Grading every Six Nations side's tournament so far

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Here, we grade each side’s tournament so far, judged against pre-tournament expectations rather than raw results alone, after three fiercely contested opening rounds.

Three bonus-point victories from three matches, along with other favourable results, have given France a flawless start to the Six Nations. As it stands, they are firmly on track for a Grand Slam. Ireland were swept aside in Paris, Wales were convincingly beaten in Cardiff and although Italy put in a spirited display this weekend, France’s win never truly looked in jeopardy.

Despite introducing new faces this year, the squad has clicked seamlessly, with their attack looking sharp and fluid throughout. Their only minor concern is a tendency to switch off for brief spells, though no side has been able to capitalise on that so far. The sheer quality within the squad far outweighs any negatives. A trip to Murrayfield to face Scotland in two weeks could prove decisive.

Scotland may look back at their opening-round draw against Italy as a missed opportunity, but their response since has been impressive. They secured their customary Calcutta Cup victory over England in round two and followed it up with a hard-fought win against Wales in Cardiff. It may not have been pretty at times, but results are what count.

If offered second place heading into round four, most Scottish fans would have accepted it instantly. That is exactly where they stand now. With France visiting Murrayfield next, they have a genuine chance at the title, ambitious as that may sound. While the Italy performance fell short, Gregor Townsend’s side deserve real credit for the position they have put themselves in.

Ireland were well beaten in Paris in the opening round, but their performances since have been strong. While their win over Italy in Dublin lacked fluency, they still got the job done against a dangerous opponent. Their emphatic victory over England at Allianz Stadium was far more convincing and a reminder of their quality.

A shortage of bonus points has slightly dented their standing in the table, but with favourable results elsewhere, they remain outside contenders for the title. More realistically, a final-day showdown with Scotland for the Triple Crown seems likely. Considering the injury challenges they are facing, Andy Farrell has managed the campaign admirably.

Plenty of expectation surrounded England heading into the tournament, but they have failed to live up to it. Their opening win over Wales was routine against struggling opposition, yet since then they have fallen well short when tested.

Defeat at Murrayfield can be rationalised given Scotland’s intensity in that fixture and the difficulty of the venue. However, repeating the same issues of poor discipline and questionable urgency against Ireland at home is far harder to excuse. With little left to play for and the looming threat of a historic first defeat to Italy, this campaign has unravelled into a major disappointment.

Italy could easily have more than one victory to their name. They pushed both France and Ireland close and had genuine chances in those contests. Under Gonzalo Quesada, clear progress is evident and this squad looks competitive and cohesive.

Although results have not fully reflected their performances, they still have Wales to come and a home fixture against England that feels winnable. Should they capitalise, alongside their opening-round success over Scotland, this could be viewed as a strong tournament and potentially a top-four or even top-three finish. A very solid showing overall.

Measured against expectations, Wales have not been as poor as some might have feared. The heavy opening defeat to England was disappointing, but subsequent losses have felt more competitive than the scorelines might suggest.

France’s superiority was clear, yet Wales showed resilience and they pushed Scotland extremely close. While they remain without a win, the effort and fight have been evident even if the cutting edge has not. Given the scrutiny and off-field noise surrounding the side, they have avoided capitulation and are at least keeping supporters engaged with honest performances.