Having started all the way back in February, the Six Nations is set to finally be completed at the end of October. Excitingly, four of the six teams in the competition could theoretically claim the trophy on the final day, with England and France currently occupying the top two slots. We assess the potential permutations below.
There are still a few teams that could take the title, but some are more likely to win than others. According to the latest odds for Six Nations betting with Paddy Power, England are the overwhelming favourites to take the title on the final day at 1/4. At 10/3, Ireland are the second favourites to claim the crown, with France outsiders at 14/1, and Scotland considered a miracle bet at 100/1. As the odds would suggest, some of the teams would need a number of results to go their way to win, whilst others have an easier path to the title.
The permutations
For England, the story is a simple one. If they beat Italy in their final game and also claim a bonus point, then it becomes very difficult for any other team to overtake them. Intriguingly, two of the other teams in the running meet each other on the final day in Ireland and France. Ireland have a game before that though, as they meet Italy for their fourth game of the tournament. If the Irish could beat Italy and France with two bonus point wins, then they would take an unassailable lead and win the Six Nations. That is a big ask, though.
France can win the title if they beat the Irish, but they would probably need England to lose, or else they would need a huge win against the Irish.
Scotland are technically in the running, but it would take an extraordinary turn of events. The Scots would need to defeat Wales, but crucially they would also need Italy to beat both England and Ireland, AND Ireland to beat France on the final day. If one thing goes wrong, Scotland cannot win the tournament.
The verdict
England have the clearest run to the title, and they have the big game pedigree from the World Cup and other Six Nations campaigns to suggest that they can handle the pressure of such a huge game. If England were to slip up though, it would be extremely interesting.
With France holding the home ground for their crucial clash with Ireland on the final day, you would perhaps suggest that they would become the new favourites in the event of a total English collapse. It would be fun to see the Scottish claim a first title since the Five Nations way back in 1999, as unlikely as that is.
Whatever happens, there are enough possible scenarios to suggest that the final day could be extremely special. Only two teams have no hope of the title, highlighting how closely matched the Six Nations sides can be. It is hard to make a prediction, aside from guessing that it is likely to be very fun.
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