https://www.scmp.com/rss/316024/feed The 2015 Six Nations Championship was the 16th edition of the annual northern hemisphere rugby competition involving England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. It ran from 6 February to 21 March 2015 and was won once again by defending champions Ireland. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Please click on the link to view a gallery of the best photos from the final round of the Six Nations. Joe Schmidt called it a “roller-coaster ride” but after the ups and down of a dramatic denouement day in the 2015 Six Nations Championship Ireland’s head coach and his players were left clutching the trophy. Having beaten Scotland 40-10 at Murrayfield, equalling their record margin against them, captain Paul O’Connell and the rest of the Ireland players had to wait to see whether England could... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1744473/ireland-crowned-champions-after-wild-roller-coaster-ride?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1744473/ireland-crowned-champions-after-wild-roller-coaster-ride?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2015 02:30:15 +0000 Paul O’Connell led from the front for Ireland in what was likely to be his Six Nations swansong, his first try in the championship for 10 years setting his team on their way to a 40-10 victory over Scotland and putting them ahead of Wales in the dramatic last day of title race. The outcome of the championship still depended on the result of England's later kick-off against France at Twickenham, with the home side needing to win by 26 points. But Ireland did their best to hold on to their crown,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1744134/oconnell-leads-way-dramatic-finale-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1744134/oconnell-leads-way-dramatic-finale-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2015 17:45:45 +0000 For the second year running the Six Nations Championship will come down to a thrilling final day with several teams still in the running to take the title. A year ago England and Ireland were neck and neck with France also in with a shout, albeit a slim one. England trounced Italy 52-11 in Rome, but it was not enough as Ireland's 22-20 win over France in Paris gave them the silverware on points difference. And this season, points difference is likely to decide the championship once again, with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/1743424/england-france-ireland-and-wales-eye-six-nations-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/1743424/england-france-ireland-and-wales-eye-six-nations-title?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2015 14:15:00 +0000 Leicester lock Geoff Parling was recalled to the line-up by England head coach Stuart Lancaster for Saturday's decisive Six Nations showdown with France at Twickenham. Parling comes into the second row in place of Dave Attwood, who drops out of the squad, in the only change to the team who overcame Scotland 25-13 last weekend. Harlequins number eight Nick Easter returns to the bench. He has got some games under his belt [and] we feel it is the right time to start him and use his experience and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1742141/england-and-france-shuffle-packs-key-six-nations-encounter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1742141/england-and-france-shuffle-packs-key-six-nations-encounter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2015 13:00:00 +0000 France coach Philippe Saint-Andre praised his side’s resilience after they bounced back from two successive defeats in the Six Nations to overcome Italy in a scrappy match in Rome on Sunday. Les Bleus scored two tries and five penalties to seal an emphatic 29-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico after a dour first half in which a wet ball and rain-soaked pitch led both sides into a string of handling errors. France went into the break leading 9-0 after two penalties from fly half Camille Lopez and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1738962/france-whitewash-italy-earn-coach-philippe-saint-andres-praise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1738962/france-whitewash-italy-earn-coach-philippe-saint-andres-praise?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2015 02:45:15 +0000 “More clinical”, “tidy ourselves up a bit”, “just a little more accuracy” – England’s players and coaches found a variety of ways to stress the urgent need for improvement as they reflected on the confused performance that just about secured victory over Scotland on Saturday. The 25-13 win, with three tries for the English, was enough to put Stuart Lancaster’s side top of the Six Nations standings – just – and in with a chance of winning the title for the first time since 2011 after three... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1738252/england-secure-calcutta-cup-more-needed-win-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1738252/england-secure-calcutta-cup-more-needed-win-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2015 05:30:30 +0000 History is on the line on Saturday for Ireland in Cardiff where victory could pave the way for far greater celebrations. Ireland are on the brink of their best run of form in international rugby after beating England two weeks ago to claim a 10th successive win, matching their feat set between 2002 and 2003. Under New Zealander Joe Schmidt, Ireland have risen to third in the world rankings having gone 12 months unbeaten. This current run began last March against England and has included wins... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/1737032/high-flying-ireland-eye-historic-win-clash-against-wales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/1737032/high-flying-ireland-eye-historic-win-clash-against-wales?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:45:15 +0000 Ireland took a major step towards retaining their Six Nations title with a pulsating 19-9 victory over England on Sunday to become the only side to win their opening three games. With both sides unbeaten going into a game billed as a potential title decider, Johnny Sexton kicked the hosts into a first-half lead before an acrobatic Robbie Henshaw try sent Ireland travelling to Cardiff dreaming of a grand slam. Ireland, who equalled their longest winning stretch with a 10th successive victory,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1727440/ireland-edge-nearer-six-nations-grand-slam-after-beating-england?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1727440/ireland-edge-nearer-six-nations-grand-slam-after-beating-england?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2015 01:30:15 +0000 Warren Gatland believes Wales must avoid getting dragged into a dogfight if they are to beat Ireland in the Six Nations in two weeks. Wales are back in the Six Nations title race after successive away wins over Scotland and France following their opening 21-16 defeat at home to England. With the English playing fellow unbeaten outfit Ireland overnight, Gatland believes Wales can still finish top of the pile come the end of the tournament. The message for us is to try to match or beat Ireland... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1727031/gatland-wary-dogfight-looming-clash-against-ireland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1727031/gatland-wary-dogfight-looming-clash-against-ireland?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2015 14:45:45 +0000 France coach Philippe Saint-Andre admitted that Les Bleus were “not a great team” after their 20-13 home defeat by Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday. France looked convincing in November as they beat Australia at the Stade de France before narrowly losing to Argentina but they were short of ideas against the Welsh. France’s fourth defeat in a row against Wales came after a hard-fought win over Scotland and a loss to champions Ireland. “I’m not going to say we are a great team,” Saint-Andre... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1726777/france-no-longer-great-side-admits-philippe-saint-andre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1726777/france-no-longer-great-side-admits-philippe-saint-andre?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2015 05:00:45 +0000 Italy earned a last-minute penalty try to beat Scotland 22-19 at Murrayfield for their first Six Nations win in two years on Saturday. Referee George Clancy awarded the try with less than 30 seconds left in regulation time after Scotland replacement flanker Hamish Watson was caught dragging down an Italy maul that was surging to the line. Watson was also yellow-carded for the foul, joining replacement lock Ben Toolis, on debut, in the sin-bin. Toolis was carded only a minute earlier, as... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1726576/last-minute-penalty-try-clinches-italys-first-victory-over-scotland-two?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1726576/last-minute-penalty-try-clinches-italys-first-victory-over-scotland-two?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2015 18:00:30 +0000 Ireland coach Joe Schmidt believes if Six Nations champions Ireland defeat England at Lansdowne Road on Sunday it will be the team's biggest win since he took over in 2013. Victory would also equal the best-ever win sequence of an Irish side at 10 tests. However, the 49-year-old New Zealander - who has guided the Irish to eye-catching victories over southern hemisphere giants South Africa and Australia - said he was under no illusions how difficult it would be to beat the only other unbeaten... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1726484/ireland-coach-schmidt-eyes-his-biggest-win-over-england?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1726484/ireland-coach-schmidt-eyes-his-biggest-win-over-england?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2015 16:15:30 +0000 George North will reach his half-century of international appearances in record time when he runs out against France in the Six Nations on Saturday, when he will be looking to continue his purple patch of form against Les Bleus. At just 22 years old, North will become the youngest international player to reach the milestone - it will be his 47th cap for Wales, added to the three for the British & Irish Lions. The towering Northampton wing scored tries against France in each of the past two years... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1725141/wales-winger-george-north-set-reach-50-international-appearances-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1725141/wales-winger-george-north-set-reach-50-international-appearances-record?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2015 14:30:00 +0000 A Six Nations disciplinary committee has banned French lock Pascal Pape for 10 weeks for a knee-in-the-back foul that left Ireland's Jamie Heaslip with three fractured vertebrae. The foul deserved a longer ban, the committee said in a statement, but Pape saved himself from more wrath with his "expressions of remorse". The former French captain, 34, will miss the rest of the Six Nations tournament because of the challenge inflicted during Ireland's 18-11 win over France in Dublin on Saturday. He... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1719784/end-six-nations-france-lock-pascal-pape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1719784/end-six-nations-france-lock-pascal-pape?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:45:15 +0000 Stuart Lancaster insists his England side "must improve again" if they are to continue their fine assault on the Six Nations Championship and beat the Irish in their own backyard in two weeks. The England head coach is hopeful fullback Mike Brown will recover from his head injury and be available for that Dublin contest which will go a long way in deciding this season's champions following England's win over Italy and Ireland beating France. Lancaster had mixed emotions after a six-try romp on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1714145/lancaster-demands-more-improvement-key-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1714145/lancaster-demands-more-improvement-key-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2015 06:15:30 +0000 Ireland's hopes of avenging last year's defeat by England hinges on the defending Six Nations champions putting their scoring chances away when they meet in two weeks, said Irish coach Joe Schmidt. The 49-year-old New Zealander - who has turned Ireland's fortunes around since taking over the coaching post after the 2013 Six Nations - was speaking after the Irish had held on to beat France 18-11 in a nervy encounter at Lansdowne Road. It was Ireland's ninth successive test victory, putting them... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1714147/ireland-must-take-their-chances-beat-england-says-schmidt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1714147/ireland-must-take-their-chances-beat-england-says-schmidt?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Please click on the link for a gallery of photos from the second round of the 2015 Six Nations. The overriding Welsh emotion was relief after a bruising 26-23 victory over Scotland on Sunday revitalised their Six Nations campaign following last week’s painful home loss to England. Tries by scrumhalf Rhys Webb and centre Jonathan Davies and the almost immaculate kicking of fullback Leigh Halfpenny subdued a fiery Scotland team roared on by an expectant Murrayfield crowd. “There were some... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1714533/relief-wales-they-stave-tenacious-scotland-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1714533/relief-wales-they-stave-tenacious-scotland-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2015 02:45:15 +0000 Please click on the link for a gallery of photos from the second round of the 2015 Six Nations. Centre Jonathan Joseph grabbed a brace of tries as England gained their second win in the Six Nations Championship and swept aside a brave Italian side 47-17 with a dominant second-half display at Twickenham on Saturday. Number eight Billy Vunipola, scrum-half Ben Youngs and replacements Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter also went over for England, who again fell behind in a game before rallying and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1713634/jonathan-joseph-stars-england-crush-italy-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1713634/jonathan-joseph-stars-england-crush-italy-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2015 17:45:15 +0000 Please click on the link for a gallery of photos from the first round of the 2015 Six Nations. France limped to an unspectacular 15-8 victory over a spirited Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday. The Scots continued their recent improvement under New Zealander coach Vern Cotter with a solid defensive display that frustrated the error-prone French. The visitors to the Stade de France in Paris even scored the only try of the match right on the stroke of half-time through Dougie Fife’s first... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1706645/france-kick-their-way-past-scotland-while-ireland-down-italy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1706645/france-kick-their-way-past-scotland-while-ireland-down-italy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2015 06:00:45 +0000 Please click on the link for a gallery of photos from the first round of the 2015 Six Nations. Wales captain Sam Warburton’s 50th international appearance did not end as he had envisaged but the flanker gave credit to England for spoiling his milestone with a 21-16 Six Nations victory on Friday. The Welsh looked set to inflict more misery in Cardiff after handing England a 30-3 Six Nations mauling two years ago but Warburton said his side had no answer to England’s storming second-half... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1705876/wales-captain-sam-warburton-salutes-englands-six-nations-fightback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1705876/wales-captain-sam-warburton-salutes-englands-six-nations-fightback?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2015 05:30:45 +0000 Please click on the link for a gallery of photos from the first round of the 2015 Six Nations. England bagged early World Cup bragging rights by clawing back a 10-point deficit to claim a thrilling 21-16 victory over Wales in the opening match of the Six Nations on Friday. Wales stormed out to a 10-0 lead in the opening nine minutes at an electric Millennium Stadium after a Rhys Webb try converted by Leigh Halfpenny, who also added a penalty. But the visitors, missing a raft of first choices... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1705776/england-fight-back-beat-wales-six-nations-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1705776/england-fight-back-beat-wales-six-nations-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2015 00:45:15 +0000 Scotland have beaten France only once in their last 15 clashes and last won in Paris in 1999, but under New Zealander Vern Cotter, their hosts to Saturday's match are expecting a much improved challenge. Having dominated the early internationals between the two countries - winning 14 of the first 20 - Scotland have found France the toughest team to beat in the Six Nations since winning the final Five Nations championship before Italy joined the party. In the 15 years of Six Nations rugby,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1705366/france-expect-much-improved-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1705366/france-expect-much-improved-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2015 16:00:00 +0000 Wales versus England remains a rugby test match that never fails to whet the appetite and stir emotions, and this year there is the added spice of a World Cup largely on English soil in which the two long-time rivals have been drawn in the same tough pool. Bragging rights are up for grabs in Friday evening's match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, where 10 years ago Gavin Henson nailed a long-range penalty that handed the Welsh victory over England and opened the way to a first grand slam in 27... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1703721/world-cup-adds-spice-six-nations-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1703721/world-cup-adds-spice-six-nations-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2015 14:45:45 +0000 This season’s edition of Europe’s Six Nations Championship will see fifty percent of the coaches come from New Zealand, the home of the world champions. And when the tournament begins in Cardiff on Friday, it’s possible, if unlikely due to form and fitness, that both the Wales fly-half (Gareth Anscombe) and the England hooker (Dylan Hartley) could be native Kiwis. Meanwhile South Africa-born centre Brad Barritt, although injured right now, is in the England squad while the Rainbow Nation has... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1697077/foreign-legion-set-commanding-role-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1697077/foreign-legion-set-commanding-role-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2015 04:00:30 +0000 Sam Burgess endured an underwhelming debut for England Saxons as he failed to showcase his credentials for a Six Nations call-up in his team's 18-9 victory over the Ireland Wolfhounds on Friday. With England head coach Stuart Lancaster watching on at Irish Independent Park in Cork, Burgess produced several errors in the first half before becoming an increasingly anonymous figure after the break. The Bath inside centre, who is just eight matches into his union career after changing codes, failed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1697048/burgess-struggles-england-saxons-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1697048/burgess-struggles-england-saxons-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2015 02:06:36 +0000 Rugby League convert Sam Burgess could see his bid to gain a place in England’s World Cup squad given a boost by the injury crisis engulfing Stuart Lancaster’s back division just weeks before the Six Nations starts. Now at English Premiership side Bath, where he has been playing at centre, Burgess is set to appear for the reserve England Saxons against the Irish Wolfhounds in Cork on Friday. Burgess, who returned home from Australia with the specific aim of being selected for the 2015 World Cup... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1693180/england-injury-crisis-opens-door-code-swapper-burgess?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1693180/england-injury-crisis-opens-door-code-swapper-burgess?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2015 04:49:02 +0000 There was already a strong Kiwi feel to this season's Six Nations, with 50 per cent of the competing coaches hailing from New Zealand – namely Warren Gatland (Wales), Joe Schmidt (Ireland) and Vern Cotter (Scotland). But that influence was strengthened with the inclusion on Tuesday in each of the Scotland and Wales squads of an uncapped New Zealand-born player not long arrived in their adopted countries, Hugh Blake and Gareth Anscombe respectively. Cotter's decision to call up 22-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1688494/six-nations-further-bolstered-kiwi-connection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1688494/six-nations-further-bolstered-kiwi-connection?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2015 01:30:15 +0000 Northampton captain Dylan Hartley could be suspended for the start of England's Six Nations campaign after he was sent off for elbowing an opponent in his side's 23-19 win over Leicester on Saturday. Hartley's career has been marred by disciplinary problems, including a 26-week ban for eye-gouging in 2007 and an 11-week suspension for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes during the 2013 Premiership final. He was banned for the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia as a result of last year's... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1667514/dylan-hartley-may-miss-six-nations-after-sending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1667514/dylan-hartley-may-miss-six-nations-after-sending?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2014 10:00:30 +0000