What did we learn about each team in the Six Nations?

Huynh NguyenApril 20, 2022

The 2022 Six Nations was a festival of rugby that didn’t disappoint. Defending champions Wales entered the 128th tournament full of expectation, and according to Rugby championship odds at bwin, they were favorites, but it was France who secured the Grand Slam at the Stade de France, with runners-up Ireland winning the Triple Crown. While each nation mulls over its performance, eyes are already turned toward next year’s tournament and what we can expect before the World Cup in September 2023.

Anticipation building

The 2023 Six Nations tournament is due to commence on the first weekend in February and a total of 15 matches will be played over seven weeks. The release of the 2023 Six Nations fixtures has been delayed, but we know where the ties will be played out as home ground advantage alternates each year. That means Grand Slam winners France will need to do something they haven’t done since 2005 and beat England at Twickenham if they are to repeat their 2022 accomplishment.

Ireland will host both France and England on home ground, which could see bettors making an early wager on them to improve upon their second-place finish. Currently, the outright Six Nations odds have Ireland at odds of +175. Other tantalizing fixtures await, but what did each nation learn from the previous tournament?

France

A team that appears unstoppable when they’re on top form and undoubtedly capable of being victorious again in both the Six Nations and the World Cup on home soil next year. Gaël Fickou and Antoine Dupont were the classy stars, but other players in their prime could make this France squad unbeatable in 2023. Les Bleus made hard work of it at times and the performance against Wales in Cardiff wasn’t intimidating for others looking for World Cup success.

Nevertheless, they always had enough, thoroughly deserved the Grand Slam, and are red-hot favorites for next year. There’s little to say about this incredibly-talented team that has set down a marker that other nations seem unlikely to match any time soon.

England 

With news that an English national is set to succeed Eddie Jones and will work with the Australian head coach during the 2023 World Cup in France, you wonder what the player’s reaction will be to this odd succession plan. Jones has been in the role since November 20th, 2015 but has been trying to transform England’s play to be more expansive recently with a triumphant departure after the World Cup seemingly his goal.

For a team in transition, a third-place Six Nations finish and some pleasing moments could represent progress but are England improving, or did Scotland and Wales just have a temporary blip? England has a talented squad and there are up-and-coming players such as Emeka Ilione catching the eye and possibly could make the jump to the senior level. Yet, while Jones’s aim of achieving a jubilant sendoff can’t entirely be dismissed, another third-place finish next year appears on the cards.

Ireland 

That pulsating encounter in Paris that saw France emerge victorious 30-24 after a relentlessly physical game was all that prevented Ireland from being crowned Grand Slam champions. This contest was clearly the match of the tournament and but for a below-par first 40 minutes, the Irish would have been celebrating a glorious win on French soil.

Andy Farrell’s side should take heart from their performances and with the likes of Josh van der Flier and James Lowe they have the talent. However, does Ireland have room for improvement, or did they reach their ceiling? The feeling is they don’t have enough to improve on second place and will find themselves behind France once again. 

Wales 

A calamitous title defense that can partly be explained by injuries leaves Wales with many questions to ponder. There is a theory that a first home defeat by Italy was a blessing in disguise and might prompt much-needed action to address deficiencies in Wayne Pivac’s Wales squad. Yet, while the fifth-place finish represents failure, they were far from outclassed by England and France, suggesting that while there’ll be no quick fix, hope remains.

While wider questions about the decline of Welsh rugby were being asked before the Six Nations, a record low of 76 points scored indicates both next year’s Six Nations and the World Cup will be tough viewing for the Welsh.

Scotland 

A 20-17 victory over the old enemy at Murrayfield Stadium in the opening round of fixtures pointed to 2022 being a fabulous tournament for the Scots. Player indiscipline off and on the pitch is perhaps the key issue in Scotland lacking the consistency to really challenge and how Gregor Townsend tackles any future issues will be crucial.

The Scotland team has the ability to score from anywhere but is evidently not reaching its potential on a regular basis. Right now, the reason for this inability to put top performances with any form of consistency is resting on the shoulders of senior players who should know better, but another disappointing showing in 2023 will increasingly bring focus on the head coach. 

Italy 

A first Six Nations win in over seven years made it a memorable tournament for the wooden spoon specialists. The fact that Italy merited the win over Wales at Millennium Stadium rather than fortunate or undeserving makes it all the sweeter.

A timely win too, considering that Italy has been playing under the believed threat of being kicked out of the Six Nations with speculation that South Africa would replace them. One win isn’t enough to prevent people from calling for Italy to be superseded, but Kieran Crowley’s team are improving and might just taste victory again in 2023.

Huynh NguyenApril 20, 2022
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