From individual flashes of brilliance, to nail biting match conclusions, year on year the northern hemisphere’s premier competition continues to produce edge of your seat moments for fans and neutrals alike.
With another campaign ready to commence, we reflect on a series of events that remind us just how emotional, riveting and unpredictable a spectacle the Six Nations truly is.
1. Stephen Jones’ last minute kick (Wales vs Ireland, 2009)
Ireland entered the final day of the 2009 Six Nations with the Championship secured, but sights were firmly set on a first Grand Slam triumph since 1948.
As the final minutes of a hard fought 80-minute battle with the Welsh dwindled away, Ireland edged 17-15 ahead thanks to a Ronan O’Gara drop goal. As the clock ticked towards the red, however, they conceded a penalty on half way and with it Stephen Jones had a chance to deny Ireland their ultimate prize.
Jones swung his right boot, and the rest is best described by some of those involved on the day…
2. Gavin Henson’s virtuoso display (Wales vs England, 2005)
If ever an 80-minute performance exemplified the term “what could have been”, Gavin Henson’s 2005 showing against England at the Millennium Stadium was just that.
Henson ran the game in an authoritative manner in both attack and defence. While the centre landed the kick that sealed an 11-9 Welsh win, what most remember from this game is the manner in which he unceremoniously put his teenage counterpart Matthew Tait on his backside twice.
Tait was billed as the great emerging talent of English rugby at the time, but his advances on the day – and his international career as a whole – were put in reverse by Henson. Tait subsequently lost his place in the England squad and didn’t reappear until 2007.
3. Italy’s first win over Les Bleus (Italy vs France, 2011)
Having joined the competition in 2000, Italy have failed to develop as much as many hoped over the past 16 campaigns, recording just 12 wins in 80 fixtures.
The Azzurri have managed to take the scalp of every team – except England – at least once (Scotland seven times), but have never been a consistent threat in the tournament. Their first win against nearest rivals France came in 2011, and was met with an outpouring of emotion at the final whistle.
Mirco Bergamasco landed the winning kick, with under five minutes remaining, as the Italians sealed a famous 22-21 victory in Rome that culminated in fans, players and staff alike embracing on the field, and in the stands, after a historic result.
4. England’s Grand Slam clincher (England vs Ireland, 2003)
Remarkably it’s been 12 years since England last claimed a Grand Slam, but the 2003 triumph was memorable for many reasons.
Firstly, England had fallen at the final hurdle in each of the previous three years and this was their last chance to make an impact before the World Cup in Australia – which they duly won.
They travelled to Lansdowne Road, to meet an Irish team also in the hunt for Grand Slam honors, and thoroughly dismantled their hosts. They eased to victory in a 42-6 romp, but their marker was laid down before a ball was even kicked.
Martin Johnson and his men took up residence on the “home” side of the carpet ahead of the pre match introductions, thus forcing Ireland’s president to walk on the grass to greet the Irish players. It didn’t go down well in Dublin, but solidified the notion this English team was a hard-edged, no-nonsense outfit that took no prisoners.
5. Flower of Scotland at Murrayfield (Scotland vs Italy, 2015)
There are few finer national anthems than the spectacle offered by a full house at Murrayfield ahead of a Scottish home game. The band strike up to play the first verse, and the players and supporters belt out The Flower of Scotland in perfect unison.
The pipes are then lowered, and the players and fans sign the second verse together, unaccompanied. The result is one of the most spine tingling experiences in northern hemisphere rugby.
6. Shane Williams try (Wales vs Scotland, 2010)
With five minutes remaining at the Millennium Stadium in an otherwise forgettable game, Scotland led Wales by 10 points, 24-14.
The Welsh kept knocking, but their attempts seemed futile even after Lee Halfpenny went over for a try that was converted by Stephen Jones. This was rapidly followed by a Jones penalty to tie the scores with mere seconds remaining, however, there was still enough time on the clock for the game to be restarted and further drama ensued.
With Scotland now down to 13 men, Wales marched the 80 meters up field with the clock deep in the red, before Williams crossed under the posts to score, and steal the most unlikely of victories for the ecstatic hosts.
