England take heavy crown into 6 Nations

Rugby fans who were missing the heat and dust kicked up by last year’s world cup can gear up: the Six Nations begins on Saturday, live ...

Rugby fans who were missing the heat and dust kicked up by last year’s world cup can gear up: the Six Nations begins on Saturday, live on your TV screens too.

And the tournament has added zip this year: it’s the first time the Six nations boast a world champion. Indeed, the rugby world has undergone a sea change since the last tournament, the balance of power squarely shifting from the all-conquering southern hemisphere to the north. It puts in shade the Tri-Nations trophy contested by South Africa, the Wallabies and the All Blacks. England, who won this tournament last year too, will feel the pressure of carrying the William Webb Ellis Trophy when they go into their opener against Italy in Rome on Sunday as the world’s undisputed number one side.

Big names who dominated proceedings last time will be missing in action, such as Irishman Keith Wood, England’s World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson, last-minute action hero Jonny Wilkinson, France’s Fabien Galthie and Rafael Ibanez. Except for Jonny, who is out with a shoulder injury, the other three hung up their boots after RWC 2003.

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Despite the retirement of Galthie and Ibanez, France — with its formidable back row of Olivier Magne, Serge Betsen and Imanol Harinordoquy — are considered to be England’s only real test and the two European giants will meet in Paris on March 27 in the final match of the championship, which in all respects should be the Grand Slam decider.

6 NATIONS, 4 FACTS

• RBS 6 Nations Championship is contested each season over seven weekends during February-April by France, England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales

• Each team plays the other five once per season with home advantage in alternate seasons (e.g. England hosted France in 2003, and so France host England in 2004)

• The winner is the team with the most points during the season, with 2 points being awarded for a win, and 1 point for a drawn match. If two or more teams finish the Championship with the same number points, the winner is decided on match-points difference (subtracting points conceded from points scored in all Championship matches), or to team with most tries

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• The team winning all five matches wins the Grand Slam. Triple Crown goes to any of the Home Unions (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) who beat each of the other 3 Home Unions

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