Record amount of tries mask defensive concerns

AS a Six Nations tournament widely lauded as the greatest ever came to a close on Saturday, the teams were left to reflect not only on the entertainment, but also on the issues they need to fix with the Rugby World Cup less than 18 months away.

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The competition featured a series of swashbuckling displays, shock results and wildly swinging fortunes.

But with all the excitement and drama, it could not be ignored that the six teams conceded a record 211 tries, too.

France may have won for the second year in a row — and equalled their record try-tally of 30 achieved last year — but with 19 tries conceded, that too was a new marker for a championship-winning team.

France fullback Thomas Ramos, who kicked the title-winning penalty with the final play of Saturday’s thrilla-minute 48-46 victory over England, revealed the team were going to have “some frank conversations” about their defence.

Along with their 50-40 defeat to Scotland the week before, France conceded 96 points and 14 tries in just two games.

“At this level, we cannot concede 50, then more than 40, if we want to exist in major competitions,” he said. “If we concede so many tries, those will be won without us.”