A SIX-SIDED PUZZLE
NO TEAM HAS MANAGED TO DOMINATE THE SIX NATIONS FOR LONG
E NGLAND have the best record in Rugby’s Six Nations era - but it remains one of the most competitive international competitions in the world.
The first round of this year’s Six Nations kicks off this weekend with Wales facing Scotland, France taking on Ireland and Italy hosting England in Rome.
Data shows England not only have the most championship wins since the contest was expanded to include Italy in 2000, but also the best overall win-loss record. The red-and-whites have won a total of 71.1 per cent of their Six Nations games, ahead of Ireland (64.4 per cent), France (63.3 per cent) and Wales (54.4 per cent). England also have the most championship wins, with six - including the 2017 and 2016 editions.
France have five, Wales four and Ireland three.
That said, no team has ever enjoyed sustained superiority over its rivals.
In fact if England win this year’s Six Nations, they will become the first team to win three championships in a row.
France (in 2006 and 2007), Wales (in 2012 and 2013) and Ireland (in 2014 and 2015) have all won back-toback Six Nations before failing to go on to make it a hat-trick.
While the Six Nations has only existed in its current form for 18 years, the Home Nations have been playing each other for much longer.
England have a significant overall winning record against both Scotland (75 wins to 42) and Ireland (76 wins to 48).
Against Wales, it is much closer: England are just ahead with 61 wins to Wales’ 57.
Wales also has winning records against Ireland (68 wins to 50) and Scotland (70 wins to 49).
In terms of individual player records, it is Irishmen that lead many of the lists.
Brian O’Driscoll is the all-time Six Nations top try scorer, with 26 - four ahead of Wales’ Shane Williams, with 22. Ronan O’Gara has scored more points than any other player, with 557. Jonny Wilkinson is second with 486 and Stephen Jones third with 467. It isn’t just history that suggests this year’s Six Nations could go right down to the wire. The bookmakers currently have England at evens with Ireland at 6/4 and only Italy - at 500/1 considered virtual no-hopers.