And the
winners are ...
2005
The first weekend of the compettion gets off to a bunch of surprises. In the opening game of
Scotlandv
France in Paris, France steal a famous victory out of the hands of the Scots. A controversial decision by the ref robs Scotland of the match winning try.
Wales beat England. Wales, the team that has promised so much for the past three years, looks like it is about ready to start delivering. England, a shadow of their former selves, are run around the pitch. They have the temerity to snatch the lead in the dying minutes, but the Welsh golden boy Gavin Henson steps up with two minuites on the clock to slot over a penalty form 49 meters out to give his team the victory by a margin of two points.
In the last game of the opening weekend the
Italians dominate the
Irish for the opening 20 minutes and at the breakdown, but they have no answer for the Genius of Drico (
Brian O'Driscoll). In the end Ireland show their class to win, if not quite convincinly, at least comfortably.
. This championship promises to be a cracker.
The 2003 compettion ended yesterday, Ireland v England. Sure
I was heartbroken. Ireland have only managed one grand slam in
the history of the tournament and that was 55 years ago.
The winner of yesterdays match was going to take the grand slam this year.
It was played in
Dublin but England ran through a heroic Irish performance.
Here are the results of all previous competitions. Some years are divided
between more than one nation a draw in the competition is always possible.
Grand Slam winning years are boldfaced.
England
1882,1883,1886,1890,1892,1910,1912,1913,1914,
1920,1921,1923,1924,1928,
1930,1932,1934,1937,1939,1947,1953,1954,1957,1958,
1960,1963,1973,1980,1991,1992,1995,
1996,2000,2001,2003
35 Championships, 12 Grand Slams
Wales
1893,1900,1902,1905,1906,1908,1909,1911,
1920,1922,1931,1932,1936,1939,1947,1950,1952,
1954,1955,1956,1964,1965,1966,1969,1970,1971,1973,1975
1976,1978,1979,1988,1994
33 Championships, 8 Grand Slams
Scotland
1886,1887,1890,1891,1895,1901,1901,1903,1904,1907,1920,
1925,1926,1927,1929,1933,1938,1964,1973,1984,
1986,1990,1999
23 Championships, 3 Grand Slams
France
1954,1955,1959,1960,1961,1962,1967,1968,1970,1973,
1977,1981,1983,1986,1987,1988,1989,1993,
1997,1998,2002,2004
22 Championships, 7 Grand Slams
Ireland
1894,1896,1899,1906,1912,1926,1927,1932,1935,1939,1948,
1951,1973,1974,1982,1983,1985
17 Championships, 1 Grand Slam
Italy
Some time soon.
Four Nations 1882 - 1909
Five Nations 1910 - 1999
Six Nations 2000 - 2003
Years un-awarded
1884,1885,1888,1889,1897,1898,1972
I took the data from
http://sportsfacts.net/history/rugby_union/six_nations/six_nations_champions.html
and reformatted and updated it.