At first glance, not much has changed in the men’s Six Nations this year. Ireland and France remain in the top two places in the rankings, as in 2023, while Wales and Italy occupy the bottom two, while England and Scotland once again rank for the meat in the club sandwich. Ireland had the worst defense for the third year in a row, and strangely only the Welsh, who couldn’t win, managed to score more tries than last year.
But while this is not the same old Six Nations in every respect, the old tournament is enjoying a refreshing renaissance. The competition is now so tight that 10 of the 15 matches have been decided by four points or less, including three of the final round matches. If Netflix can’t create an award-winning series out of stunning “Super Saturday” footage alone, it should abandon the flying cameras on the wall and walk away.
Relating to: ‘Big steps’: Jamie George and Steve Borthwick on the rise despite France loss
Because if the ultimate definition of sporting glamor is waking up the next morning and wishing the tournament would restart in an instant, the 2024 Six Nations has passed the test of time. Perhaps that’s what organizers had in mind when planning for the women’s Six Nations to kick off this weekend. Either way, the entertainment bar has suddenly been set pretty high.
Rugby matches don’t come much more exciting than France’s 33-31 thriller against England in Lyon; There’s the incredible 38-38 Calcutta Cup tie at Twickenham in 2019, with fluctuating excitement and events. Nor are they as puzzling as Italy’s agonizing draw with France (the ball dropped from the kick-off as Paolo Garbisi prepared to score the winning shot) or Scotland’s controversial near-miss against the same opponents. The tournament could have turned out very differently if Sam Skinner’s disallowed “try” had been awarded.
What if England had started the tournament as enthusiastically as they finished it? It appears England have actually scored exactly the same number of tries (13) as last season, but their intention to play a more all-round game has done much to brighten up the last two weeks. Not only do the fans enjoy it more, but more importantly the players enjoy it more as well.
Of course, they still have some way to go before they can aspire to get to where Ireland are now. However, throughout the season England have attacked the opposition 22 more than any other team and look to be in a much better position despite being behind at half-time in all five games. When their impressively honest captain Jamie George says he feels exciting days lie ahead, he is not just talking about the Under-20 Nations title England lifted on Friday night.
Credit clearly needs to go to Steve Borthwick for freeing up his players mentally and encouraging them to go out and maximize their talents. Everything you need to know about Borthwick’s desire to continue this development can be gleaned from his decision to head to New Zealand this week for a scouting trip ahead of England’s summer tour. A late nap on the sofa or a leisurely trip to the garden center isn’t his thing.
Despite Ireland winning back-to-back titles, the coach of the tournament award should go to neither Borthwick nor Andy Farrell. The Irish have done a great job of retaining their Six Nations title by exiting the World Cup, but while it may not be a grand slam this time around, the most impressive transformation has been the one quietly engineered by Italy’s Gonzalo Quesada.
Watching Italy outplay disorganized Wales was one thing; To see them edge Scotland, draw in France and narrowly lose to England after a traumatic World Cup campaign was to feel that the Azzurri were truly on the verge of something more dramatic. Former Argentina fly-half Quesada has adopted a more balanced approach and with Benetton Treviso and Zebre improving and Italy’s under-20s also fighting hard, a top-half finish looks absolutely impossible in the next two years. question.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Wales. The first wooden spoon since 2003 is actually a testament to the consistent work Warren Gatland has done over the years, but his current problems extend far beyond one individual. No wonder New Wales chief executive Abi Tierney turned down Gatland’s post-match offer to resign from his position. With the Welsh counties at the top and the pool of quality players available becoming increasingly narrow, how many potential substitutes could enjoy this role?
Admittedly, they led England very closely at Twickenham and have injured squad members to return, but even their remarkable second-half recovery against Scotland and dogged challenges from Tommy Reffell could not mask the cracks widening elsewhere. Without a solid set-piece and half as much authority, there will always be the possibility of more problems down the road.
Despite the sweet sugar rush of beating England for the fourth time in a row, all is not all well and dandy for Scotland either. The problem, as always, is a mental one; With the final case study to be played in Dublin on Saturday. An off-the-key Ireland were there for the taking for a moment, only for Scotland to make familiar little mistakes at crucial times. This unfortunate defeat against France could have been avoided had they been more composed earlier in the match and perhaps more importantly, there is no way the Scottish Under-20 team can buy a win right now.
France, on the other hand, should be stronger in 2025 with the addition of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. While some of us may have underestimated the extent of the post-World Cup hangover, the raw material is certainly still there. How long Fabien Galthié will remain at the helm is another story, but never mind: the 2025 fixtures are already over. In the first two rounds, England will face Ireland away and France at home, and two of Italy’s first three matches will be played in Rome. Can the Irish triple it? In an uncertain world, we can still rely on the Six Nations to renew parts that other tournaments cannot reach.