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Upon initial observation, there appears to be minimal change in the standings of the men’s Six Nations championship this year. Ireland and France maintained their top two spots, as they did in 2023, while Wales and Italy remained in the bottom two and England and Scotland were once again in the middle. Similarly, for the third consecutive year, Ireland had the best defensive record and only Wales, who did not secure any wins, managed to score more tries than the previous year.

However, although this year’s Six Nations may not have been a vintage one in every aspect, the classic tournament is experiencing a revitalization. The matches were incredibly close, with 10 out of 15 being decided by only four points or less, even including the final-round games. If Netflix is unable to create an award-winning series solely from the incredible footage of “Super Saturday”, perhaps they should consider using different filming techniques.

A successful sporting event leaves us eagerly wanting more, and the 2024 Six Nations tournament definitely achieved that. This may have been the intention of the organizers when they decided to start the women’s Six Nations this weekend. Either way, the entertainment level has been raised to new heights.

France and England’s rugby match in Lyon was an intense and exhilarating one, similar to the dramatic Calcutta Cup draw in Twickenham in 2019. Italy’s match against France was also full of tension, with a near-miss for Scotland in their game against the same opponents. If Sam Skinner’s disallowed “try” had been allowed, the tournament could have had a different outcome.

What if England had started the tournament in the same exciting way that they ended it? Surprisingly, they scored the same number of tries as in the previous season – 13 – but their determination to play a more diverse game greatly enhanced the last two weeks. Not only are their fans enjoying it more, but the players are as well.

There is still a ways to go before they can hope to reach the level of success that Ireland has achieved. However, throughout this campaign, England has made more advances into the opposition’s territory than any other team. Despite being behind in all five games at half-time, they appear to be in a stronger position overall. When their captain, Jamie George, honestly mentions his belief in a promising future, he is not just referring to England’s Under-20 Six Nations victory on Friday evening.

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Steve Borthwick deserves credit for his efforts in mentally liberating his players and motivating them to reach their full potential. Borthwick’s commitment to sustaining this progress is evident in his decision to travel to New Zealand ahead of England’s summer tour for preparation purposes. He is not one to relax with a nap or a leisurely visit to the garden center.

The award for coach of the tournament should not be given to Borthwick or Andy Farrell, even though Ireland won consecutive titles. Although Ireland did an amazing job bouncing back from the World Cup to defend their Six Nations title, they did not achieve a grand slam this time. The most remarkable change has been initiated by Italy’s Gonzalo Quesada.

To watch Italy outclassing a disjointed Wales was one thing; to see them put away Scotland, draw in France and lose narrowly against England after a traumatic World Cup campaign was to sense the Azzurri are genuinely on the verge of something even more striking. Quesada, the former Argentina fly‑half, has instilled a more balanced approach and, with Benetton Treviso and Zebre improving and Italy’s under-20 side also competing hard, a top-half finish inside the next two years is by no means out of the question.

Unfortunately, the situation in Wales does not reflect the same success. The fact that they were awarded their first wooden spoon since 2003 is evidence of the consistent efforts made by Warren Gatland over the years. However, their ongoing issues go beyond one person. It is no surprise that Abi Tierney, the new Welsh chief executive, declined Gatland’s offer to resign after the match. There are very few potential candidates who would eagerly take on the role, given the struggles of Welsh regions and the dwindling number of high-quality players available.

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While they had a close match against England at Twickenham and key players returning from injury, the impressive comeback against Scotland and tenacious defense from Tommy Reffell did not hide the growing issues in other areas. If they do not improve their set piece and get better leadership at fly-half, they will likely face more difficulties in the future.

Things are not completely good and happy from a Scottish point of view, even though there was a temporary feeling of victory over England for the fourth year in a row. The problem, as always, is a psychological one, with the game against Dublin on Saturday being the most recent example. Despite Ireland struggling, Scotland failed to capitalize due to recurring mistakes at crucial moments. The frustrating loss to France could have been avoided if they remained calm earlier in the game and, even more significantly, the Scottish Under-20 team has been unable to secure a win currently.

In the future, Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack will return to strengthen France in 2025. Despite underestimating their post-World Cup recovery, it is clear that they have the necessary talent. The tenure of coach Fabien Galthié is uncertain, but we already know the schedule for 2025. England will face Ireland away, while France will play at home, and Italy will have two of their first three games in Rome. It is possible that Ireland could win all three games. In this unpredictable world, we can count on the Six Nations to provide a unique and refreshing experience.

Source: theguardian.com