England victory over Wales sets up three-way Six Nations fight on final day
Stuart Lancaster’s men must beat Italy and hope for favours from France against Ireland
Stuart Lancaster was left looking for a favour from France after his side’s 29-18 win over Wales set-up a three-way fight for the Six Nations Championship.
England secured a first Triple Crown since their World Cup-winning year of 2003 with a commanding display at Twickenham on Sunday that scuppered Welsh hopes of an unprecedented third successive outright Six Nations title.
Victory left England level on points with Ireland and France, who play each other in Paris on Saturday’s final day of the tournament – hours after England conclude their championship away to Italy in Rome.
Ireland are a quality side. But France on their day at home, with something to play for – who knows?
Ireland have a points difference advantage of +49 over England. That means England, currently +29 to the good over France, must beat Italy – a side they’ve never lost to in 19 tests between the two countries – and hope for either a narrow French win or an unlikely draw in Paris if they are to take the title.
Lancaster, whose previous two Six Nations campaigns as England coach have seen the team finish runners-up to Wales, accepted the title odds were stacked against his men.
“Ireland are a quality side,” he said. “But France on their day at home, with something to play for – who knows?
“But we can’t control that, we’re first up. We’ve got a proud Italian side to play against who gave us a hard time two years ago and gave us a hard time last year at Twickenham.”
Wales’ starting 15 included 12 members of the British & Irish Lions squad led by their coach Warren Gatland that won a test series in Australia last year.