The 2020 Six Nations is set for a dramatic albeit rather delayed Super Saturday with three teams still able to claim the title. Ireland, England and France are all still in with a chance of lifting the Championship title this weekend, with England heading to Rome to face Italy before France take on Ireland in Paris. Let’s have a look at each team and what they need to do to achieve this:
Ireland
Currently top of the table on 14 points after the bonus-point 50-17 victory over Italy, all Ireland need to do now is get the bonus-point win, scoring four or more tries, over France this Saturday and they are guaranteed to win the title. They could still win the title with a non-bonus-point win, although with England expected to achieve a bonus-point victory over Italy, this would most likely come down to points difference.
Ireland's points difference is currently 23 points better than England so, if Ireland win with four points and England five, Ireland would still win the title as long as England's margin of victory was not 24 points greater than Ireland's. Ireland would also be champions with a four-point win over France if England failed to get a winning bonus point.
If they lose, however there is no way they will lift the trophy at the end.
France
For France to win the Six Nations they must beat Ireland and better England's result against Italy. They are currently trailing England's points difference by two so would need a margin of victory three greater than England's to be victorious.
If teams finish tied on points and points difference then the championship will be decided on number of tries scored. France have scored 13 to England's nine.
England
With England playing the weakest team in the Championship, they are looking like the likely winners of the tournament. They will win the title if they beat Italy with a bonus point and France beat Ireland, unless Les Blues earn a bonus-point win and secure a margin of victory two points greater than England's.
Although, as mentioned previously, if England win with a bonus point and Ireland beat France without a bonus point, the title would come down to points difference. If they end up level on both points and points difference, then Ireland hold an important advantage in the next tiebreaker – tries scored, having scored 14 to England’s 9.
If England lose or draw against Italy, then a win of any description or even a draw for Ireland would see them lift the title.
There is everything to play for this weekend for all 3 teams, and having waited to 7 months for epic conclusion of the Six Nations, it is set to be an incredible weekend of International rugby… bring on Super Saturday!
Here are the remaining fixtures:
- Wales v Scotland - 14:15 GMT (Parc y Scarlets)
- Italy v England - 16:45 GMT (Stadio Olimpico)
- France v Ireland - 20:05 GMT (Stade de France)
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