The Guinness Six Nations, or Six Nations, is the most well-known competition in men’s rugby worldwide. This monumental annual event gathers millions of rugby fans worldwide. The competition involves six rivalling countries – Wales, Scotland, Italy, France, Ireland, and England.
Since it’s such a massive sporting event, the amount of hype around it is hard to explain with plain words. However, the thing that makes the Six Nations so popular is the sheer unpredictability of the outcomes.
In 2021, Wales was the winner of the championship with 27 wins in total. In 2022, the competition took place between the 5th of February and the 19th of March. If you’re a fiery fan of the Six Nations, keep reading to learn more about the most remarkable rugby moments in Six Nations history that make this competition the best and biggest rugby tournament on the planet.
1. Wales vs. Scotland (2010)
In the 2010 Wales vs. Scotland game, Wales took the win by a thread thanks to incredible efforts made by Shane Williams. According to most rugby fans, this was the most memorable moment in the entire Six Nation existence. Many fans still remember the legendary Shane Williams’ remark about the expression most fans had when he made that last-minute step over the line.
Despite trailing by ten points toward the very end of the match, Wales made a miraculous recovery by scoring three times in the last five minutes of the game. This last-minute comeback is still considered one of the greatest moments in Six Nations history.
2. France vs. Ireland (2018)
In 2018, Ireland took victory against France thanks to immense efforts made by Johnny Sexton. His last-minute 45-meter drop goal helped his team take the win by 15-13. The Irish had the advantage for most of the match, and it seemed like the victory was theirs.
However, the beauty of rugby is in its unpredictability. No matter how things may seem on the field, there’s always a chance of turning the outcome of the match, and Teddy Thomas is the best example. He almost won the game by striking a sudden counterattack.
Nevertheless, Ireland won the day when Johnny Sexton dominated the field by scoring one of the most legendary drop goals.
3. Italy vs. Wales (2007)
Rugby is also a sport where anything goes. Some teams rarely win, but when they do, they do it with a bang. Such is the 2007 case of Italy vs. Wales. In 2007, Italy took the win against Wales (23-20), much to the surprise of rugby fans.
Wales’ defeat surprised the entire rugby world, making Italy’s win controversial and forever marked in the history of Six Nations. Although Wales had the 3-point advantage, everything changed for the worse when the referee assigned them a kickable penalty right next to the Italians.
The game ended before Wales could even make their move, securing two victories for the Italians for the first time.
4. France vs. England (2004)
In 2004, France defeated England 24-21. That rugby match was their fourth grand slam in 8 years. The French had lost to England in the Austrian semi-finals, so this match was like a well-deserved vengeance for France.
The English had many chances to end the match and take the win, but they missed the opportunity to become victorious, especially during the last three minutes of the game. However, the French stepped up their game and landed a penalty after 20 minutes, thanks to Dimitry Yachivili.
5. Ireland vs. Wales (2009)
Ireland landed a legendary grand slam in 2009, thanks to stunning Ronan O’Gara’s long-range drop goal. The goal gave Ireland the advantage over Wales three minutes near the game’s end. In 2015, a survey revealed it to be the greatest ever Irish rugby moment.
Although Wales was leading by 15 points, Ireland managed to take the win by chance when Stephen Jones missed the winning penalty in the last second.
6. Italy vs. Scotland (2000)
In 2000, Italy became the sixth country to join the tournament, changing the championship’s name from Five Nations to Six Nations.
Right after that, Italy justified its entrance into the competition by securing one of the most memorable opening matches in the tournament’s history.
The Italians defeated Scotland by 14 points, which left most spectators speechless.
The upcoming Six Nations
The 2023 Guinness Six Nations will begin on the 4th of February. Looking at the current fixtures, we are bound to have many exciting moments.
You will be able to watch Six Nations on BBC and ITV, and BBC iPlayer and ITV HUB. Welsh channel S4C will also broadcast all Wales matches. If you find yourself unable to watch it through these sources due to traveling, try a VPN for Windows computers or other devices you use. This app lets you change your virtual location when you go outside the UK. Then, you should be able to connect to a server in your home country and see all the action!
Conclusion
There are many reasons why Six Nations is one of the biggest, most important rugby sports events in the world. The tournament gathers millions of fans who all share the same excitement for the drama and intrigue on the field. Although there are countless moments to reflect upon, these highlights are the six brightest moments in Six Nations history.
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