Crouch, bind… set! The Six Nations tournament is set to begin on January 31st, so with a few days to go, here is the perfect occasion to unfold the expectations for this year’s edition of the famous European competition…
2024 was definitely Ireland’s year. The team displayed its domination, earning the final win with only one defeat against England, the first team they will face this year. Winning in 2025 would make Ireland the first team to get three victories in a row. The cherry on top would be to achieve a Grand Slam, winning all of the games. However, although the media portrays Ireland as the favourite contender, grey areas remain concerning their chances. Head coach since 2020, Andy Farrell stepped down and was replaced by Simon Easterby for the season. As a former professional player, there is no doubt that he has the required qualities to lead this team, but the challenge will be for Ireland to regain stability and find their marks. The Irish’s weaknesses already showed against New Zealand last autumn. Ireland certainly begins the Six Nations with an advantage, but the hardest part is yet to come.
Right behind them last year was France, dragging its disappointment from the 2023 World Cup. “Bitter-sweet” summarizes last year’s French Six Nations. Defeated by Ireland, Les Bleus were successful against England and Wales, but only managed to get a draw against Italy, traditional wooden spoon of the tournament. Fabien Galthié’s team can dream bigger for this year, maybe repeating their Grand Slam. Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack’s comebacks will surely revive the group. But the return of the heroes isn’t an expression applying to the whole team. Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou are part of it, although they were investigated over rape claims in Argentina last summer. They were dismissed in December, but the court’s decision has been appealed: the case remains ongoing. The decision to include them in the tournament has been questioned by the media and supporters. Will these off-field matters influence French performances? Playing Wales first should be a formality, but the clash against Ireland, which will take place in Dublin, promises a ruthless confrontation.
Ireland and France seem to be the favourites for the first spots on the podium, and as much as I would love the other teams to stand a chance, reality catches up. England struggled in the last Autumn Series, and the English club’s recent dramatic experiences in the Champions’ Cup suggests the worst. Coach Steve Borthwick wrestles to build a consistent team, not aided by four players’ withdrawals. And mid-table teams increase the pressure: Italy created surprise by beating Wales and Scotland, and equalling France in 2024. Although weakened by Tuipolotu’s injury, Scotland still displays talented players, such as co-captains Finn Russel and Rory Darge. The battle for third place and avoiding the wooden spoon should also offer us suspense.
Most importantly, the Six Nations will be an occasion for fans to simply have a good time. I am always surprised by the packed stadiums and cheerful supporters singing their lungs out during the national anthems, shouting to push their favourite players behind the try line, but tapping each other’s shoulder amicably after the final whistle. I unfortunately cannot spend any more lines detailing what’s at stake in this 2025 Six Nations, but I want to emphasize that the women’s tournament will also take place this year, from March 22nd, with just as many competitive stakes as the men’s. The U-20 tournament has also already started, and the Scottish Team includes Mark Fyffe, student at the University of Edinburgh! Yet another reason to watch rugby this year…
“Italia vs scotland Six Nations 2016” by Gartxoak is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.