Look, there is of course a delightful bonhomie about the Six Nations which no other tournament can replicate. This is why both my – and no doubt your – WhatsApp messages and groups on Saturday night were full of England supporters goading their Scottish counterparts after a victory, as has been the case the other way round over the previous four years.
This led to a discussion – which of the Six Nations rivalries actually is the best? Le Crunch? The Calcutta Cup? Maybe it is the battle for the Giuseppe Garibaldi trophy, which always looks like an absolute nightmare to pack for the flight home.
Read on to find out which is the grudgiest grudge of them all.
15. Ireland v Italy
We are a long way removed from Italy’s only Six Nations win over Ireland in 2013. Even with Italy on the up, Ireland have dished out some beatings; 36-0 last year in Dublin and 57-6 back in 2022 when Italy played most of the game with 13 after losing both hookers.
History: 1/5
Animosity: 0/5
Current level: 0/5
Total: 1/15
14. England v Italy
England have never lost to Italy so this should be at the bottom, but it gets a slight boost for ‘The Fox’ tactic at the breakdown back in 2017 – think Romain Poite telling baffled England players “I’m the referee, not your coach” – which gives it a bit of spice. Plus, Italy ran England close in Rome last year.
History: 1/5
Animosity: 1/5
Current level: 1/5
Total: 3/15
13. France v Italy
The games are either incredibly tight – think the 13-13 draw in Lille last year – or absolute massacres with France winning at a canter, like last Sunday. The tears after Italy’s first (of two) wins over France were great, but it’s been a while. Does have the magnificently abstract Giuseppe Garibaldi trophy, which Antoine Dupont always looks slightly bemused by when he collects it.
History: 2/5
Animosity: 1/5
Current level: 2/5
Total: 5/15
(Bonus trophy rating: 2/5)
12. Wales v France
Initially this felt a bit low, given they have been playing each other since 1908, and then you remember what happened in Paris on the opening night of this Six Nations and France’s 43-0 win. Historically, however, this has been great. Wales at one stage won seven out of eight meetings. There was of course the 100-minute match in 2017 and the subsequent spat in 2020 when Wales prop Wyn Jones said France would cheat at the scrum and the French called the comments “childish”. Just all feels a bit distant, doesn’t it.
History: 4/5
Animosity: 2/5
Current level: 1/5
Total: 7/15
11. Wales v Ireland
A fair few barbs were thrown around last week in the media but for a proper on-field beef you have to go all the way back to 2011 and Mike Phillips’ try from a quick line-out which should not have stood. Ireland even received an official World Rugby apology. Peter O’Mahony’s comments last year, “I think a banana skin is a disrespectful term for this Welsh team”, were just so... nice? Almost verging on pity, really.
History: 3/5
Animosity: 2/5
Current level: 2/5
Total: 7/15
10. Scotland v France
We are only 12 months removed from that dramatic Murrayfield ending when Scotland were convinced they had a winning try (not that France were exactly at fault there, the officials said it was held up on the line). A favourite controversy would have to be the five French players getting so drunk after a 2018 game that eight of them were dropped. Scotland’s 2021 win in Paris was good fun too, as was 1999. This also has the Auld Alliance trophy, introduced to mark 100 years since World War I, which, to be honest, I had completely forgotten about.
History: 3/5
Animosity: 2/5
Current level: 3/5
Total: 8/15
9. Scotland v Wales
Scores well because it is often incredibly hard to predict, with two of their last four meetings settled by a point. There arguably has not been a major falling out between the two since Scotland called up Steven Shingler back in 2012. Both sides play for the Doddie Weir Cup, to remember the great man.
History: 3/5
Animosity: 2/5
Current level: 4/5
Total: 9/15
8. Scotland v Italy
Do not forget that for years this was essentially the Wooden Spoon decider, creating plenty of tension which produced the occasional classic. Having seen first-hand in Rome what Italy’s win over Scotland meant to the Italians last year, their first home Six Nations win in forever, that may have swayed this placing. A lovely trophy too, dedicated to Massimo Cuttitta, the former Italy international and Scotland scrum coach.
History: 4/5
Animosity: 2/5
Current level: 4/5
Total: 10/15
7. Wales v Italy
Has replaced Scotland-Italy as the game both sides have to win – see Rome three weeks ago – although Italy have now won three of the last four. Potentially the best anthem face-off of the competition as well, pipping France-Italy. A bit of recent spice as well with Italy claiming they received “unpleasant” treatment in Cardiff last year. Now a better rivalry than it has ever been.
History: 3/5
Animosity: 3/5
Current level: 5/5
Total: 11/20
6. Ireland v France
Certainly the most anticipated fixture of this Six Nations, as it has been in recent years, but is there any real angst between the two sides? Few major moments of controversy. Results-wise we have had some crackers; the dramatic Johnny Sexton drop-goal in 2018, the 2023 meeting was a classic, back-to-back draws, bizarrely, in 2012 and 2013, Brian O’Driscoll’s hat-trick in 2000. No trophy, surprisingly. Between fans? There seems to be a lot of respect and desire to win.
History: 4/5
Animosity: 3/5
Current level: 5/5
Total: 12/15
5. England v Ireland
Obviously a deep history, politically as much as on the field. Think John Pullin in 1972 and “at least we turned up”, the historic fixture at Croke Park in 2007. Dominance in this fixture has swung back and forth but there is currently a gap, with that dramatic England win at Allianz Stadium last year breaking up what has otherwise been a spell of Irish dominance, winning five of the past six. I would not say the fans are best friends. Surely we can get a trophy introduced here too.
History: 5/5
Animosity: 4/5
Current level: 3/5
Total: 12/15
4. Scotland v Ireland
Not sure a maximum mark for animosity really conveys just how much bad blood there currently is between these two. Look at Peter O’Mahony’s comments after (another) win at Murrayfield recently. “I’d like to say a special thanks to the crowd yesterday for the boos coming off the pitch. One of the biggest compliments I’ve ever received.” Put it this way, you will know about it when Scotland do break this 11-game losing run. They used to get along well, battling for the Centenary Quaich (pronounced quake, if you also always get it wrong).
History: 4/5
Animosity: 5/5
Current level: 3/5
Total: 12/15
3. England v France
Has the best nickname with ‘Le Crunch’ and produces some great tries – think Philippe Saint-André in 1991 – and great moments of violence. Supporters love to triumph over each other but there is more respect here than some other rivalries. Who doesn’t love a weekend in Paris, while coming the opposite way Twickenham is revered as a pilgrimage to the rugby’s cathedral. The last couple of games have been riveting (33-31, 26-25).
History: 5/5
Animosity: 5/5
Current level: 4/5
Total: 14/15
2. England v Scotland
Where to start with the history – defeating England in battle is the entire basis of Scotland’s anthem – and bragging rights are of huge importance as we saw this weekend. Plus it has the best trophy with the Calcutta Cup, which has seen plenty of alcohol and, well, hi-jinx. Scotland have recently bossed this fixture on the field, given England have won two of the last eight, a record which could have been even worse if one of those Finn Russell conversions had landed on Saturday.
History: 5/5
Animosity: 4/5
Current level: 5/5
Total: 14/15
1. England v Wales
Top spot for one key reason; no country relishes defeating another like Wales beating England. Think 30-3. Scott Williams at Twickenham. Scott Gibbs at Wembley. Even during Wales’ recent horror slump the games have been incredibly cagey – a 16-14 win for England at Twickenham last year – and since their record-breaking losing run began last autumn, the upcoming game against England in Cardiff has stood out with flashing danger warnings for Steve Borthwick’s side. Whatever the result, it will be a bad night to be a pint on St Mary Street.
History: 5/5
Animosity: 5/5
Current level: 5/5
Total: 15/15
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