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The opening weekend of the 2025 Six Nations wasted no time delivering high-intensity clashes, late-game drama, and talking points that will shape the weeks ahead.
Ireland muscled past Wales in Cardiff, grinding out a victory despite a red card setback to secure the Triple Crown. England held firm at Twickenham, reclaiming the Calcutta Cup as Scotland fell agonizingly short.
And in Rome, France ran riot, tearing through Italy in a record-breaking display of attacking rugby.
With momentum already shifting and teams laying down early markers, here’s how the third round of Six Nations rugby unfolded.
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Ireland Outmuscle Wales to Secure 14th Triple Crown in Cardiff Battle (18-27)
Ireland marched into Cardiff with silverware on their minds—and left with their 14th Triple Crown in the bag.
A bruising, breathless encounter at a deafening Principality Stadium saw Andy Farrell’s men grind out a 27-18 victory, fending off a defiant Welsh side to cement their status as the Northern Hemisphere’s top dogs.
It was physical, it was fiery, and it had drama at every turn.
Early Onslaught & Welsh Resistance
Ireland hit the ground running.
Seven minutes in, Jack Conan steamrolled over the whitewash, silencing the Cardiff crowd. Sam Prendergast, the latest Irish No.10 prodigy, slotted the extras with a swagger that belied his age.
But Wales refused to roll over. Jac Morgan and Tom Rogers led the charge, both crossing for tries as Gareth Anscombe’s pinpoint boot nudged the hosts into a 13-10 halftime lead.
Under interim coach Matt Sherratt, Wales brought the fire, the fight, and the belief—but against this Ireland side, belief alone was never going to be enough.
Turning Point: Ringrose Sees Red
Then came the controversy.
On a knife-edge at 13-10, the game exploded into chaos as Garry Ringrose saw red for a high shot on Ben Thomas. The new 20-minute red card rule came under the spotlight, and suddenly, Wales smelled blood.
Anscombe’s penalty stretched the lead to 16-10. Momentum had shifted.
Ireland Dig Deep, Osborne Deals the Knockout Blow
But champions don’t crumble.
Jamie Osborne flipped the script in the 55th minute, ghosting through the Welsh defence to restore Irish control.
Prendergast, unfazed by the pressure, kept the scoreboard ticking, dissecting the posts with the cold precision of a seasoned veteran.
Bundee Aki, battered and bloodied, dragged Ireland over the line with a warrior’s shift off the bench—even playing through a suspected broken nose.
Welsh Hope Extinguished by TMO Call
With the clock winding down, Ellis Mee thought he’d reignited Welsh hope, finishing off a sensational team move—only for the TMO to snuff it out. A knock-on in the build-up, and with it, Wales’ last flicker of belief.
A Resounding Victory
Ireland? Relentless. The championship pedigree runs deep, and this was another ruthless marker laid down.
Wales? Improved, but not there yet. The fire is back, but they’re still searching for a way to turn resistance into results.
For now, the Triple Crown belongs to Ireland—and with it, another reminder of who runs the Northern Hemisphere.
England Edge Scotland in Twickenham Nail-Biter (16-15)
For the first time since 2020, England have wrestled back the Calcutta Cup—just barely.
A game of fine margins, late drama, and heart-stopping tension saw Steve Borthwick’s men scrape past Scotland 16-15 at Twickenham, holding on for dear life as Finn Russell’s last-gasp conversion drifted wide.
First Half: Scotland Strike Early, England Dig Deep
Scotland came out swinging.
Four minutes in, Ben White darted through a gap and crashed over, silencing Twickenham. Russell’s conversion attempt sailed wide, but Scotland had landed the first blow.
England didn’t take long to respond. Tommy Freeman powered over the try line after 13 phases of sustained pressure, and Marcus Smith added the conversion, putting the hosts ahead 7-5.
The visitors weren’t done. Huw Jones, a thorn in England’s side in recent years, sliced through the defence in the 20th minute, restoring Scotland’s lead. Once again, Russell’s boot let him down.
It was tense, it was tactical, and it was tight. England had just 39% possession in the first half but refused to break, absorbing wave after wave of Scottish pressure.
Second Half: England Take Control—But Only Just
With both sides trading blows, the second half became a battle of the boot. Marcus Smith nailed a penalty (56’), bringing England level before slotting another (66’) to edge them 13-10 in front.
The decisive moment? Fin Smith’s monster penalty from distance (72’). The ball sailed through, Twickenham erupted, and England had a crucial six-point cushion heading into the dying minutes.
But then, the chaos.
In the dying moments, Duhan van der Merwe powered over in the 79th minute, cutting England’s lead to just a single point at 16-15. The match now hung on Finn Russell’s right boot.
Controversy followed. Referee Pierre Brousset instructed Russell to take the conversion from a wider angle than where van der Merwe had grounded the ball—making an already high-pressure kick even tougher.
Russell struck it cleanly, but the ball drifted wide. England had survived.
The stadium erupted. A contest hanging by a thread had slipped Scotland’s grasp, while England clung on by the slimmest of margins.
Standout Performers
- Marcus Smith ran the show, keeping England composed in the clutch moments.
- Maro Itoje was everywhere, disrupting Scotland’s attack and leading the defensive stand.
- Van der Merwe, relentless all evening, came within inches of stealing the show.
What’s Next?
Scotland may have outscored England three tries to one, but their missed kicks proved fatal.
For England, this was a win built on resilience, discipline, and sheer will.
For Scotland, another brutal near-miss in a fixture that has swung their way in recent years.
One thing’s for sure—this Six Nations is just getting started.
France Dismantle Italy in Record-Breaking Six Nations Rout (24-73)
France came to Rome with a point to prove. They left with history rewritten—and silverware in hand.
Les Bleus tore through Italy with ruthless precision, racking up a record-breaking 73 points—their highest-ever Six Nations tally—while setting a new tournament benchmark with 14 tries in a single match.
It was fast, ferocious, and flat-out unstoppable. And in doing so, they retained the Garibaldi Trophy in emphatic fashion.
Italy Strike First, France Unleash the Onslaught
For a moment, the Stadio Olimpico dared to dream.
Tommaso Menoncello carved open the French defence in the 11th minute, sending the home crowd into raptures. But the celebrations barely had time to settle before France hit back—hard.
Three minutes later, Mickaël Guillard bulldozed over the line, dragging defenders with him.
From there, the floodgates burst open. Peato Mauvaka powered through off a textbook lineout maul (21’), before Antoine Dupont danced his way through gaps that barely existed (24’).
Italy threw a punch of their own—Juan Ignacio Brex slicing through for their second (28’)—but it barely fazed Les Bleus.
Paul Boudehent crossed two minutes later, before Léo Barré ghosted through the defence (38’), pushing France’s lead to 35-17 at the break.
Second Half: France Go Full Throttle
If Italy had any hope of a fightback, France obliterated it within minutes of the restart.
Grégory Alldritt steamrolled over (45’). Louis Bielle-Biarrey burned defenders on the outside (50’). And Dupont? He wasn’t done yet—catching Italy off guard with a quick tap-and-go (54’) to rack up his second of the night.
Paolo Garbisi’s 61st-minute try offered a flicker of resistance, but at this point, it was damage control. France were hunting history.
Barré bagged his second (65’), slicing through as if Italy weren’t even there. Then, in the dying moments, Théo Attissogbé and Pierre-Louis Barassi piled on the misery, sealing a staggering 73-point masterclass.
Standout Performers
- Antoine Dupont – Pulled the strings, carved up the defence, and walked away with a double. Pure class.
- Léo Barré – Matched Dupont’s two-try haul, showcasing electric footwork and ice-cold finishing.
- Mickaël Guillard – Set the tone early with a bulldozing score, laying the platform for the onslaught.
A Defining Win—And a Warning Shot
France are back. The Grand Slam dream is still alive. And with Ireland looming on March 8, Les Bleus have sent a message loud and clear:
Come at the kings – just don’t miss.
What’s Next? Round 4 Incoming
Three rounds down, and the Six Nations has never felt tighter. Ireland and France remain locked in a battle for supremacy, England are grinding out results, and Scotland are still searching for their moment.
With the final stretch approaching, Round 4 is where ambitions turn into reality—or unravel completely.
Ireland vs. France – A Defining Clash in Dublin
Grand Slam aspirations. Championship hopes. A rivalry at its peak. Ireland welcome France to Dublin in what could be the title decider. The Aviva will be rocking, and with both sides desperate to seize control of the tournament, expect fireworks.
Scotland vs. Wales – Fight for Redemption
Scotland’s campaign hasn’t gone to plan. Winless and wounded, they need a statement at Murrayfield. But Wales are just as desperate. A season of struggle has left them battling for pride, and a victory here would be a much-needed spark. Something has to give.
England vs. Italy – A Test of Character
England keep finding ways to win, but Italy’s resurgence is no longer a shock—it’s real. Twickenham awaits a fixture that, for years, had a foregone conclusion. This time, the Azzurri arrive with belief, and England must prove they’re still a step ahead.
The margins are razor-thin. The stakes couldn’t be higher. And with Round 4 looming, the Six Nations is about to enter its most decisive chapter yet.
Missed out on Round 2?
Catch up on all the key moments—read the 2025 Six Nations Round 2 Highlights now!