Six Nations news: Fifth round preview and predictions as France, England and Ireland vie for title
The fifth and final round of the Six Nations is here, with the fate of the 2025 Championship yet to be decided between France, England, and Ireland.
It has been a very competitive tournament this year – each of the current top three having beaten one of the others – and the final weekend promises to be pure mayhem.
Moreover, the games are being played in the perfect order so as to exert maximum pressure up the table.
Sports News Blitz rugby writer Charlie Elliott previews all the action and offers his predictions.
Italy vs Ireland
Super Saturday kicks off with a game that should have the least impact on the final table but is still a great opportunity for Ireland to put pressure on England and France.
Italy have had a decent campaign by their standards and a win over Wales means that they are close to avoiding the Wooden Spoon.
They have also put in some good unrewarded performances, with the only real disappointment being the nature in which they lost to France.
Overall, the Italians have shown that they are better than they have been in the past and could pose a challenge to Ireland, especially with the game taking place in Rome.
It will certainly be a tough test for the Azzurri considering that Simon Easterby’s Ireland side needs a win to give themselves any chance of winning the Championship.
After losing to France in hugely disappointing fashion in Dublin last time out, they have gone from dreaming of a Grand Slam to being third in the standings going into the final round.
Suddenly, the narrative has changed, and fans have started to turn on players such as Sam Prendergast, who has been dropped for the clash with Italy.
It is a huge game for Ireland and they should be fired up after such a poor performance against Les Bleus.
Prediction: Ireland to win by 17
READ MORE: Six Nations analysis: England vs Italy review - Preview and score prediction vs Wales
Wales vs England
England currently sit second in the table, although they will slip to third if Ireland beat Italy.
Steve Borthwick’s side needs a win to put pressure on France, who play the last game of the weekend.
A much-improved performance against Italy raised the mood around England and the expectation will surely be for a repeat performance and result in Cardiff.
Wales, for their part, remain on a record-breaking losing run, but they have really improved their style of play since Warren Gatland’s departure and the arrival of Matt Sherratt.
In front of a home crowd and without the pressure that the opposition has, Wales will be quietly confident of sneaking something against their rivals.
Despite that, England should have enough to win.
Prediction: England to win by 7
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France vs Scotland
In what is far and away the biggest game of the weekend, France take on Scotland in Paris.
Les Bleus have the toughest opponents out of the three title challengers but are at home.
Scotland, it must be said, have had an indifferent campaign, with good wins against Wales and Italy sitting alongside a poor game against Ireland and a last-gasp defeat to England.
Technically, a 52-point win for the Scots coupled with losses for the aforementioned title rivals would mean that they are crowned champions, but that is too much of an ask quite frankly.
France did well in the absence of Antoine Dupont after he suffered an injury against Ireland, but it will be interesting to see how they cope without their talisman for a full 80 minutes.
Assuming that at least one of Ireland and England win, Fabien Galthie’s side have to win to get a Championship that looked unlikely only weeks ago.
Prediction: France to win by 5 and seal the Six Nations
MORE FROM CHARLIE ELLIOT: Six Nations news: Matt Sherratt a serious contender for Wales head coach role
