By Nick Powell
For any fans but the English, this Championship is likely to go down as one of the more disappointing and dull ones of the last few years. Whilst the entertainment and standard failed to impress at times, at others it was pulsating and deserves much more credit then it will inevitably receive.
And it will probably get the lack of credit because, other than England and Scotland, every team will feel they did a lot worse than they should have done this season. I'll have a look at each and every team and see whether France, Ireland, Wales and Italy were right to think they could have done any better, and where this leaves the teams going forward
Wooden Spoon (with whitewash): Italy
By some distance, this has been Italy's worst ever Championship. After one and a half games, it really didn't look as if that would be the case.
Italy's opener against France should have been a win. As brilliant as Parisse was and always has been for the Italians, his decision to go for a drop-kick was arrogant, selfish and utterly pointless in the circumstances at that moment. Italy were making yards, and he dropped back 20 metres and embarrassingly missed with a drop-goal that barely got off the ground. Italy deserved to win, and lost, agonisingly. France 23-21 Italy
They seemed to respond well though. Against England they were within two points with half an hour together. Again, a moment of madness cost them. Leonardo Sarto's gift-wrapped pass to Jonathan Joseph handed England the first of four second half tries. England were clinical, but Italy's attack had no direction and their defence was weak. They will not get a better chance to beat England for at least 5 years. Italy 9-40 England
Game three was vital, Scotland were hoping to end a 9 match losing run, but Italy knew if they continued that then they'd have all-but avoided the wooden spoon. It wasn't a slow start, it was a snail paced start. It helped Scotland race into a lead that Italy chipped away at, but amateurish errors and poor defence and discipline meant they never looked like reeling them in. Scotland won with relative comfort. Scotland 20-36 Italy
It was understood Italy's trips to Dublin and Cardiff would be very difficult, and they'd be unlikely to challenge the hosts. However they were shocking. Defensively, they were all over the place, making it so easy for the two Nations to run them off the park, they shipped 9 tries in both games. There is nothing much to say. Ireland 58-15 Italy, Wales 67-14 Italy
Verdict: A Championship that started with so much promise ended in utter humiliation. Offensively there is some real talent to work with, but in defence, they were absolutely horrendous. Having said that they have had a lot of injuries and for a team of Italy's size that is incredibly difficult to cope with. Michele Campagnaro is a shining light, and he genuinely could be world class, Parisse (despite his mishap) was sensational as ever, but incoming coach Conor O'Shea has got an awful lot of work to do.
Points: 0
PD: -145 (record low)
Tries: 8, Conceded: 28
Player of the tournament - Michele Campagnaro
Rating: 2/10
5th: France
With two games gone, France were on course for a grand slam and had overcome the previous seasons Champions. They headed to Cardiff in buoyant mood. Their Championship too would fall to pieces, albeit not quite as spectacularly as Italy.
France were lucky to beat Italy. As I've alluded to, Parisse's moment of madness let them off the hook. They showed some signs of real promise and came back from 8 points down. They won by 2, and it should have been much more. But let's bear in mind Italy got progressively worse, they looked pretty decent against France. A win was a win, and if France followed it up, it would be a good start. France 23-21 Italy.
They somehow did. Ireland dominated the first hour, but only found themselves holding a 6 point lead due to poor finishing and solid French defence. France then had their moment and eventually Maxime Medard snatched the win for Les bleus. It was a poor game, but again, they had won. Two out of two. France 10-9 Ireland.
Unfortunately they were dreadfully dull against Wales, and we all saw it coming. They did try to create but didn't have any quick ball and thus no penetration in Wales' 22, they made a few mistakes with their execution and management and it cost them. Wales 19-10 France
For any fans but the English, this Championship is likely to go down as one of the more disappointing and dull ones of the last few years. Whilst the entertainment and standard failed to impress at times, at others it was pulsating and deserves much more credit then it will inevitably receive.
And it will probably get the lack of credit because, other than England and Scotland, every team will feel they did a lot worse than they should have done this season. I'll have a look at each and every team and see whether France, Ireland, Wales and Italy were right to think they could have done any better, and where this leaves the teams going forward
Wooden Spoon (with whitewash): Italy
By some distance, this has been Italy's worst ever Championship. After one and a half games, it really didn't look as if that would be the case.
Italy's opener against France should have been a win. As brilliant as Parisse was and always has been for the Italians, his decision to go for a drop-kick was arrogant, selfish and utterly pointless in the circumstances at that moment. Italy were making yards, and he dropped back 20 metres and embarrassingly missed with a drop-goal that barely got off the ground. Italy deserved to win, and lost, agonisingly. France 23-21 Italy
They seemed to respond well though. Against England they were within two points with half an hour together. Again, a moment of madness cost them. Leonardo Sarto's gift-wrapped pass to Jonathan Joseph handed England the first of four second half tries. England were clinical, but Italy's attack had no direction and their defence was weak. They will not get a better chance to beat England for at least 5 years. Italy 9-40 England
Game three was vital, Scotland were hoping to end a 9 match losing run, but Italy knew if they continued that then they'd have all-but avoided the wooden spoon. It wasn't a slow start, it was a snail paced start. It helped Scotland race into a lead that Italy chipped away at, but amateurish errors and poor defence and discipline meant they never looked like reeling them in. Scotland won with relative comfort. Scotland 20-36 Italy
It was understood Italy's trips to Dublin and Cardiff would be very difficult, and they'd be unlikely to challenge the hosts. However they were shocking. Defensively, they were all over the place, making it so easy for the two Nations to run them off the park, they shipped 9 tries in both games. There is nothing much to say. Ireland 58-15 Italy, Wales 67-14 Italy
Verdict: A Championship that started with so much promise ended in utter humiliation. Offensively there is some real talent to work with, but in defence, they were absolutely horrendous. Having said that they have had a lot of injuries and for a team of Italy's size that is incredibly difficult to cope with. Michele Campagnaro is a shining light, and he genuinely could be world class, Parisse (despite his mishap) was sensational as ever, but incoming coach Conor O'Shea has got an awful lot of work to do.
Points: 0
PD: -145 (record low)
Tries: 8, Conceded: 28
Player of the tournament - Michele Campagnaro
Rating: 2/10
5th: France
With two games gone, France were on course for a grand slam and had overcome the previous seasons Champions. They headed to Cardiff in buoyant mood. Their Championship too would fall to pieces, albeit not quite as spectacularly as Italy.
France were lucky to beat Italy. As I've alluded to, Parisse's moment of madness let them off the hook. They showed some signs of real promise and came back from 8 points down. They won by 2, and it should have been much more. But let's bear in mind Italy got progressively worse, they looked pretty decent against France. A win was a win, and if France followed it up, it would be a good start. France 23-21 Italy.
They somehow did. Ireland dominated the first hour, but only found themselves holding a 6 point lead due to poor finishing and solid French defence. France then had their moment and eventually Maxime Medard snatched the win for Les bleus. It was a poor game, but again, they had won. Two out of two. France 10-9 Ireland.
Unfortunately they were dreadfully dull against Wales, and we all saw it coming. They did try to create but didn't have any quick ball and thus no penetration in Wales' 22, they made a few mistakes with their execution and management and it cost them. Wales 19-10 France
France started their fourth game quite brightly against the Scots, but they allowed themselves to be dominated. Scotland got up a decent lead and once they had that it was always going to be difficult for them to come back, their Championship hopes were dashed as they lost at Murrayfield for the first time in 10 years. Scotland 29-18 France
Finally, France massively improved their performance in the final game against England, but shocking defence around the fringes cost them dearly as their visitors ended a 13 year grand slam wait. France 21-31 England.
Verdict: France could be a decent side in the next few years, and they have got talent in their team, but they need to massively improve their fitness, ability to finish off chances and set piece. Having said that, those are things that can be fixed, and I think they will be under a coach of the experience of Guy Noves. France have been underestimated a lot by pundits, next year they will be better. They should not be written off.
Points: 4
Points: 4
PD: -27
Tries Scored: 7, Conceded: 8
Player of the tournament: Guilhem Guirado
Rating: 4/10
4th: Scotland
For Scotland, this is definitely just the start, they really were excellent. They should have won at least 3 games, and were in with a shout in all 5.
The Championship started with typical Scots frustration. England were there for the beating. On the day, they were poor. Missed chances, sloppy defence, individual errors, all the things that have cost Scotland in the past and stopped their progression came back to haunt them, and the wait to win back the Calcutta Cup continues. Scotland 9-15 England
A much improved performance from the Scots, they gave Wales a real scare here. With 20 minutes left, they led by 3 and were attacking in the Welsh 22, but despite Duncan Taylor's phenomenal tackle on Tom James as Wales broke up field, a few errors meant Wales had soon ran in two tries and the game was gone. Wales 27-23 Scotland
It was now over 720 days without an RBS Six Nations win for Scotland so it was vital they came to Rome and got a result. Resolute defending meant that the two tries they bagged in the first half and Greig Laidlaw's boot saw them home with ease. Italy 20-36 Scotland
Scotland dashed France's title hopes in round four to give them back to back wins for the first time since 2013 and a first win over Les Bleus since 2006. The first half saw them surge into a lead, and they kept France at arms length (well, at times wrist length) to secure a fantastic win and raise their hopes of a top three finish. Scotland 29-18 France
It didn't happen, Ireland showed just why they had won the 2014 and 2015 titles with a very solid performance, Scotland were unfortunate in the second half but despite Stuart Hogg's sensational try, Ireland had completely dominated the first 40 which was enough to see them into the 3rd place spot. Ireland 35-25 Scotland
Verdict: It was crucial that Scotland got themselves off the bottom two and ended their horrendous run of defeats but you have to think of what might have been. Still, they have three home games next year and with the quality they have at the moment, their break into the top three feels imminent. Duncan Taylor, Stuart Hogg, John Hardie and Greig Laidlaw have been outstanding, if they build the team around those individuals, they'll be in with a shout.
Points: 4
PD: +7
Tries Scored: 11 ,Conceded: 13
Player of the Tournament: Stuart Hogg
Score: 7/10
A much improved performance from the Scots, they gave Wales a real scare here. With 20 minutes left, they led by 3 and were attacking in the Welsh 22, but despite Duncan Taylor's phenomenal tackle on Tom James as Wales broke up field, a few errors meant Wales had soon ran in two tries and the game was gone. Wales 27-23 Scotland
It was now over 720 days without an RBS Six Nations win for Scotland so it was vital they came to Rome and got a result. Resolute defending meant that the two tries they bagged in the first half and Greig Laidlaw's boot saw them home with ease. Italy 20-36 Scotland
Scotland dashed France's title hopes in round four to give them back to back wins for the first time since 2013 and a first win over Les Bleus since 2006. The first half saw them surge into a lead, and they kept France at arms length (well, at times wrist length) to secure a fantastic win and raise their hopes of a top three finish. Scotland 29-18 France
It didn't happen, Ireland showed just why they had won the 2014 and 2015 titles with a very solid performance, Scotland were unfortunate in the second half but despite Stuart Hogg's sensational try, Ireland had completely dominated the first 40 which was enough to see them into the 3rd place spot. Ireland 35-25 Scotland
Verdict: It was crucial that Scotland got themselves off the bottom two and ended their horrendous run of defeats but you have to think of what might have been. Still, they have three home games next year and with the quality they have at the moment, their break into the top three feels imminent. Duncan Taylor, Stuart Hogg, John Hardie and Greig Laidlaw have been outstanding, if they build the team around those individuals, they'll be in with a shout.
Points: 4
PD: +7
Tries Scored: 11 ,Conceded: 13
Player of the Tournament: Stuart Hogg
Score: 7/10
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