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Three matches. Three defining plays. And now, just one round remains in the race for Six Nations glory.
France stormed Dublin with a performance that silenced the Aviva. Scotland clung on—just—against a resurgent Wales in a thriller at Murrayfield. And England? Merciless with ball in hand, devastating in execution, but left with questions after a bruising victory over Italy.
With Super Saturday approaching, the stakes have never been higher. And after another weekend of high drama, one thing is clear: this tournament is far from over.
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Ireland v France (27-42)
A match that promised fireworks delivered in full.
Ireland, unbeaten in the tournament, looked to cement their title charge with a home victory. France, wounded from earlier setbacks, arrived in Dublin with a point to prove.
What unfolded was a game of sheer intensity—Irish dominance in possession met with French resilience in defence.
The Aviva Stadium witnessed a bruising encounter where France absorbed wave after wave of Irish pressure before punishing every mistake with ruthless efficiency.
As the contest wore on, it became a test of execution under fire. Ireland’s discipline wavered, France’s ruthlessness shone, and when the final whistle blew, it was Les Bleus who had stamped their authority on the championship.
First Half: Ireland Probing, France Unrelenting
By the 17th minute, France had already racked up 81 tackles, a staggering show of defensive resilience.
Despite Ireland dominating possession and territory, their attacks yielded little, with France’s defence withstanding relentless attacks and limiting Ireland to just two penalties before halftime.
Then came the breakthrough.
Antoine Dupont, always at the centre of the action, orchestrated an opening that put France on the front foot.
But just as quickly, disaster struck.
In the 29th minute, a ruck incident involving Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter left Dupont clutching his knee. Though there were discussions about potential foul play, the citing commissioner deemed it a rugby incident.
Would it derail them? Not a chance.
Maxime Lucu stepped in, and France didn’t miss a beat.
Ireland’s pressure finally told when Jack Crowley slotted a penalty to shift the balance in their favour. But France responded with their sharpened attacking instincts—Bielle-Biarrey, dancing through space, gliding over the line to stun the Aviva (21’).
Ireland’s pre-match injury woes were also felt. The absence of James Lowe saw Calvin Nash come into the starting lineup, a shift that would later play a role in Ireland’s defensive struggles.
Ireland rallied, and Dan Sheehan provided hope. The Irish hooker stormed over early in the second half (42’), momentarily putting Ireland ahead.
But the joy was short-lived.
Second Half: French Muscle Overwhelms Irish Ill-discipline
The pivotal twist came not from French brilliance, but Irish mistakes.
Joe McCarthy was sent to the bin (46’). France smelled blood. Within minutes, they made it count—Paul Boudehent powered over (47’), before Bielle-Biarrey struck again, exploiting the space, his pace too much to handle (50’).
Ireland’s second yellow, this time for Calvin Nash (58’), only added to their misery. With 14 men again, they crumbled.
France turned the screw—a rolling maul led to a well-worked try for Oscar Jegou (59’), and when Lucu finished a clinical move (62’), it was clear Ireland were losing their grip.
The conclusive hammer blow through Thomas Ramos (67’), before Damian Penaud (75’) added the exclamation point, finishing off a brilliant counter-attack.
By the time Cian Healy and Jack Conan crossed late (72’, 78’) to salvage pride, the game was long gone.
Final Verdict: A Statement Victory
Ireland had the firepower, but France had the edge. A tactical masterclass, a ruthless display of finishing, and a defensive stand that won them the contest.
For Fabien Galthié, his 7-1 bench split gamble paid off, ensuring sustained forward dominance in the final stretch.
For Ireland, this was a brutal reality check. Discipline, composure, and execution under pressure—those were the missing pieces.
For France, it was everything they needed. A title charge is alive and kicking.
Scotland v Wales (35-29)
Murrayfield shook. Scotland soared. And then, in a blur of Welsh defiance, it all teetered on the brink.
Blair Kinghorn’s two-try masterclass looked to have sealed it, Scotland raced into an early advantage with a ruthless first-half blitz. But rugby rarely follows the script. Wales roared back, launching a chaotic late charge that sent pulses racing in the dying moments.
Gregor Townsend’s side clung on, just. A 35-29 victory was theirs, but only after surviving an onslaught of Welsh resistance, a moment of TMO heartbreak, and a grandstand finish that nearly turned the contest on its head.
First Half: Scotland in Full Flow
Scotland wasted no time. Five minutes in, Finn Russell spotted a gap, Kinghorn hit the afterburners, and Murrayfield erupted as he breezed through for the opening score. Russell’s conversion (6’) signaled Scotland’s intent—they meant business.
The pressure didn’t relent. Minutes later, Tom Jordan stepped inside his man, fended off a tackle, and crashed over (11’), Russell once again adding the extras (12’).
Wales showed flickers of resistance—Gareth Anscombe’s early penalty (3’) had given them a foothold—but their first real breakthrough didn’t come until Blair Murray darted onto a well-placed kick to score in the corner (24’).
Any thoughts of a Welsh resurgence were swiftly shut down. Darcy Graham, back from injury and back to his electric best, latched onto a slick offload to stretch the lead (27’). With Russell’s boot as precise as ever (28’), Scotland were in cruise control.
Then came the knockout punch—Jordan’s second (33’), perfectly timed before the break, once again converted by Russell (34’).
28-8 at halftime. One-way traffic.
Second Half: Wales Spark Chaos
Kinghorn wasted no time resuming where he left off, hitting a perfect support line to notch his second (48’). Russell’s fifth successful conversion (49’) pushed the scoreboard to 35-8. Scotland were out of sight.
Or so it seemed.
Wales had been subdued. Now, they came alive.
Ben Thomas ignited the fightback, scything through a gap in Scotland’s line (61’), Sam Costelow’s replacement Cai Evans slotting the extras (62’).
Suddenly, the visitors were finding space, and when Teddy Williams bulldozed over just minutes later (68’), Evans’ conversion (69’) cut the deficit further.
Then came the controversy.
Taulupe Faletau thought he had dragged Wales even closer, crashing over the line. The celebrations were brief. The TMO review found a knock-on in the build-up. No try. Welsh frustration was palpable, their hopes dented.
But the fight wasn’t over.
Four minutes into stoppage time (80’+4), Max Llewellyn powered through, forcing his way over for a late, late try.
Evans converted, dragging Wales within six. But the clock had beaten them. No time left for one last push.
Scotland had survived. Just.
Final Verdict: A Game of Two Halves
For 40 minutes, Scotland looked untouchable. For the next 40, they were hanging on. A win is a win, but they’ll know performances like that won’t cut it against tougher opposition.
For Wales, it’s a case of what might have been. A sluggish start proved costly, but their second-half surge showed character. The fight is still there. The results? They’re still waiting.
As for Blair Kinghorn—two tries, a game-breaking performance, and the well-earned Man of the Match award. A night to remember.
But the Six Nations is only getting started. And after a night of chaos in Edinburgh, one thing is certain—there are no easy rides in 2025.
England v Italy (47-24)
Twickenham roared, and England delivered. A 47-24 victory over Italy wasn’t just a scoreline—it was a declaration.
With the title race still open, Steve Borthwick’s side unleashed a brand of rugby that finally matched ambition with execution, dispatching Italy with pace, power, and precision.
But it came at a price.
An early injury to Ollie Lawrence forced a backline reshuffle, with Elliot Daly stepping into the centres. England had to adapt, but Marcus Smith—already starting at full-back—seized control of the attack, and from that moment on, England found new life.
Smith, Ollie Sleightholme, and Tom Willis stole the show, while Italy—led by the electric Ange Capuozzo—refused to fade quietly.
The Red Rose marches on, but with Wales awaiting in the final round, the battle isn’t over yet.
First Half: A Shake-Up, A Breakthrough
England’s game plan lasted all of four minutes before disaster struck.
Ollie Lawrence, a key midfield presence, pulled up with an Achilles injury, forcing a shift. Elliot Daly moved to the centres, and with Marcus Smith already in place at full-back, England had to adjust.
The shake-up didn’t faze them. Tom Willis powered over from close range (4’), making an instant impact. Fin Smith slotted the conversion (4’), and England were in business.
But Italy refused to wilt. Capuozzo, always a menace in space, carved through England’s defence, his break leading to his own try in the corner (14’). Paolo Garbisi converted (15’), and just like that, Italy were level.
England’s response? Ruthless.
A sharp attack down the right, a perfectly timed pass from Smith, and Tommy Freeman finished in style (27’). Fin Smith converted (28’), before England’s momentum surged again.
With Italy struggling to contain the width, Sleightholme hit the afterburners (35’), burning past defenders for his first Test try. Another Fin Smith conversion (36’) gave England a 21-10 lead.
Just before the break, Italy stayed in touch. Ross Vintcent powered over (31’), Garbisi converted (32’), and a Garbisi penalty (38’) narrowed England’s lead to 21-17 at halftime.
Second Half: England Step on the Gas
If there was any doubt about England’s intent, it vanished within minutes of the restart.
Marcus Smith, pulling the strings from full-back, sparked England’s next strike. A darting break, a flicked offload, and suddenly, he was diving over the line himself (44’). Fin Smith nailed the extras (45’).
Italy barely had time to reset before England struck again. Tom Curry burst through a gap (47’), crashing over for his first try since returning from injury. Another Fin Smith conversion (48’) extended the lead.
Italy were reeling, and England weren’t done.
Sleightholme, alert to an Italian mistake, pounced on a loose ball and sprinted clear for his second (53’). Fin Smith converted once again (53’), and in less than ten minutes, England had blown the game wide open.
To their credit, Italy kept fighting. Capuozzo, brilliant all afternoon, conjured another moment of magic (71’), before Menoncello finished off a sharp attacking move. Garbisi converted (72’), cutting the deficit to 40-24.
But England had the final say.
Ben Earl, relentless as ever, capped things off (80’+1), smashing through tired defenders to put the icing on the cake.
Final whistle. A 47-24 win.
Final Verdict: A Step Forward, A Test Ahead
This was England with purpose, pace, and a cutting edge. A far cry from the structured, pragmatic performances of previous rounds, this was expansive rugby, built on tempo and width.
For Marcus Smith, it was a reminder of his brilliance. For Ollie Sleightholme, a breakout night. And for Jamie George, a milestone moment well-earned.
But the biggest question remains—was this England evolving, or simply overpowering an outmatched Italy?
With Wales waiting in the final round, we’re about to find out.
What’s Next? Super Saturday!
Four rounds down, and the Six Nations remains wide open. Ireland, England, and France are still in the hunt, while Scotland and Wales aim to finish on a high. One final day will decide it all.
Italy vs. Ireland – Win or Bust
Ireland’s title hopes rest on victory in Rome, but Italy won’t go quietly. Kieran Crowley’s side has shown real fight, and an upset here would send shockwaves through the tournament. Can Andy Farrell’s men hold their nerve?
Wales vs. England – The Rivalry Reignites
England’s title dream runs through Cardiff, but Wales at home is a different beast. It’s been a tough campaign for Warren Gatland’s men, but nothing fires them up like facing the old enemy. Expect a fierce contest.
France vs. Scotland – The Decider?
Paris hosts the Six Nations’ final act, and Scotland could have the last say in the title race. France has mixed flashes of brilliance with frustration, but a dominant display here might still prove decisive. Can Scotland spoil the party?
Missed out on Round 3?
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