‘Super Saturday’ will witness an exciting conclusion to the 2024 men’s Six Nations, as four teams remain in the contention for the championship.
Ireland will play Scotland at 16:45 GMT in Dublin with the best chance of winning the title again if they win both games and pick up two bonus points.
England, who trail Ireland by four points going into the weekend, would need to make a mistake by Andy Farrell’s team in order to win the last match in France at 20:00 GMT and earn extra points.
Although Scotland and France are still in the running for the title, their chances of winning are slim due to Ireland’s far larger points differential.
Wales, who now sit at the bottom of the standings, will play Italy in a straight shootout for the coveted Wooden Spoon, which is given to the team that finishes last.
The day starts in Cardiff, then moves to Dublin where Ireland plays Scotland, and Lyon, France plays England in the tournament’s final match.
| Team | Played (P) | Wins (W) | Draws (D) | Losses (L) | Points Difference (PD) | Bonus Points (BP) | Total Points (Pts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 80 | 4 | 16 |
| England | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | -3 | 0 | 12 |
| Scotland | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| France | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| Italy | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -37 | 1 | 7 |
| Wales | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -48 | 3 | 3 |
Ireland to Respond After Grand Slam Loss
Ireland came agonizingly close to achieving a momentous feat and securing their first consecutive Grand Slam in the Six Nations era, only to be denied by a last-minute drop-goal from Marcus Smith.
After securing comfortable wins against France, Italy, and Wales, their hopes for another title were dashed by a narrow defeat to England.
Ireland has emerged victorious in their previous nine encounters against Scotland and has maintained an impressive winning streak of 18 consecutive home games against all opponents.
Luke Fitzgerald, a former Ireland wing, is confident that his fellow countrymen will successfully complete their task at the Aviva Stadium.
“The atmosphere was challenging this week and the team did face some criticism, but I have confidence that Ireland will recover.” Fitzgerald shared his thoughts with Media.
Scotland has shown flashes of brilliance in their victories against Wales and England, but they have also demonstrated a fair share of inconsistencies.
Nevertheless, there is still a chance for them to come away from Ireland with a trophy. Even if they are unable to clinch the Six Nations title, a win would guarantee them their first Triple Crown in the Six Nations era.
“Ireland will need to be cautious of this Scotland team, considering their challenging weekend in Rome,” Fitzgerald commented. “Scotland’s backline is filled with potential threats that can strike at any moment.”
England Prepared for the Chance
England will have a clear understanding of what they need to do before they face France, aiming to make up for last year’s significant loss on their home turf.
Ireland might already be rejoicing over the title by then, but if the defending champions end their match without scoring a single point, England has a chance to claim the trophy for the first time since 2020.
Last year, Steve Borthwick’s team suffered a heavy defeat of 53-10 against Les Bleus at Twickenham. England captain Jamie George described it as one of the most challenging moments of his career.
George and his comrades have thoroughly examined the footage in their quest to secure a victory on French soil, a feat they haven’t accomplished since their triumphant Grand Slam win in 2016.
France has not been performing at their usual high level without the presence of their key players Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. Additionally, they have struggled to secure a victory on their home turf in this Six Nations tournament.
After defeating Wales last weekend, Fabien Galthie’s team has shown their strength. However, according to World Cup-winning scrum-half Matt Dawson, England is confident and prepared to face any challenge after their victory against Ireland.
“France has always been a significant presence for England,” Dawson shared during an interview with Media.
During last weekend’s matches, Wales exposed some weaknesses in France’s defensive strategy. I anticipate that England will bring a lot of energy and intensity to the situation.
“France must address a larger question.” Their loyal supporters have been unwavering in their support for a considerable duration, and it is crucial for France to meet their expectations.
France has the opportunity to make a late title push if Ireland fails to secure any points and if they can outperform Scotland’s margin of victory while also securing a bonus point.
Wales Risks Lowest Finish in 21 Years
Warren Gatland’s young Wales team has shown great courage in this Six Nations tournament, although unfortunately without achieving success.
There has been some promise in attack, with only Ireland and Scotland scoring more tries in this championship. However, their defense has been exposed, resulting in them conceding the most tries.
Experienced back and Welsh icon George North has decided to retire from international rugby, adding his name to the list of senior players stepping away from the game. As he prepares for his final match against the Azzurri, the 31-year-old will undoubtedly be aiming to finish his career on a positive note.
Josh Navidi, a former Wales flanker, praises North for his outstanding support and representation of Welsh rugby.
“It’s clear that there is a lot of excitement and anticipation surrounding George’s final game and his incredible career with Wales,” Navidi shared during an interview with Sports Media.
“After 16 years in the red jersey, I expected him to have more left in the tank. However, the demands of international rugby can certainly take a toll on the body.”
Wales has not managed to avoid the Wooden Spoon since 2003. However, Italy emerged victorious during their last trip to Cardiff two years ago and they are now arriving in the Welsh capital with a recent record of drawing with France and defeating Scotland in their past two matches.
Italy will be missing full-back Ange Capuozzo, but their set-piece could pose a challenge for the Welsh pack. In their previous game, the Welsh pack struggled against France’s physical replacements.
If Italy manages to avoid defeat, they will secure a higher position than Wales. On the other hand, if the hosts win with a bonus point and manage to surpass Italy’s points difference, they can climb up from the bottom of the standings. Alternatively, if the hosts win by a significant margin, they can overcome Italy’s points difference and leave the visitors empty-handed at the end of their campaign.
