Six Nations wide open as Super Saturday kicks off

Spare a thought for the logistics team at the Six Nations, for which this has not been an easy week.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

In their pre-tournament plotting and planning, this would surely have been both a dream and nightmare scenario: a Super Saturday” where each and every game contains a title contender and the men’s champions will not be known until the bells of Notre-Dame chime 11 times.

The smart money would be of a straightforward Stade de France lifting of the trophy after France dispatch Scotland in Paris, but things are seldom that simple in this championship. Take care of business themselves and Ireland and England could face an anxious wait, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on hold to host a hoisting if required, while an Irish three-peat would see an “opulent palazzo” employed to give a sense of ceremony to the medal presentation.

With simultaneous kick-offs commercially unpalatable given the television revenue that would be missed out on, this is about as good as it gets. It will take some going to match the denouement of a decade ago, when points difference played a significant part in generating an average tally of 73 points per game, but with Ireland and England in all likelihood needing bonus points, a day of thrills could well be in store.

One dare not get ahead of oneself but the pressure will most certainly be piled on France if England, Ireland or both nudge ahead earlier in the day. Already, a side that has not won as much as they should have over the last half-decade will be feeling a weight of expectation. One title and a desperately disappointing – for many reasons – last-eight exit from their home tournament are scant reward for their ability.