Ireland have held firm to beat Scotland 17-13 in a tight match at the Aviva Stadium to clinch back-to-back Six Nations titles for the second time in 11 years.
After England denied them a bid for successive grand slams the previous week, a sluggish Ireland looked at risk of relinquishing their grip on the title on Saturday and giving the English something to play for in Paris after eking out an unconvincing 7-6 halftime lead.
Andy Farrell’s men showed far more intent straight after the break, however, pushing hard until Andrew Porter’s 65th-minute try put daylight between the sides, only for a late Huw Jones try and an Irish yellow card to set up a nervy finish.
The victory kept Ireland too far ahead of second-placed England, who were playing France in the final game of the championship later in the day and lost anyway. Scotland finished with two wins and three losses.
“Very special, these days don’t come around very often,” said Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony, who had reminded fans after the Twickenham disappointment that Ireland would have given an arm and a leg for a single title not so long ago.
“We put in a lot of hard work, going back to the World Cup. It was tough but it galvanised us. To come back from that defeat, it shows the character in the group we have,” he added.
The veteran Munster back-row forward, who was in tears during the anthems, said before lifting the trophy that the game could be his last for Ireland.
“If it was the last one, I’ll be a happy man,” he said in a pitchside interview.
Ireland pose with the Six Nations Trophy. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
The game was punctuated with nerves for the home fans, with Finn Russell putting Scotland 3-0 ahead after a scrappy opening 10 minutes.
But the Scots gifted Ireland an opening try with a horror show of a lineout five metres from their own line that flew past all the Scottish jumpers and into the arms of Dan Sheehan who strolled over for his fifth try of the championship.
A tired-looking Ireland attack conceded eight early turnovers as the visitors blunted what little they had to offer with an organised defence.
Ireland came alive after the break, flyhalf Jack Crowley nudging them four points clear before prop Tadhg Furlong was denied a try in a tight call by the officials.
After they were held up on the line again, persistent Scottish fouls put replacement prop Ewan Ashman in the sin bin and the breakthrough arrived when the subsequent penalty found its way to Porter who did the rest.
A yellow card for Irish replacement Harry Byrne four minutes from the end ensured a far nervier finish that Ireland would have liked, particularly when Jones cut the deficit to four points but the hosts hung tight and the celebrations began.
France edge England with last-gasp penalty
Thomas Ramos has landed a last-gasp penalty to give France a dramatic 33-31 victory over England in Lyon and secure second place in the Six Nations.
The French finished behind Ireland, who had earlier retained the title with victory over Scotland.
Ramos, who landed seven out of eight attempts at goal, split the posts from the halfway line after England looked to have snatched victory through a Tommy Freeman try.
France showed great intensity from the start and, after an early penalty apiece, scored a classic try after stealing an attacking England lineout.
Gael Fickou swept forward and quick hands sent halfback Nolann Le Garrec over.
Two Ramos penalties stretched the lead to 16-3 but England hit back just before halftime with a crisp lineout move that sent rampaging centre Ollie Lawrence over.
George Ford converted to close the gap to 16-10 but England’s first-half struggles in this Six Nations continued – they trailed in all five games.
Two minutes into the second half a surging run by Ben Earl set up Lawrence for his second try and Ford converted to put England 17-16 ahead.
It was the irrepressible Earl again who blasted through to feed Marcus Smith for England’s third try.
France regrouped and, amid chaotic English defending, closed to within a point with a Leo Barre try after 56 minutes.
An overthrown England lineout then left them horribly exposed as Gael Fickou charged over under the posts to put France 30-24 ahead.
England had barely fired a shot for 30 minutes but hit back with a great combination from Smith and Ford that sent Freeman over and Ford landed the difficult conversion to claim a one-point lead.
A first win in Paris since 2016 looked on the cards but France surged back and Earl was penalised for a no-arms tackle on the halfway line which Ramos drilled through the posts to give his team the victory.
“Our attack was fantastic, I was very disappointed with our defence,” France defence coach Shaun Edwards said.
“The England attack was all over us – we should not have to score 30 points to win a game.”
England captain Jamie George was devastated. “It’s reminiscent of the last time in France against South Africa,” he said of last year’s one-point World Cup semi-final defeat.
“France showed their class, but we found a way back into the game. When we play, when we put teams under pressure with the ball, we look a very dangerous team.”
Gatland offers to quit
Warren Gatland has offered to resign after Wales picked up their first Six Nations wooden spoon as bottom-placed finishers since 2003 – but it was turned down.
Gatland said Wales had reached “rock bottom” after a 24-21 defeat to Italy in Cardiff on Saturday – their seventh successive Six Nations home loss – and revealed that he’d offered his resignation to Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney after the final whistle.
The 60-year-old New Zealander is contracted until the 2027 World Cup, having returned to start a second spell as Wales head coach in December 2022.
Asked if he wanted to remain until 2027, Gatland replied: “Yes, absolutely. I’ve made that commitment.
“I just said to Abi in the changing room, ‘If you want me to resign, I’m quite happy to do that’.
“She said, ‘Like hell, that’s the last thing I want, that’s what I’m really afraid of’.
“But I can promise you we’ll go away and review this really carefully. We’ve already done some review stuff and we’ll work on areas that need to improve.”
Italy completed their best Six Nations campaign with the win over a desperately poor Wales who scored three late tries in Cardiff but still slipped to a fifth successive defeat.
Italy scored tries through their Australian-born winger Monty Ioane and fullback Lorenzo Pani on Saturday as they won the collisions, were better at the breakdown and overpowered the Welsh scrum in arguably their most accomplished ever Six Nations performance.
Wales’ young squad will lose more experience with retiring stalwart centre George North, who limped off late on, bowing out of Test rugby with a demoralising defeat as they crossed for late scores through hooker Elliot Dee, lock Will Rowlands and centre Mason Grady, but were second best on the day.
Italy have two wins and a draw from their five games for the first time in the Six Nations, and 11 points, the most they have managed in a single campaign as their revival under new Argentine coach Gonzalo Quesada gathers momentum.
“It means everything or us,” Italy captain Michele Lamaro said. “But we want to achieve more, we have had a good tournament, but we know we can do even better than this.
“We have been through difficult moments and now we must celebrate these good ones.”
Italy, with Michael Lynagh’s son Louis in their ranks again, scored the first try midway through the first half with a superb break from their own half that took them to the Welsh line, before they showed patience to create the space in the defensive wall for Ioane to glide over.
The visitors led 11-0 at halftime, but Wales created momentum early in the second half through winger Rio Dyer and scrumhalf Tomos Williams, but that was ended when lock Adam Beard was penalised for a neck role at a ruck.
The unforced error was compounded when Italy went up the other end of the pitch and scored their second try thanks to a brilliant run from Pani as the visitors cut through their hosts out wide.
Wales had a route back into the game when they scored their first points on 64 minutes when Dee burrowed over the line and got the ball down under heavy Italian pressure, before Rowlands and Grady crossed to give the scoreline a more respectable look.
Malmesbury Missile
Roar Rookie
Not an expert! The Kiwis wanted the SA teams out, they made that clear. So moot point. Where our players play doesn’t change geography! We are a SH country, with our own identity. Each country must do what they think is best. NZ prefers to keep the AB based in NZ in fear of devaluing SR. SA have tremendous player resources, and maybe Rassie saw the wood from the trees. We cannot hope to compete with the lure of euro/yen, so work around it. We see it can work, as we are still competitive in the URC and other European tournaments. It has been a challenging time to transition, but we are seeing the benefit. Rassie understands that WC trophies are definitive. Sure we would like to win more in between, but the ultimate prize remains Old Bill. Before Rassie took over in 2018, there was little by way of succession planning. Together him and Nienaber have done a great job! We have a few old timers that may not make another WC, but in most positions we have players already identified, and being groomed. Boks will be a force to be reckoned with for a good while. The u20’s are also getting there, 3rd every year in the junior WC since 2017. By contrast NZ and Aus are battling to fill the voids left. Yea Nz did well in the RC, but they have lost their aura, and given the intense competition, may never again gain such dominance
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Not snide just view the success of a nation on more than 4-5 games every 4 years. NZ had a terrible WC cycle yet almost won the WC does that mean that NZ were the second best team in the World for 4 years or at least will be until 2027 due to beating one team in the top 5 same as France and half what Ireland did. RA is worrying they might not last until 2029 when they host the women's WC and NZR are worried that their SL deal is not making money so may have to cut. 6Ns focus is the 6Ns as it generates more for every single union than any other competition does for any other union over the same time period. Its the highest attended world event per game as per UEFA beating the NFL and Soccer WC. Yes we would like to win more WCs but SA have won two and are struggling to keep their head above water until they join the European club competitions as shareholders, if they had stayed in SR they would be looking at something like RA. Is SA still a SH side in terms of playing as they only had 7/33 playing outside the 3 European leagues and had 11 based at European Clubs. Does two games v Oz and NZ in 21, 22, 23 and the few SR games in 2020 make them more SH based than NH based last WC cycle. For players like Faf not playing in SA since 2017 shows how good the RC and SR is. If SA had stayed in the SH at club level and didn't pick OS players I sure they would have done great. Argentina once they dumped SR and came back at club level to the NH they got out of their group like they did in 2015, 2011 and 2007. Maybe ask Rassie why he was so adamant that he had to be allowed to pick European based players and why he was the key person who got SA clubs into European competitions. Rassie knows what pays for SA so he only has to focus on the WC as nothing else involving the SH seems to pay the bills for them.
JimBob
Roar Rookie
No one produces more high quality young players than South Africa MM. You only have to look at the number of SA players playing professionally around the globe. SA has great domestic progression and an ability to handle change - Look at the FS Cheetahs - still going and still decent. The chat is that Scotland are going to apply for a third franchise in the URC soon. I hope the FS get the chance to come in too. ALso, the Varsity Cup does not get as much credit as it deserves. Great rugby and on TV on a Wednesday night - that is just so smart
Malmesbury Missile
Roar Rookie
It wasn’t part of the SA fans plans no, but given the team selected no surprise! It will again be an experimental team against Wales. Your snide and smug comments aside, tests outside the test window will be predictably weakened for a side like the Boks who have multiple stalwarts playing overseas. What your smug and snide inferences cannot erase, is the Boks success when it matters most :happy: I can’t even say 4 more years, because how long has it been since a solitary NH World Cup trophy? 2 Decades and counting :unhappy: I will happily bet that 2027 will also be won by the SH :thumbup:
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
:laughing: That loss to Wales in 2022 was all part of the plan as were the two losses to Oz in I think 2021.
Malmesbury Missile
Roar Rookie
Importance is a perception! What a spider, deems important, is terrifying for the prey. What is important to Rassie is how matches fit into his intricate jigsaw puzzle that most of us can’t fathom. Every match is indeed important to him in terms of what he gets out of it, which might not be a test win. Speak to those that have been working close to Rassie, and the consensus is, that nothing is unplanned. You must differentiate between fan comments and Rassie’s comments. Rassie will always build towards WC, as that is always the ultimate yardstick!
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Since Rassie took over we have heard every game is important and then if they lose its all about the WC. I'll believe that Rassie is taking it seriously when they don't plan a test before unless they are actually going to use it to prepare for it. Rassie splitting his squad in two for the RC also implies he doesn't. At the WC he picks the best players for the big games which doesn't seem to be the case outside the WC. Rassie is the caricature of the SH mentally which is WC is all that matters so if he loses its about the WC and when they win its because its important to win.
Malmesbury Missile
Roar Rookie
Interesting stat, that South Africa have ended third in the U20 Rugby World Cup so consistently 9 times in total and every year since 2017! Of course SA aren’t as reliant on the SA u20 players as their are also progression through our domestic competitions
Malmesbury Missile
Roar Rookie
Lol :laughing: I guess you are entitled to your perception. I disagree, as it is clear Rassie is taking the series seriously. There is enough time for Rassie and his team to build towards the next WC, so I am sure we will see the best available playing in the series vs Ireland and in the RC.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Europe is heading into the business end of the season so who know what players will take the field. Most likely that SA team in England will be mainly Sharks and Lions. Bulls might make the Champs Semi as might the Sharks make the Challenge but not sure after that. Bulls will need to win two away games to make the final in the Champions Cup and Stormers need to beat Leinster away the week after playing La Rochelle. No sure that having the 6N in Feb-Mar makes any difference when the players are tired especially after the WC year which is basically a 2 year cycle. Either way is SA lose we will just hear its about the WC so does it really matter and they are just building.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
Is that why NZ are the most carded team in world rugby? All of their imports? You have to laugh when New Zealanders accuse other sides of having lots of imports. :laughing: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Ofa Tuʻungafasi, Shannon Frizell, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Sevu Reece, Emoni Narawa. Etc.etc.
Malmesbury Missile
Roar Rookie
Both Wales and Ireland have had the benefit of the Six Nations together as a squad. A month is a fair bit of time away, but less so than almost a year that the Boks haven’t been together as a squad. The weekends that precede the finals also play a role, as the SA players that may contest the playoffs won’t be training with the squad, Rassie is unlikely to pick players that haven’t trained with the squad. Stormers are quite able to make the top 8 That is actually the difference, but I am sure the Boks will be up for it.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
So wont Ireland be coming in cold too as they wont have played for month either. Injuries happen and you never know who will be playing but for most test teams its about the players playing games rather than them playing for the nation team. Those players who do play v Wales will be looking to play v Ireland or atleast make the bench so will be pushing the other players in training which does make a difference. Are the Bulls and Stormers going to make the Final of the URC. Currently Bulls are the only team in playoff spots (though 4-11 is tight) and while Leinster may ignore the URC again this year (unlikely) then Stormers would need to probably have to win either 2 games in Ireland (Bulls only team to have own in Ireland and are currently 1 from 22 games) and aren't much better in Scotland. They are also unlikely to make the Finals of the Champ/Challange Cup final so that is along time with no games. Either way Ireland like SA will be looking to win but as first test of the test window who knows what it will be like.
Malmesbury Missile
Roar Rookie
Boks won’t be playing a warm up game vs Wales. It is outside the test window and the same week as the URC playoffs. So no English and French based players, and likely to exclude Bulls and Stormers players. Rassie has already stated that it will largely be two different teams playing. So no, the Wales test is not preparing for the 1st Irish test. Of the team that won the WC, for sure Kitshoff, Pollard, Kolisi, Wiese, RG Snyman, Vermeulen (retired), Faf, and Reinach won’t be available. Likely Marco van Staden, Canan Moodie, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian Willemse, and Libbok will likely also be unavailable.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
You mean Fàrrell didn’t pick Henshaw when he picked up a hamstring injury at the start of October that had him out for a few weeks which was a flairup of the injury he had before the WC which limited his prep and playing time. If Aki, Henshaw and Ringrose are all fit both physically and game time Henshaw starts at 12 and Ringrose at 13. If Ireland had made the WC final it would have been Sexton if it was an Irish player. Aki was great at the WC but not all year.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Jones, Pivac and any other coach will be sacked for 6N form over WC. While each Union might like to win the WC it does little to the bottom line and 6N success determines how much the Union makes. Having a bad 6N leads to poor November turnout etc. A Trip from Oz to NZ is hardly a tour. 2 week trip to SA for the URC is just as good. Playing in away in the 6N infront of 50-80k fans does well enough. Simple fact is that the 4 biggest Unions in terms of money and players have contested every final bar the 3 Oz made it to. 6N teams are growing commercially so that more of them can make finals. The fact that NZR and SARU are discussing sabotaging the RC in 2026 the year before the SH hosted WC that SANZAAR worked so hard to secure explains exactly why the RC has failed to be a cash cow 30 years on even though it has good teams.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
If they had beaten France then they don't turn off mentally for that game. While at the top of a cycle (no u20s to save them) their cycle started lower so won't reach the top.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
I agree with all that. They're definitely one of the elite teams now, a far cry from when they won eight Five Nations matches in the whole of the 90s. As I said in my article last week, I think they'll be slightly down in their cycle in 2027 but back up in 2031. BTW I'm not sure whether you've read my Wales and Ireland article from last June - Ireland is the second half. https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/06/07/should-australia-look-to-wales-or-irelands-golden-generations/
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
If they hadn't lost to Italy! They're so inconsistent for a team around the top of their cycle.
JimBob
Roar Rookie
All teams go through cycles and it is so hard to stay on top - New Zealand 2011 through 2017 is probably the pinnacle of consistency. Ireland's form has definitely dipped fractionally *but* only relative to the standards they have now set themselves. They have just won back to back 6 nations and the sentiment is somewhat negative. Shows the altitude they are now running at. JD - re whether or not Ireland can replenish - have a look at the U-20s sides we have produced over the last three years - two grand slams and just pipped by England this year (a fine young English team I might add) - over the last three years Ireland have produced some incredible young players, this year's crop have some of the biggest Irish men I have ever seen - three of the second rows are 6-10 in old money. They are heavy too. Fingers crossed......