If this year’s Six Nations follows the recent pattern then it is shaping up to finish with another grand slam. It would be a third in succession and history shows us every championship after a World Cup – with the exception of the Covid-hit tournament in 2020 – has ended in a clean sweep.
That is fascinating because when there is a Six Nations at the start of a World Cup cycle, every team is effectively starting from zero. Last year we had France and Ireland as the two standout teams, both very settled and looking to fine-tune, sustain and maintain in the leadup to the World Cup. Scotland were in a similar position but then there was England and Wales, both teams were trying to play catch-up having recently appointed Steve Borthwick and Warren Gatland respectively. Italy were on the up, too.
