DEAR SIX NATIONS SUPPORTERS AND FRIENDS:
What a Tournament this has been—definitely one for the Ages! Every time you think you’ve got it nailed, a sensational upset occurs. Nothing is entirely predictable. For example, I am at present one Finn Russell play away from having been 0-4 on my Scotland predictions. No question but that home field advantage usually plays a significant part, but then look at Ireland’s severe thumping of England at Twickenham? Go figure. Two powerhouses were supposed to meet in the true grand finale for all the Grand Slam marbles. Now, that’s gone, and only the home team can even win the Championship, and even if they do the scar of the half -century of points that the Scots heaped on them will not go away easily, so it will be somewhat bittersweet. All this makes for three enthralling final week matches, with each team having something significant to play for, BEGINNING IN DUBLIN.
10.10 am IRELAND v SCOTLAND, Aviva Stadium:
The Scots have lost eleven in a row to Ireland ( a significant number in Scottish dialect—don’t believe me, google the YouTube skit of two Scottish guys stuck in a voice-activated elevator—hilarious!) tracking back almost 10 years. This match always seems to bring out the best rugby in the boys in green, who will want nothing more than to kick off St Pat’s week with a Triple Crown win—something almost unthinkable after the disastrous week one match in Paris. Scotland will not have Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings or Jamie Ritchie in the pack, all out injured, and Ireland have also lost second row James Ryan and my cousin James on the wing for the same reason, but both coaches have experienced replacements, such as 88-cap Grant Gilchrist for Scotland, all highly motivated to cement their positions as starters going forward. This is a tough call. The Scots have reached a high level of quality of play in recent matches, with ultra quick ball movement and creative attacking offloads, often linking forwards and backs off the back row of the scrum. Ireland, however, have a special talent for soaking up pressure well and then counterattacking , often with around-the-scrum breaks of their own, usually with scrum -half Jamison Gibson-Park as the lynchpin. I’d love to believe otherwise, but Dublin may once again be a bridge too far, even for this very good Scotland side. Regardless of the result, it should be a cracker of a game!
12.40pm WALES v ITALY, Principality Stadium:
Even here, there’s much to play for. The Azzurri are on track with a win to end with a winning 6N record for the first time in 26 years of 6N tournament play. Victory for Wales, after two narrow but tough losses, would confirm their impressive improvement back to parity with all teams after their long and , at times, dismal losing stretch. And Welsh fans will be wanting to see “Orange Fireball” prop Rhys Carre cutting loose on another track star sprint/ramble, this time though the Italian defense. Italy, though, are no pushovers any more—a strong pack supported by a settled and capable back line with two world -class centres. Can the 23 would-be Pavarottis achieve Italian rugby history? I’m not sure they can, but if they do, let’s hope that Peacock covers the post-game Italian dressing room celebratory rendition of Nussum Dorma—Priceless!
4:10pm FRANCE v ENGLAND, Stade de France
As I stated at the outset, this was supposed to be the true Grand Finale—two powerhouse unbeaten teams slugging it out for the elusive Grand Slam! Now , both teams come into this match on the end of a torrid tournament for each. France can still win the Championship with a bonus-point win ( BUT it’s a bit galling when you’re the no 3 or 4 ranked team in the World and you get smoked for 50 points!), while England can only regain whatever pride/redemption can be derived after three straight losses ( notwithstanding an apparent edge in each game in the front row and tight scrums). Nonetheless, this should be an absorbing match. Both coaches have, probably wisely, stopped tinkering with their teams, although it’s beyond my comprehension to understand why England continue to look uncreative and predictable in attack and far too focused on what the journalists now routinely refer to as the “aerial game”, while all the while their one real game-breaking sparkplug Marcus Smith still remains firmly seated on the far end of the bench ( am I looking at this through Old Brightonian-shaded specs or something? I didn’t attend Brighton College ( Marcus’s high school) but it’s my hometown and I have many OB friends). France, of necessity, had to replace their eye-gouging flanker, now suspended, hopefully with one with a smaller appetite for collecting or latching on to other players’ vital body parts! In front of the Stade de France crowd I expect to see some restoration of Gallic pride BUT, as this year’s 6N has repeatedly shown, anything’s possible!
Enjoy Le Grand Finale!
Best regards to all for 2026.
Bruce
