The Six Nations tournament delivered its verdict on Saturday, with a double for Ireland, in a 2024 edition marked by the inconsistency of the French XV.
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We take the same and start again ? This could be the first reading of this Six Nations 2024 won, Saturday March 16, by Ireland ahead of France like last year. This opus, however, offered some surprises and suspense intact until the last day, with four teams still in the running for the final victory. Return to an edition rich in lessons.
The Blues, between show and very cold
It was to be the Tournament after that, the one to forget the disappointment of this cruel elimination of one point in the quarter-final of “his” World Cup. The following day was not easy for the French XV, swept out of the “final early” by Ireland (17-38). The Blues came very close to a serious hangover, with three worrying first performances, between this Irish beating, the victory at the last minute in Scotland and the happy draw against Italy.
Day 5: France – England summary (2024) (FRANCE 2)
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In the absence in particular of Antoine Dupont who left on his adventure with 7, Fabien Galthié had to adapt, almost reinvent himself on his own scale. The integration of new blood like Nolann Le Garrec, Emmanuel Meafou or Léo Barré for the fourth day in Wales has breathed new life into the Tricolores, particularly in attack. The last fiery match against England (33-31) confirmed the return to form and the promises, especially with the probable return of other executives in the coming months. “We experienced one hell of a Tournament, literally and figuratively.summarized Fabien Galthié. Without respite, all the time burning, all the time on the go. We were sometimes on the top, sometimes on the edge… We had to be solid. And the players were.“
Ireland recovered from the World Cup
If the French had experienced their elimination in the quarter-finals of the World Cup as a small trauma, what can we say then for the XV du Trèfle? The Irish also suffered a terrible blow by losing narrowly at this stage, against New Zealand – future finalist – while they wore the favorite costume for the first time. They too could have doubted, falling into the difficulty of stringing together performances at the top. Result ? Ireland finishes this Six Nations with the best attack, the best defense and as the only team with a positive ratio of tries scored to conceded.
Day 5: Ireland – Scotland summary (FRANCE 2)
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The only downside was that Andy Farrell’s players had a more sluggish end to the tournament, once on the rails towards final victory. Their defeat against England (23-22) deprives them of the Grand Slam and the Triple Crown, reserved for the British nation which wins all matches against its neighbors. It was necessary to go back to the 2017 edition for this award not to be awarded. The narrow and lackluster victory for the coronation, against Scotland, suggests some flaws in this team which has not yet become the steamroller of 2023 again.
State of crisis declared in Wales
That the time for the 2021 Grand Slam seems far away now. Wales confirmed their major downgrade, with their first wooden spoon (five defeats in as many matches) in 21 years, after finishing penultimate in the last two editions. The Welsh concluded their way of the cross with a rout against their home crowd against Italy (21-24) on the last day.
“It’s a feeling of total disappointment, lamented Captain Dafydd Jenkins. With no disrespect to Italy, as a group of players we want to win these games and beat these teams. It’s a big disappointment.“Symbol of this nightmare, the legend George North concluded his international career with an outing due to injury.
Day 5: Wales-Italy summary (2024) (FRANCE TELEVISIONS)
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The return to the bench of former historic coach Warren Gatland turned into a fiasco, even if he knew he was embarking on a slow reconstruction. The New Zealand technician presented his resignation on Saturday, which was refused. His management, especially in the last match, raised questions on the Cardiff side between a pair of 100% renewed centers, or a very inexperienced bench when avoiding last place.
Stunning Italy, frustrating Scotland
Who would have thought that Italy would finish as the best team in the last three days of this Six Nations? With two victories and a draw, like the Blues, the Transalpines signed “the best tournament [leur] history” enthused the third row Michele Lamaro on Sky Sports. Chopped to pieces by France less than five months earlier in the World Cup, Gonzalo Quesada’s players showed a completely different side, exciting, without the slightest complex. “In each match, we played better than in the previous one, we found our playing identitywelcomed the former manager of Stade Français. I am very proud of this team, of our project, of our way of working.“
With a penalty on the post near Paolo Garbisi in Villeneuve d’Ascq, the results would have been even more flattering, with a fourth place ahead of Scotland. The Chardon XV may have some regrets as it narrowly failed against Italy (defeat by two points), France and Ireland (both by four points) despite the presence of Duhan van der Merwe and Finn Russell , respectively best try scorer (5, tied with Irishman Dan Sheehan) and second best scorer of the Tournament (55 points behind Thomas Ramos’ 63).