France are set to play England in the last game of the 2026 Six Nations championship after Wales secured their first win in the Six Nations for three years after their victory over Italy and Ireland claimed the Triple Crown with a positive result over Scotland.
Steve Tandy’s side put in an emphatic performance to beat the Italians 31-17 in Cardiff, which will encourage fans going forward after a difficult spell following the 2023 World Cup in which they have won only three of their last 27 fixtures.
Wales currently sit bottom of the Six Nations table with only one game remaining in the competition, but they could theoretically finish fifth, despite this being incredibly unrealistic.
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England are currently the only other side that can finish bottom of the Six Nations this year, but it would need to take a record defeat to France for this to happen; however, it is still possible.
Following this Welsh bonus point victory over the Azzurri, it now means England can finish with the Wooden Spoon for the first time in their Six Nations history.
Only England and Ireland have failed to win the wooden spoon since Italy’s addition to the competition in 2000, and so Steve Borthwick will be desperate to avoid this ignominy.
France beat the English by 43 points three years ago, when they won 53-10; however, they will have to find another gear to ensure England collect the wooden spoon by finishing bottom of the Six Nations.
England currently have a 86-point advantage over Wales before kick-off, so it may be seen as unlikely, but it is not impossible.
While England have been a huge power in the sport for much of their history, they have had some forgettable results, and one of those was their record defeat in June 1998 when Sir Clive Woodward was in charge of the team for a 78-0 loss to Australia.
So, while it may be seen as unlikely, there is history to suggest that they have it in them for a heavy defeat where they could lose by 87 points to give England the Wooden Spoon.
Topics: Rugby, Rugby Union
Brendan McGilligan