You can make a decent case for 2026 being the best Six Nations ever – whatever ‘best’ means – but it absolutely wasn’t because it amassed a record 111 tries in the 15 games.

This year’s tournament was a cracker, no question. For starters, and trying not to state the bleeding obvious, the rise and new-found consistency of Italy now gives us five extra games per season where there is genuine jeopardy, expectation and excitement.
That’s huge and transformative and contributed to a glorious uncertainty, and in that respect, 2026 certainly tops the all-time charts.
Scotland beat France, who beat...