The Six Nations had last weekend off but the action returns with a real bang this weekend with two games on Saturday and one on Sunday. It is the first of the three clashes that will have rugby fans salivating, and more than likely the game between Ireland and France will decide who wins this year’s competition.
It may not be as simple as it looks, this being sport, sport being – like life – unpredictable. But on paper at least, this first-versus-second clash looks like being decisive. After three games the Irish are the only remaining nation with a 100% record. With two try bonus points they sit atop the standings on 14 points, three clear of France, who have hammered Wales, narrowly lost to England, and put 73 points on the board against Italy. Having taken a bonus point from each of their three fixtures they sit second on 11 points, one ahead of England.
Current Standings
If Ireland get the job done against the French they would be in a fantastic position to claim a Grand Slam. On the other hand, should the visitors manage to leave Dublin’s Aviva Stadium with a win they would be in a great position to win the championship. At the other end of the table Wales face a desperate fight to avoid the wooden spoon, having already lost to Italy.
They trail the Six Nations’ usual “winners” of that unwanted prize by three points, having managed to earn just a single losing bonus point from their three games thus far. The table below shows how things stand heading into the penultimate weekend of action.
| Position | Team | Points | Points Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ireland | 14 | +28 |
| 2 | France | 11 | +91 |
| 3 | England | 10 | -3 |
| 4 | Scotland | 6 | -3 |
| 5 | Italy | 4 | -54 |
| 6 | Wales | 1 | -59 |
Remaining Fixtures
There is no doubt that Ireland’s clash with France is the key battle, but all six remaining games will have some sort of impact on who finishes where. There is a lot still to play for and all six coaches will make sure their players give their all until the final whistle of the final game.
Round 4
- Ireland v France, 8 March 2025, 2.15pm
- Scotland v Wales, 8 March 2025, 4.45pm
- England v Italy, 9 March 2025, 3pm
Round 5
- Italy v Ireland, 15 March 2025, 2.15pm
- Wales v England, 15 March 2025, 4.45pm
- France v Scotland, 15 March 2025, 8pm
Note that all kick-offs above are UK times.
Who Will Win the Championship?
Ireland wobbled a little last time out against Wales and trailed for a good deal of the game before eventually winning relatively easily, 27-18. Wales were much improved under their new interim coach, Warren Gatland having left ahead of the clash. However, Ireland made far too many simple mistakes and were clumsy with their handling; they know they will have to be much better against the French.
France lost a very tight clash at Twickenham in the second round of games, going down 26-25 in a match they probably deserved to win. A try from Elliot Daly in the 79th minute, which was then converted by Fin Smith, gave the hosts the narrowest of wins and were it not for that, France too would be heading to Dublin dreaming of the Grand Slam.
The result was a real surprise and as Ireland did against Wales, France made too many mistakes. They know they will have to play more efficiently if they are to cause an upset in Dublin but their performances in their other two games suggest that is something they are capable of.
This should be a real thriller and if the bookies are to be believed, it will be a very tight game. The hosts are 10/11 favourites to win the match and put them in pole position for the Grand Slam. However, France are priced at just 11/10 and are even money with some betting sites, so this really is a hard one to call.
That is mirrored by the tightness of the odds for the Championship, with Ireland favourites at 4/6 and France available at 7/4. England are not completely out of the race but would need an unlikely series of results and are way out at 16/1 (though as short as 8/1 with some) to win this year’s Six Nations. Ireland are even money to win the Grand Slam, as they did in 2023, with “no winner” virtually the same price at 19/20.
Can Wales Haul Themselves up the Table?
🚨 𝗧î𝗺 𝗖𝘆𝗺𝗿𝘂 🏴
Here is your Wales team to face @Scotlandteam on Saturday afternoon in Edinburgh, 16:45 KO! 🔥👇#GuinnessM6N | #SCOvWAL
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 6, 2025
In the whole history of this event, Ireland have claimed the unwanted prize of the wooden spoon a record 25 times. However, in the Six Nations era, they have never finished bottom and nor have England. Overall Wales and Italy are currently tied with 18 bottom finishes in the whole history of the tournament, though the latter are by far the worst nation in the most modern iteration of the championship, having finished last 18 times, 14 more than the next-worst, Scotland.
Wales will desperately want to avoid finishing last again, as they did in 2024, whilst Italy will be equally as keen to avoid the unwanted honour. If Gonzalo Quesada’s men can condemn Wales to last place, it will be the first time ever that Italy have managed to avoid the wooden spoon two Six Nations in a row.
However, Italy face a trip to Twickenham to battle England and then a home game against Ireland, so the chances are they will not be adding to their points tally. However, luckily for them, the bookies believe they probably already have enough points on the board to stay above Wales. The Welsh face a trip to Scotland and a home game with England and such is their form they remain huge favourites to be propping up the table once the dust has settled. Wales are priced at odds of 1/8 to finish last, compared to a relatively massive 6/1 for Italy.
Wales have something of a habit of upsetting England though. Moreover, come that last game, in Cardiff, the hosts may have the greater motivation and determination. With Italy almost certainly stuck on four points, might Wales just be able to lift themselves off the bottom right at the death? Time will tell, but we certainly have a brilliant two weeks of rugby in store.