The start of a mad, compelling Six Nations was very different to the end. Ireland, like Scotland, suffered a chastening defeat but led the table ahead of France’s clash with England, having squashed the Scots’ title hopes. And Wales, terrible at Twickenham, stylishly ended a three-year wait for a championship victory.

England’s decline after 12 consecutive victories was more unexpected than Wales’s improvement.
They went to Paris as one of only two teams who had lost at home, while their only away victory in the last two tournaments was in Cardiff last year, but played like champions in com...