France clinched the top spot at the 2025 Six Nations Championship, demonstrating their dominance with strong performances and youthful talent. Their success, under the leadership of coach Fabien Galthié, marked the second title during his five-year tenure.
France concluded the tournament with a notable record, including victories against Ireland, Scotland, and Italy, affirming their place among rugby's elite. Despite the high praise, their campaign was marred by disappointment, having missed the chance for the Grand Slam after falling to England at Twickenham, where they outplayed their rivals but lost on the scoreboard. Galthié's squad might have missed out on the Grand Slam, but they displayed resilience and depth, employing tactics inspired by South Africa's 'bomb squad' strategy. This approach proved effective against teams like Italy and Ireland, who struggled to contend with their fresh reserves.
The French team is brimming with promise; 17 of the players on the matchday roster for Saturday, March 15, were under the age of 30. Captain Antoine Dupont is expected to return for the autumn tests after recovering from an ACL injury, adding to the squad's hopeful future. One standout was Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who etched his name in history by becoming the first player in 100 years to score eight tries during one tournament, sealing his place by scoring across all matches.
On the English front, they finished second, showcasing significant improvements under coach Steve Borthwick after last season's disappointing performances. Borthwick's innovative strategies, shifting players like Maro Itoje to captaincy and experimenting with new player combinations, paid dividends. They pulled off narrow victories against formidable opponents France and Scotland, boosting their confidence on their path to the Rugby World Cup later this year.
Praise for England's key player, Tom Curry, was frequent; his tireless performance on the pitch proved invaluable. Yet, the team also faced challenges, with the search for Marcus Smith's best position becoming somewhat of a conundrum.
Finishing third, the Irish team faced troubles of their own. After coming off the back of previous successes, this year's campaign revealed cracks, particularly against top-tier teams like France, where they suffered a home loss of 42-27. The performance raised concerns about their aging squad, with several key players now over 30 and others like Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, and Cian Healy retiring.
Interim coach Simon Easterby acknowledged these issues, stating, “We have started the process of improving.” The Irish squad will look to the future as they use the upcoming tour of Georgia and Portugal to begin rebuilding and filling the gaps left by their experienced players.
Scotland, after finishing fourth, still struggles to blend their talented backs with the consistent performance of their forwards. Teacher Gregor Townsend's task remains challenging as he prepares for his final Six Nations under the current contract.
Despite promising moments, the Scottish team could not achieve more significant victories, losing several players to injury, which hampered their chances. The hope lies with players like Blair Kinghorn, who led the tournament with impressive statistics but found limited support overall.
Italy managed to avoid the wooden spoon, finishing fifth. Their only win came against Wales at home, and they put on spirited performances against other teams, including shockingly almost defeating Ireland at home. Despite their struggles, players like Tommaso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex proved themselves among the competition's best midfields.
Wales, disappointingly, finished last, marking their current losing streak as the longest for any tier-one team. Having lost their last 17 matches, they struggled under the interim coaching of Matt Sherratt, who will return to his club after this interim period. The Welsh Rugby Union, still seeking permanent coaching solutions, faces scrutiny from fans, especially as they prepare to host powerful teams like New Zealand and South Africa later this year.
Wales’ significant defeat against England signaled their need for change, emphasizing the requirement for transparent plans to rejuvenate the team. With these outcomes, the Six Nations sparked conversations about the future of rugby within these key European nations. Each team is preparing for pivotal future matches, including Georgia vs. Ireland and Argentina vs. England, both set to take place on July 5, 2025. The tournaments will be instrumental as the teams wrestle with their identities and approach heading toward the next World Cup.
Among the most pressing questions for fans is how each nation's coaching will evolve and adapt to tackle the competitive nature of international rugby, considering the impact seasoned players have left behind. Moving forward, the focus will remain on youth development and integrating new strategies to cope with the high-pressure environment of the forthcoming championship matches.
