The excitement of the Six Nations reaches its climax, with France, Scotland, and Ireland vying for the title on the final day. The competition remains intense, and the results of the final matches will determine the champion.
The odds favor France to defend their crown as they face England. However, given the unpredictable nature of the tournament, unexpected twists are expected.
Next, we analyze the possible paths to victory for each team:
France
How they can win: If Ireland beats Scotland, France only needs to defeat England, regardless of bonus points. If Scotland surpasses Ireland with a bonus point, France will need to match their bonus points to win the title, unless Scotland overturns a 58-point deficit.Will they win? France seeks to recover after a missed Grand Slam opportunity. The 50 points received against Scotland were the most since 2015. Fabien Galthié’s team needs a final effort to avoid a disastrous campaign. Fortunately, France faces England knowing what it needs to do and with a superior point difference, suggesting a possible celebration on the Champs-Élysées.
However, they face a desperate English team, seeking a victory in Paris to help their coach Steve Borthwick.
Scotland
How they can win: A win against Ireland and France losing. A bonus-point win over Ireland means they can still claim the title if France beats England but doesn’t get a bonus point.
Essentially, if Scotland beats Ireland with a bonus point, France will also need a bonus point win over England. If Scotland and France get the same bonus points, France will likely win given their point difference. If Scotland and Ireland draw (2 points each) and France loses, and doesn’t get two bonus points, Scotland wins.
Will they win? It has been an exciting journey for Scottish fans. After the initial defeat in Rome, the situation has improved. A resounding victory over England was followed by wins over Wales and a frenetic match against France. Now they have the opportunity to win the Six Nations, but they must overcome their recent history.
They haven’t beaten Ireland since 2017, they haven’t won in Dublin since 2010, and they’ve never won at the Aviva Stadium. However, given the form of the championship and Ireland’s vulnerabilities, a Scottish victory cannot be ruled out. Coach Gregor Townsend has the opportunity to make history.
Ireland
How they can win: A win against Scotland and France losing to England. Ireland cannot win if France beats England. They are two points behind France and Scotland, so they need to beat Scotland, hope England defeats France and Les Bleus don’t get two bonus points for losing, or else there’s a 63-point deficit to make up. If Scotland and Ireland draw (2 points each) and France loses, and doesn’t get two bonus points, Scotland wins.Will they win? Much must go right for Ireland, but it’s not impossible for Andy Farrell to lift a third Six Nations title in four years. They will be confident of winning, given the unpredictability of Scotland and the history mentioned, but they need to secure the bonus point and get a favor from England. Even a victory on Saturday, if convincing, and not winning the title will leave Irish fans content.
The depth of the team remains a question mark after the recent departures of several legends, but sometimes it’s a matter of short-term pain for long-term gain in rugby. A solid performance from Jack Crowley at number 10 will establish him as the main fly-half for the summer matches, while players like Rob Baloucoune, Nick Timoney and Jamie Osborne get valuable playing time. Stuart McCloskey has also established a solid partnership with Garry Ringrose in the center of the field.
Ultimately, the title would be a great reward, but Ireland will benefit greatly from this campaign regardless of the outcome.
