The 6Nations Shift: Giants fall and Italy rise

The 2026 championship started with a bang. France dominated, England stayed perfect, and Italy pulled off a massive upset. Here is the quick breakdown of the opening weekend.

1. France is the Team to Beat

France crushed Ireland 36-14 in Paris. The big news was the half-back duo of Antoine Dupont and Matthieu Jalibert, who finally played perfectly together. With a powerful forward pack and clinical finishing, France looks like the clear favorite for the title.

2. Italy is No Longer an Easy Win

Italy stunned Scotland 18-15 in a rainy Rome. This wasn't luck; Italy dominated the scrums and showed incredible grit, defending through 29 phases at the end to hold onto the lead. They have moved above Scotland in the world rankings and head to Dublin with high confidence.

3. England’s Winning Streak Hits 12

England demolished Wales 48-7 at Twickenham. Henry Arundell scored a hat-trick in his first start since 2023, and George Ford ran the game masterfully. Steve Borthwick has turned England into a clinical winning machine that is currently the most consistent team in the tournament.

4. Ireland is in Trouble

Ireland has now lost three major games in a row (following autumn defeats to New Zealand and South Africa). They missed 19 tackles in the first half against France and looked physically outmatched. With 18 months until the World Cup, coach Andy Farrell needs to fix their defense and "lack of intent" immediately.

5. Scotland and Townsend are Under Pressure

Scotland’s loss in Italy was a disaster. The set-piece failed completely, losing five lineouts, and stars like Finn Russell couldn't adapt to the rain. With rumors of coach Gregor Townsend moving to Newcastle, a loss to England next week could end his time with Scotland.

6. Wales has Hit Rock Bottom

Wales suffered their 12th straight Six Nations loss. They were undisciplined, picking up four yellow cards, and looked lost on the field. Between the 48-7 scoreline and chaos in their professional system back home, Wales is struggling just to remain competitive.