Six Nations

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Six Nations news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

For me, this was their finest Six Nations win

10 March 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Could have beaten England. Should have beaten France, finally did the business against Scotland. Italy took the major scalp that this particular group […]

Gatland on a mission to avoid whitewash

10 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Wales v France Today. Kick-off 3pm, Principality Stadium WALES are on their worst run in the Six Nations since the year […]

Play with tempo and Wales could steal it

10 March 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WALES are rebuilding, and most people accept that. There are usually ups and downs with every international team, […]

It’s a long walk but Wales on right road

10 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT We’ve all heard it: “You don’t beat Wales at rugby – you just score more points than them.” Like many sporting quips masquerading […]

We are going to miss you guys a lot

10 March 2024 0 comments

All career-ending injuries are to be mourned but the last couple of weeks or so have been hard to digest for Italy fans and indeed […]

At last! England find reason to be cheerful

10 March 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME We were waiting and hoping for a game that will define how far England have developed […]

Episode 100! Previewing England vs Ireland with Jonny Bell

6 March 2024 0 comments

This week, the Rugby Paper Podcast brings up 100 episodes! A huge thank you to all those who support and continue to follow the podcast […]

“I’ve loved every minute of it” – Cunningham-South on move to England

5 March 2024 0 comments

For a 20-year-old, Chandler Cunningham-South has lived quite a life. Born in England, he moved to New Zealand at the age of four, only to […]

Martin relishing playing with pals

4 March 2024 0 comments

George Martin is a familiar name to English rugby fans, but the man behind the player is still very much a mystery. The towering Leicester […]

I’m still getting stick over Hill, says rookie

3 March 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY England new boy Chandler Cunningham-South is still paying the price for not recognising 2003 legend Richard Hill. World Cup winner Hill, in […]

Moody fears an Ireland onslaught

3 March 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Lewis Moody fears “unstoppable” Ireland will deliver further bad news for England when they arrive at Twickenham. Andy Farrell’s side go into […]

Pearson grabs chance to show his potential

3 March 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS In terms of an on-field audition, Northampton’s Tom Pearson could not have done much more to impress watching England head coach, Steve […]

Paterson: Ref right not to re-set shot clock

3 March 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Scotland’s record points scorer Chris Paterson has defended referee Christophe Ridley’s decision to not re-set the shot clock in the dramatic finale […]

There’s plenty of talent on its way through – Skivington

3 March 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS George Skivington insists the future is bright in terms of the talent coming through within the English rugby set-up. Handed the perfect […]

Hodge on his way back to fast lane

3 March 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Josh Hodge has set his sights on an exciting end to the season after making an impressive return to action following injury. […]

‘Big Mac’ has his eye on the prize

3 March 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE The extent of the impact Wales newbie Mackenzie Martin is making this season can be judged in many ways. His club, Cardiff […]

If England cut the errors, they will be in the game

3 March 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK ENGLAND will be disappointed with the result at Murrayfield and will look at the Scotland game as a […]

Care merits his century, says Youngs

3 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL EDDISON BEN Youngs has backed his long-time rival Danny Care to step up on what would be his 100th appearance for England against […]

Borthwick must stop delaying and rebuild

3 March 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK WHEN Steve Borthwick took over from Eddie Jones as England head coach he said that he had […]

Furbank would be central to my team

3 March 2024 0 comments

An English upset against Ireland on Saturday is about as likely as Donald Trump losing his fake tangerine tan. However, witnessing France’s epic no-hoper victory […]

Borthwick should put faith in this trio

3 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED PETER Winterbottom knows a thing or three about our sport, so you would expect him to make some telling points over […]

How one player really can make a team tick

3 March 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER WHY have France fallen off a cliff ?Can it really all be […]

It’s time for take – off, England

3 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says that, with Ireland at home and France away to come, Borthwick’s men must become relentless IT WAS three years ago last weekend […]

The flying Scot who still leads the field

3 March 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON Until Scotland’s converted Junior Springbok struck last weekend, England had not been hit by a Five or Six Nations’ hat-trick since Maurice Richards’ […]

Wigglesworth: Major changes not answer

3 March 2024 0 comments

By LOUIS CHAPMAN-COOMBE England assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth insists widespread change isn’t the solution to their attacking woes following last weekend’s Calcutta Cup disaster. England’s […]

Post denies Italy first Six Nations win in France

25 February 2024 1 comment

By NICK POWELL France…………………………………………..13 Tries: Ollivon 7 Conversions: Ramos 8 Penalties: Ramos 14, 45 Italy…………………………………………………13 Tries: Capuozzo 70 Conversions: Garbisi 71 Penalties: Page-Relo 40+4, Garbisi […]

Borthwick: We made too many mistakes

25 February 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY at Murrayfield England boss Steve Borthwick admitted his side got what they deserved after another Murrayfield nightmare in Edinburgh. Borthwick’s men went […]

Farrell pleased with Irish resilience

25 February 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Wales rattled Ireland in the second half but ultimately fell to their 10th defeat in 11 Six Nations matches in Dublin yesterday […]

Hammer of the English is too hot to handle again

25 February 2024 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Scotland ……………………….30pts Tries: van der Merwe 20, 30, 45 Conversions: Russell 21, 31, 47 Penalties: Russell 35, 57, 66 England ………………………… 21pts […]

Borthwick’s conundrum: Stick or twist for Ireland

25 February 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES It was England’s first real test this Six Nations as they faced a team that expected to defeat them rather than fantasise about […]

Edwards in firing line as France lose rhythm

25 February 2024 0 comments

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IT’S too easy to say that France have fallen off and are no longer the team they were, after a […]

Rattled, but Irish still on course for slam

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Ireland………………………….. 31pts Tries: Sheehan 21, Lowe 32, Frawley 68, Beirne 81 Conversions: Crowley 22, 33, 68, 82 Penalties: Crowley 7 Wales……………………………… 7pts […]

As usual, Gibson-Park enjoys life in top gear

25 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER It’s more than a little sobering to think that Ireland’s win over Wales on Saturday was probably their “iffy” performance of their 2024 […]

Lethargic France in need of new drive

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW…France vs Italy (Today. Kick-off 3pm, Decathlon Arena, Lille) IT does not come any more demanding in the Six Nations than visits […]

Still out in front, the rocks of ages

25 February 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW They have been resting in the front row of the Pantheon now for almost half a century, […]

We need to progress, both on and off pitch

25 February 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME NOW the teams have had their week off hopefully they have had the chance to reassess […]

Furbank comes in for Calcutta Cup contest

22 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: Scotland vs England (Saturday, 4:45pm) George Furbank starts for England for the first time since March 2022 as the visitors make five changes for […]

Ireland return to strongest team for Celtic Clash

22 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: Ireland vs Wales (Saturday, 2:15pm) Ireland continue their Grand Slam pursuit by making seven changes to return to their strongest XV against a winless […]

Series 3 Episode 25: Calcutta Cup preview with Bryan Redpath

21 February 2024 0 comments

Round 3 of the 2024 Six Nations is coming thick and fast and the headline fixture – as it often is – is Saturday’s Calcutta […]

Cole’s wife gave him green light to carry on

18 February 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Dan Cole is gunning for Six Nations glory after revealing he got permission from his missus to continue his Test career after […]

Joe puts his faith in Martin to impress

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL MARTIN Joe Launchbury has backed the returning George Martin to make an instant impact in England’s Six Nations campaign. The Leicester forward, 22, […]

O’Shea wants more England A fixtures

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Twickenham is looking to arrange up to four England A fixtures in the coming years following the resurrection of the side this […]

Assiratti goes from novice to mainstay

18 February 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE A year ago Keiron Assiratti was wondering how he could prop up his family, never mind the Welsh scrum. Yet this weekend […]

Moody: Ireland hold the aces

18 February 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Lewis Moody still harbours doubts that England are ready to lift the Six Nations crown despite a confident and promising start to […]

England A told: Play what’s in front of you

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES England A will not be a replica of the senior side when they face Portugal at Welford Road next Sunday. Attack coach […]

It’s time to take a risk, England need to get the fans on their feet

18 February 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK As we approach the Six Nations midpoint, England are more like a Thames barge making slow headway […]

The piano shifters are playing modern tune

18 February 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Much of the “tactical” kicking across the opening rounds of the Six Nations would have left Fred Flintstone wondering what happened […]

Ireland’s class will be hard to overcome

18 February 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW IF ONLY Wales could take an old leaf out of the record book and make history repeat […]

Dutch and Germans proving their worth

18 February 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Round Three of the Rugby Europe championship concludes in Amsterdam this afternoon […]