Six Nations - all the title permutations
SPOTLIGHT: This weekend’s ‘Super Saturday’, the last round of the 2020 Six Nations, sees three teams still in with a chance of winning the title.
Ireland, France and England all have a shot at lifting the trophy some 33 weeks after the coronavirus delayed the Championship’s scheduled finish.
AFP Sport looks at what each of the contenders needs to do in order to be crowned champions.
Ireland
The tournament leaders are the only one of the three title rivals whose fate is in their hands.
If they beat France in Paris with a bonus point, achieved by scoring four or more tries, the Irish will be crowned champions, regardless of how England fare against Italy.
England
Eddie Jones’ second-placed side are currently a point behind Ireland but level on 13 points with France.
Their points difference is currently 23 worse off than that of the Irish, but that could change dramatically if they hammer perennial strugglers Italy in Rome.
England has won all 26 of their previous Tests against Italy, with six of those matches producing a winning margin of 40 or more points.
Another similarly huge bonus-point win, would leave England, bidding for a first Six Nations title since 2017, hoping France and Ireland then cancel each other out.
France
The revitalised ‘Les Bleus’ were on course for a Grand Slam – following wins over England, Italy and Wales – before a shock loss to Scotland put paid to a clean sweep under new coach Fabien Galthie.
France is currently just two points worse off on points difference than England.
They will likely need a commanding win over Ireland if they are to be crowned champions should England, as expected, hammer Italy.
The French will, like the Irish however, know exactly what they need to do ahead of their kick-off at Saint-Denis.
