On the whole, the northern hemisphere enjoyed a superb Autumn Nations Series giving rise to the hope that this year’s men’s Six Nations will be the most competitive yet.
Ireland and France enjoyed historic wins over New Zealand as part of a clean sweep of wins and England overturned their Rugby World Cup 2019 final defeat to South Africa and also went through the Autumn Nations Series unbeaten.
Who won it in 2021?
Wales were a side transformed as they put a difficult introductory period to Wayne Pivac’s reign as head coach behind them to claim their sixth title this century.
Wales went to Paris and took the game to France to lead by 10 points with five minutes remaining. But in a dramatic finale where both teams were reduced in numbers, France broke their hearts to win 32-30 thanks to a late Brice Dulin try in the 82nd minute.
With Wales’ five matches finished, they could only sit and wait as France hosted Scotland six days later in the postponed round three fixture. Les Bleus needed a 21-point, bonus-point win to claim their first trophy since 2010 but were beaten, 27-23.
Who was top try-scorer and top points-scorer?
Championship debutant Duhan van der Merwe made an immediate impact with five tries, including a brace in the final day win in Paris, to finish as top try-scorer ahead of Wales’ Louis Rees-Zammit and England’s Anthony Watson and book himself a place in the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour to South Africa.
Ireland’s Johnny Sexton started four of Ireland’s games and racked up 65 points – 15 more than his nearest rival, England’s Owen Farrell. The 36-year-old is now just four points shy of becoming the fourth player to reach 500 Championship points. Farrell is immediately above him, on exactly 500 points, with countryman Ronan O’Gara top of the pile and Jonny Wilkinson second.
For more information: www.world.rugby/news/678699/mens-six-nations-2022-everything-you-need-to-know