Jack Crowley during an Ireland training session at The Campus in Quinta da Lago, Portugal. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Rúaidhrí O’Connor

They say rugby is slow to innovate, but the Six Nations is kicking off with its final on the opening night.

Back in the days when England and France worried openly about the standard of competition not being up to scratch, there was a drive to have the big two face off in a quasi-final.

Table of Contents

Toggle

For the latest Six Nations team news, analysis and insights from our expert team of rugby writers, follow the Irish Independent’s WhatsApp Channel. Click here to follow.

Latest Six Nations

  • Paul O’Connell interview: Ireland will bounce back from World Cup pain

  • Ronan O’Gara gives Six Nations verdict: ‘It would be up there with one of Ireland’s greatest victories’

  • Six new faces to watch during this year’s Six Nations

  • Six Nations preview: Strange championship looks like it all depends on an opening-night finale

  • Felix Jones ‘is one of the most intense people I have ever met’: Steve Borthwick’s view on his Irish defence coach

  • Cian Tracey: French changes could play into Irish hands with Fabien Galthie tipped to make some surprise calls

  • Joe McCarthy on track for starting spot against France

  • Tony Ward: Jordan Larmour gets my vote for No 14 jersey, and I’d go with six-two bench split for France

  • ‘Jack has been running things really well’ – Robbie Henshaw backs Crowley to thrive beneath Friday night Marseille lights

  • ‘Exciting prospect’ Joe McCarthy primed for Six Nations start as Andy Farrell gets clean bill of health for France opener

Top Stories

  • TV News

    Kirsty Blake Knox: Is Dermot Bannon ‘brave’ for his role in building a €624k extension? I don’t think so

  • Life

    Grandfathers Against Racism: ‘Ireland is not full, we have never been’

  • Courts

    Jailed abuser fails in appeal against length of sentence for repeatedly raping younger brother

  • Personal Finance

    Revealed: The town offering the best ‘work-life balance’ in Ireland

Latest NewsMore

  • Soccer

    Watch: Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini walks off before end of penalty shootout defeat to South Korea in Asian Cup

  • North America

    Republican lawmaker nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize for ‘historic’ Middle East policy

  • Six Nations

    Paul O’Connell interview: Ireland will bounce back from World Cup pain

  • Europe

    Andrew Tate loses bid to ease judicial controls as trafficking case continues

  • Celebrity

    Chita Rivera, pioneering Tony-winning dancer and singer, dies at 91

  • Soccer

    Mali claim victory over Burkina Faso to progress to Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals

  • Tennis

    ‘I won’t quit’ – Andy Murray refuses to call time on tennis career despite another early exit

  • Politics

    Sunak confronts Varadkar over Ireland’s decision to challenge UK’s Troubles law

  • Courts

    Alleged victim in Limerick sulky ramming tells trial of Collopy brothers he identified ‘wrong men’

  • GAA

    Martin Breheny: Cost of GAA teams is a runaway train and there are no plans to stop it