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The Guinness Men’s Six Nations is over for another year, and what a tournament it was. Tries galore, shock results, comebacks, and performances that had fans leaping out of their seats.
France triumphed and retained their Six Nations title, Ireland showed signs of a resurgence by winning the Triple Crown, and Scotland came closest to winning a major trophy since they claimed the final Five Nations in 1999.
Italy ended their wait to beat England, and in doing so went unbeaten in Rome for the first time, after their opening day victory over Scotland. England struggled after their Round 1 win over Wales and lost four fixtures for the first time. Wales, steadily improved over the tournament and ended their near-three year wait for a victory by defeating Italy in Round 5 in Cardiff.
There was plenty of magic on show, and here are ATR’s highlights for all six teams…
France – Early Marker, France v Ireland, Round 1
It took just over 10 minutes, but once France made their initial breakthrough in the opening fixture, the door soon came flying off its hinges. Louis Bielle-Biarrey went over from a fairly non-descript position that opened up with simple hands. Mathieu Jalibert then glided through weak challenges off the back of a scrum.
The third try showed what the fuss was about as three forwards - Jean-Baptiste Gros, Charles Ollivon, and Mickael Guillard - worked in the wide channels to leave Ollivon clear to show Ireland captain Caelan Doris a pair of clean heels. LBB’s second was a result of Antoine Dupont setting Thomas Ramos up for a fly hack that set the Bordeaux-Begles flyer free for his second.
Ireland responded with a brace of tries, but Theo Attissogbe grabbed their fifth at the death, to leave the Stade de France bouncing and questions over Thursday night fixtures well and truly answered.
Ireland – McCloskey Shuts The Door, England v Ireland, Round 3
Ireland responded from that opening loss with a narrow win over Italy, and after they failed to convince, Andy Farrell made a number of changes. One person he didn’t jettison was inside centre Stuart McCloskey, who was repeating his Ulster form in a green jersey.
England couldn’t handle him. His long strides were at the heart of their efforts, breaking tackles and finding space with his direct running. The 33-year-old had a part in Dan Sheehan and Robert Baloucoune’s scores.
The best was yet to come. In the 72nd minute and England desperate to finish with something, Marcus Smith snaffled a loose pass and went haring off towards Ireland’s line. McCluskey was one of three chasing and arrived first, as he did Smith tried ducking inside, but to no avail. McCloskey wrapped him up and flung him out of play. It was a microcosm of both team’s performance.
Scotland – He’s Behind You – Wales v Scotland, Round 3
After a magnificent showing against England in Round 2, Scotland travelled to Wales in good heart but by 50 minutes they were 20-5 down to a fired up Wales. The usual questions started to be raised about Scotland’s ability to string two wins together.
A Finn Russell try and conversion gave the Scots a glimmer of hope, but Jarrod Evans knocked over a penalty soon after. It needed something special, and it came from Russell.
He quickly kicked off to his left, finding the open space behind Gabe Hamer-Webb and James Botham, and right in front of wing Jamie Dobie who needed no second invite. With the conversion Scotland were within a score, and for a change they dogged it out to win with a George Turner try.
Italy – E Tu Marin? – Italy v England, Round 4
Italy had never beaten England in 32 attempts. They were the last of the Six Nations teams the Azzurri had failed to conquer, but one that seemed on the ropes and ripe for a plucking when they visited the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
In truth England didn’t play too badly but when the pressure came they collapsed. Italy didn’t play their best, but when the pressure came they grew. At one point tries from Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck put England 18-10 ahead.
Two penalties from Paolo Garbisi closed the gap to two points, Maro Itoje and Sam Underhill found themselves in the sinbin and then Garbisi pulled a rabbit out of his hat. First he kicked sideways to wing Monty Ioane who jinked inside Roebuck. He then popped the ball to Tommaso Menoncello who set off like a train, sent Elliot Daly onto his backside and then set substitute Leonardo Marin free to race home.
It was a lovely finish and a fitting way to slay Italy’s last beast of the Championship. The win also meant they finished unbeaten at home for the first time.
England – Chessum On The Hoof – France v England, Round 5
Fifty minutes into the match, France had just scored two converted tries to stretch their lead and England needed something big and powerful to swing momentum back their way. It came in the form of the big and powerful Ollie Chessum, back in the team to add some power and size to the back row.
Chessum already had one try, and after shooting up to intercept a well-signalled Jalibert pass, he was off and running towards the line, with Jalibert his nearest pursuer a long way off. He flopped over the line to dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm and give England a lifeline. It was magical and Chessum deserved his plaudits, and yet….
Great as it was, there was something missing, and that was the conversion that Fin Smith missed. It meant they trailed by six points rather than four.
The annoying thing was Chessum had plenty of time to gobble up the turf towards the posts and give Smith a better, closer angle. Watch his run, around the 22 he looks up to see who is on his tail, it should have told him that he could angle his run back towards the sticks without any fear of being tackled.
Under Clive Woodward, England had a saying of T-CUP, thinking clearly under pressure. It applied to all facets of the match and if applied during Chessum’s charge, would have meant France couldn’t have won at the end with a penalty kick. They would have had to have kicked for the corner and given England one last chance to defend their lead. They need to hope that it is a lesson well learned, or history could well repeat itself.
Wales – A New Edwards – Wales v Italy, Round 5
The family name of Edwards has huge resonance in Welsh rugby thanks to Gareth Edwards, star scrumhalf of the 1970s Wales team, probably Wales’s greatest ever, and possibly the greatest to grace the sport.
Well Wales now have another Edwards to cherish. Dan Edwards, Ospreys’ fulcrum and a slight figure that could easily be mistaken for a Victorian chimney sweep. Against Italy he was immense and pulled the strings in a way that Wales fans of a certain age would swear it was Barry John, Phil Bennett, Jonathan Davies, or Dan Biggar with their hand on the tiller.
The 22-year-old showed what he can do with front-foot ball and was calm in possession and nailed his kicks both from hand, and off the tee. His try in the opening stages of the second half secured a four-try bonus point and pretty much wrapped up the win. His drop goal from near the halfway line was the cherry on top, but a thing of beauty that flew sweetly and serenely through the posts.
Wales have always had a thing about their flyhalves, as the previous incumbents of the number 10 journey prove. Give Edwards the chance and he may well live up to his predecessors, those without his name and the very special one who shares it.