After the Six Nations reached its epic conclusion, here’s a full recap everything that happened on Super Saturday, from Ireland retaining the championship to Italy upsetting Wales and France pipping England.
Ireland just about recovered from last weekend’s loss to overcome Scotland this week and thus retain the Six Nations title, Italy continued their upward trajectory with a remarkable win over bottom feeders Wales and France were victorious in ‘Le Crunch’ against England.
But none of those were straightforward results.
SUPER SATURDAY (SIX NATIONS, ROUND 5) MATCH RECAP:
Wales 21-24 Italy
Italy secured their best-ever Men’s Six Nations finish with a 24-21 win over Wales at Millennium Stadium.
Tries for Monty Ioane and Lorenzo Pani, along with the boots of Paolo Garbisi and Martin Page-Relo, helped the visiting team repeat their 2022 success in the Welsh capital and end an eight year run at the foot of the table.
In the spirit of Super Saturday, Wales fought until the end and saw Elliot Dee, Will Rowlands and Mason Grady cross in the second half but it was not enough to prevent a first wooden spoon since 2003.
Ireland 17-13 Scotland
Ireland clinched the Six Nations championship with a hard-fought 17-13 win over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium.
Prop Andrew Porter scored the decisive try after Dan Sheehan had touched down in the first half as Ireland claimed back-to-back Championships for only the third time in their history.
Andy Farrell’s side did not have it all their own way, with the teams separated by just four points for the lion’s share of a cagey encounter.
Scotland arrived on Super Saturday with their own Triple Crown dreams but misfired in attack and finally ran out of lives in defence as Ireland made their dominance pay after a lot of huffing and puffing.
Hooker Sheehan scored the only try of the first half either side of two penalties from Finn Russell to give Ireland a one-point lead at the break.
The hosts then battered the Scotland line and after being denied on several occasions, finally pushed clear with Porter’s try 15 minutes from time. Huw Jones scored late for Scotland to set up a nervy Super Saturday finish but Ireland held on to retain their crown.
France 33-31 England
Thomas Ramos kicked a last-minute match-winning penalty and Nolann Le Garrec scored one of the great Six Nations tries as France saved their best until last to beat England in an all-time classic on an all-time Super Saturday.
England led 31-30 with just two minutes to go but France won a penalty on the halfway line which Ramos just about sent through the posts to clinch a famous victory.
That came at the end of a breathless game that was lit up by Le Garrec’s first-half try. The scrum-half brought the house down at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium when he started and finished a one-phase coast-to-coast move that ripped England apart.
It summed up a frantic, enthralling and at times error-strewn final match of the 2024 Championship, where the lead changed hands six times and both teams overturned two-score deficits.
France appeared to be running away with it when Le Garrec helped open a 16-3 lead in the last game on Super Saturday, as they outthought and outmuscled England against the backdrop of an incredible atmosphere.
However, three tries by Ollie Lawrence and Marcus Smith saw England spectacularly score 21 unanswered points in just seven minutes of play.
France were eight points down but responded emphatically to regain the lead, as Leo Barre and Gael Fickou scored within four minutes of each other.
But England looked set for victory when Tommy Freeman went in at the corner and George Ford landed a sensational conversion just five minutes from full-time.
However, Ramos ensured France bagged the points to preserve their record under head coach Fabien Galthie of always finishing in the top two of the final table.
