Six Nations: The 10 greatest matches in the history of the tournament
Hugh Godwin picks out the greatest matches in Six Nations history - but do you agree with our rugby correspondent's selections?
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Your support makes all the difference.Counting down from 10 to 1 - Hugh Godwin picks the best matches in Six Nations history. Do you agree with Hugh? Which matches not included here should have been? Let us know in the comments below...
10. Ireland 20 England 14, 2001
England, forced by an outbreak of foot and mouth disease to wait for a Grand Slam shot, are picked off by Keith Wood’s hyper-clever line-out try.
9. France 22 England 24, 2012
England under new captain Chris Robshaw shatter a cautious France with counter-attacking tries by Manu Tuilagi, Ben Foden and Tom Croft.
8. Italy 22 France 21, 2011
Italy celebrate their farewell season at the Stadio Flaminio by overhauling a 12-point deficit and clinging on after Mirco Bergamasco’s 75th-minute penalty
7. France 25 Ireland 27, 2000
None of Brian O’Driscoll’s three tries is a technical masterpiece but the combined effect heralds a world-class talent with a seismic boom
6. Scotland 19 England 13, 2000
Burnt by Wales in the Wembley sun the year before, now Slam-chasing England drown in a Murrayfield maelstrom orchestrated by Scotland fly-half Duncan Hodge
5. Wales 31 Scotland 24, 2010
The Six Nations’ most stunning comeback: 10 points down with five minutes to go, Wales outflank 13-man Scotland thanks to Shane Williams’ dancing feet.
4. Italy 34 Scotland 20, 2000
A defining moment for the expanded tournament as Italy make a winning start against the reigning champions with 29 points from fly-half Diego Dominguez.
3. France 18 Wales 24, 2005
Wales rein the French in with passionate defence and two tries from flanker Martyn ‘The Nugget’ Williams en route to a first Grand Slam since 1978.
2. Wales 15 Ireland 17, 2009
Ireland’s first Slam in 61 years was sealed by Ronan O’Gara’s late drop goal. Stephen Jones’ even later penalty attempt for Wales fell just short.
1. Ireland 6 England 42, 2003 (pictured top)
Long-awaited Grand Slam glory as Martin Johnson’s near faultless England score five tries in Dublin, ¬running away with it in the final quarter
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