by the potency of their attack when it does click into gear but they cannot expect to start so slowly in New Zealand this June and come home with anything other than an humbling whitewash.

The one thing they really need to sort before the summer...

Develop a viable Plan B in attack. It is the preferred mantra of the Gatland regime that teams have to earn the right to play with width. That was certainly the case against Ireland, but it does not mean that any attempt to formulate an alternative to 'Warren-ball' should be shelved.

It was heartening that Wales at least tried to play a different way in the early stages of the championship, but while it was the tried and tested formula that ultimately punched holes in Ireland, Scotland and France, it will not be enough to beat New Zealand.

If Wales are serious about winning a first ever Test against the All Blacks in New Zealand then they must learn to play a little more expansively. They have the players to do so, after all, the tries scored on Saturday by Jonathan Davies, Dan Biggar and Jamie Roberts prove that. But poor decision-making at times has let them down badly.

Gatland will have little time with his players between now and their trip to Twickenham to face England on May 29. There will not be wholesale changes, but a fine-tuning of the positive aspects of this campaign is a necessity.

-- Martyn Thomas

IRELAND

Something to be excited by...

The new blood. Schmidt assimilated five new players into his squad over the course of the tournament, with CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier, Ultane Dillane, Finlay Bealham and Stuart McCloskey all making their Test debuts. South African-born Stander has impressed in the back row with two tries, while Van Der Flier put in strong performances against England and Italy.

"There's been a lot of guys who haven't had a lot of experience before this," captain Rory Best said after the victory against Scotland. "They have now come in and, over the first three games, will have realised what it takes to play Test rugby. They've learned what we built our success on. We now have a good pool of players who know what it takes to win at this level."

Stander, who made 22 carries against Vern Cotter's side, added: "You never know when you're going to play again. I just wanted to put in everything I could and leave that jersey in a better place." That kind of attitude and approach is going to stand Ireland in very good stead for years to come.

Something to be nervous about...

Their world ranking and upcoming schedule. The 2019 Rugby World Cup pool draw could come as early as December this year which, given the close nature of the world's top 10, may put Ireland's place in the top two pots at risk.

While closing Six Nations wins over Italy and Scotland seemingly relieved some of the pressure, Ireland's remaining schedule this year is relentless. In June, they face World Cup semifinalists South Africa in a three-Test series, with two Tests against New Zealand and one against Australia to follow in November.

Stander is under no illusions: "It's going to be tough. They play a physical game, you need to keep your head down and get on with your own game. If they get into it, it could be a long day."

The one thing they really need to sort before the summer...

Convince Joe Schmidt to sign on the dotted line. The former Clermont and Leinster coach stated last week that he would decide whether to extend his Ireland stay for the 2019 World Cup following this summer's tour of South Africa.

His current deal is up at the end of the 2016-17 season and, following back-to-back Six Nations titles in 2014 and 2015, there was some pressure on him following three Tests without a win at the start of this year's edition.

"His track record speaks for how good a coach he is and how well he is able to command the dressing room," flanker Tommy O'Donnell said. "He's a great coach, the way he prepares teams and how he goes about the week is fantastic. When we have Joe Schimdt for Ireland, it's better. He's a great coach and the lads respond well to him."

Touring South Africa will be hard enough. Touring with a cloud of doubt over their coach's future will only make it tougher. Time to push hard and get a deal done ahead of time.

-- Rob Bartlett

SCOTLAND

Something to be excited by...

They have potential. After coming within a breath of reaching the World Cup semifinals last year, Cotter's side are beginning to make strides in the Six Nations. It is hard to believe they finished last year's edition with five defeats out of five. The performances of both Stuart Hogg and WP Nel over the past six months have been a huge positive for Scottish rugby and it would not be outlandish to suggest a possible British & Irish Lions call up for both. In Scotland's camp, there is a big sense that progress is finally being made.

"We need to work on the stuff we can control," said Cotter after defeat in Dublin. "The boys have kept trying and that's a positive for me. As much as we're disappointed, there's a lot we can take from this.."

Something to be nervous about...

A lack of discipline when it matters. It cost them in the dying seconds of their World Cup quarterfinal against Australia last year and again when in a good position and pushing Ireland all the way in Dublin. Keeping calm in moments of heated pressure is what sets apart champions and title contenders from the rest. Two yellow cards against Joe Schmidt's side cost Scotland any hopes of victory and a chance of third place, with Ireland running in three tries when their opponents were down to 14 men.

"Playing 20 minutes with only 14 on the field is tough," added Cotter. "We accept criticism because it helps us move forward so we'll analyse it and have a good look. We're driven to improve. That's not just a story we're telling, that's something that is within the group and will continue to thrive."

The one thing they really need to sort before the summer...

Do not fall back into their old ways. This is a pivotal time for Scotland: performances and results are improving. They have a strong front row, two really classy locks and in captain Greig Laidlaw a real leader who embodies Cotter's values. This is not a Scotland that has to see a 'big' opponent have an off day in order to have any chance of winning -- those days are passed now.

With two Tests against Japan this summer, there is a real chance for Scotland to put pressure on that top eight and reaching the top two seeding pots for the 2019 World Cup should be a realistic target.

-- Rob Bartlett

FRANCE

Something to be excited by...

France's two shining lights were winger Virimi Vakatawa and captain Guilhem Guirado. If they can get Vakatawa to stay away from touch -- he had a horrible habit of finding himself ushered over the touchline against England -- then they have a potent weapon at their disposal. They must get him into a Top 14 side and playing regularly if they want him to realise his potential but Vakatawa could be a star in the waiting. The same goes for Jonathan Danty who had a poor tournament despite his pre-championship hype but his potential remains frightening.

And then there is captain Guirado. In a tournament where France have struggled, he has been their most consistent player and their main inspiration. Magic 14 more of him from somewhere and France will be a terrifying team to face.

Something to be nervous about...

What are France? Against England they looked like a team of individuals; whenever a player broke the gainline the other 14 reacted with surprise and opportunities were squandered. Their once formidable set piece is creaking -- England enjoyed picking off French lineouts -- and they seem devoid of a playing philosophy. Their defence did well to restrict England to three tries but France have been an underwhelming beast in this tournament.

They are still bedding into life with their new coach but he does not seem to have a clear picture of his first choice XV. Stade Francais players were preferred at the start of the tournament but the team sit 12th in the Top 14 -- they are struggling for confidence. The decision to put Wesley Fofana on the wing was strange while their back-row selection seems to be a lottery. France have fiercely talented players, the ability is there but it seems they are a confused bunch. They will take time to gel ahead of their two-Test summer tour to Argentina.

The one thing they really need to sort before the summer...

The game plan needs nailing down. Are France going to be a set-piece orientated side? Are they going to be a physical force or are they going to play with flair? They also need to get Louis Picamoles fit. Without their inspirational No.8, they lacked physical go-forward. Maxime Machenaud must be given an extended run in the No.9 jersey with Fofana back in the centres. It is early days for France under Guy Noves, the ability is there, they just need to find an identity.

-- Tom Hamilton

ITALY

Something to be excited by...

Following an abject championship that saw 29 tries conceded and only eight scored as Italy lost all five matches convincingly, there is little reason to cheer. Michele Campagnaro remains one rare bright spot, and his centre partnership with Gonzalo Garcia continues to improve, but this was a bruising campaign.

Rock bottom is rapidly careering into view, and with that in mind, the one chink of light for fans of the Azzurri is that a regime change is also on the horizon. Jacques Brunel departed following Saturday's defeat in Cardiff, and with no disrespect to the affable coach, his exit could help lift the ailing side.

Whoever comes in will have a huge job on their hands but will bring with them a chance for revival as slates are wiped clean and moods lightened. The new coach's first assignment will be the summer tour of the Americas, to face Argentina, the U.S. and Canada. Avoid a big defeat in the first and win the other two and the clouds over Italian rugby could begin to subside.

Something to be nervous about...

Italy finished their campaign by conceding 18 tries in just two matches. The scale of their capitulation against both Ireland and Wales was worrying, as was the ease with which those sides breached their try line.

For 10 minutes just after half-time it seemed as though they had started their post-championship break a bit early. There was simply no fight or passion from those in light blue.

Giving a side who have collected two Wooden Spoons from their last Six Nations -- and are currently having their place among the elite questioned -- some belief will be the new coach's biggest job.

In Italy's defence they have had to contend with a raft of injuries of late and were extremely depleted against Wales. Brunel has been forced to use 28 different players in his starting XV over the five matches, and has called up an additional 10 since naming his initial 30-man squad.

Tomasso Allan, meanwhile, became the fourth different player to start at fly-half for Italy during the championship, which highlights the Azzurri's problems.

As Brunel intimated in Cardiff on Saturday night, any side in world rugby would struggle if they had to make similar running repairs. But the fact remains that those that have come in have not been up to the standard required. It is difficult to know exactly where Italy go from here. The hard work starts now.

The one thing they really need to sort before the summer...

Italy's problems this championship have been manifold, but they must draw a line under this campaign and move forward. It was only three years ago that the Azzurri finished fourth in the Six Nations and the new coach, whoever it may be, must instil the belief that they can do so again.

A large part of that job will involve getting the best Italian players fit and back out on the pitch. However, there is also a mental component that cannot be underestimated.

Italy have spent the last 16 years at European rugby's top table being served up meagre portions. The Azzurri have not tasted victory in Cardiff, Dublin, Paris or at Twickenham in 35 attempts. That must take its toll mentally as players prepare themselves on the training pitch for weeks on end with defeat the expected outcome.

Italy's performances at the Rugby World Cup highlighted as much as they struggled badly against both Canada and Romania, teams they should have beaten comfortably as a supposed 'tier one' team.

Success breeds confidence and the incoming coach will target summer games against the U.S. and Canada as an opportunity. Beat both and light will begin to emerge at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Lose either and calls for promotion and relegation will only get louder.

-- Martyn Thomas