Since its inception in 2000, the Six Nations has consistently produced drama, excitement and unpredictable events on—and occasionally off—the pitch.
There have been dramatic title chases, big scraps and many, many remarkable tries.
Here are six of the most iconic moments in Six Nations history.
SIX BEST SIX NATIONS MOMENTS:
6. Sexton’s Miracle Drop Goal
An excruciating 41 phases passed before Ireland forced themselves into a kicking position. Still, standing just inside the French half, the odds were stacked against Sexton to actually deliver a winning kick.
He couldn’t have caught it any sweeter as the ball sailed between the posts to send the travelling Irish fans into a frenzy.
5. Italy’s dream debut
Italy marked their Six Nations debut with an emphatic 34-20 victory over defending champions Scotland in Rome.
Diego Dominguez orchestrated the Scots downfall with an impeccable performance, kicking 29 of his side’s 34 points with six penalty kicks, a conversion and a hat-trick of drop goals.
4. Yachvili Secures the Grand Slam
France welcomed England to the Stade de France in Paris knowing any sort of victory would hand the Grand Slam, having won all four of their other matches.
The moment of the match came from the ever elusive scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili. So dangerous on the counter attack - France won back possession just outside the English 22.
Yachvili ran down the left hand, chipping the ball past Josh Lewsey before collecting it again and diving over the try line.
France would lift the Grand Slam in 2004 with a 24-21 win over England.
3. Gavin Henson v Matthew Tait
In Wales’ opening match of the 2005 Six Nations against England, centre Gavin Henson puts in a great performance, tackling, running and kicking all on top form. He was man of the match and this win propelled Wales towards a Grand Slam.
Un his first touch of the ball in international rugby Mathew Tait was smashed backwards by Henson who would give the young centre a nightmare debutnull
2. Shane Williams sensational score
There were 10 minutes left at the Millenium Stadium and Wales trailed 24-14 when they staged one of the greatest, and most thrilling, comebacks seen in international rugby.
Stephen Jones levelled the game with a 79th-minute penalty before Williams went under the posts for a famous victory.
#1. Martin Johnson takes on Ireland
Martin Johnson led his time out to the wrong side for the anthems and Ireland were not happy. President Mary McAlleese ended up walking on the pitch, and had to get her shoes dirty.
The mind-games seemed to work as England went to to win the Grand Slam that day.
Brian O’Driscoll later told RTE: “We said, let’s either stand in front of them or stand at the side of them. We couldn’t stand in front of them – you’d be liable to get a box in the back of the head. So we’ll just go down the far end of them.”
The match co-ordinator came out to have a word with Johnson. The poor man.
Johnson was not about to say ‘Oh, right you are, sorry about that!’ and instruct his team to walk 20 feet to the right to, no doubt, some jeers and jokes from the Dublin crowd. The response to the request to move his line of players was as you might have expected, a firm negative.
“It’s about losing face,” said Ireland wing Shane Horgan. “We certainly didn’t want to lose any face, and neither did they.”
