Six Nations 2024 – South Africa rule again and England have lessons to learn
Six Nations – South Africa conquered the world four years ago in Japan and confirmed it in November by seeing off New Zealand in Paris. The Springboks became the most successful team in Rugby World Cup history, lifting the William Webb Ellis Trophy for the fourth time.
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Ireland went to France as the number one country in the world and beat South Africa in the pool stages as anticipation grew. Andy Farrell wanted to end his quarter-final brouhaha but the All Blacks paid for it on an emotional night in Paris as Johnny Sexton said goodbye to the game.
La Rochelle ended Leinster’s European Cup hopes for the second year in a row. Twelve months ago it was a last-minute victory, this time Ronan O’Gara’s men overturned a 17-0 deficit to demolish the Irish side in their own backyard, basking in glory at the Aviva Stadium.
However, they were unable to back it up with a win in the Top 14 final. Toulouse continued their stranglehold over La Rochelle with a late victory and further cemented their status as France’s top team. In England, Owen Farrell edged out George Ford as Saracens won the Premier League for the first time since 2019, beating Sale at Twickenham in the final.
While rugby on the field was often a source of excitement, there were problems off the field as the number of teams in the Premier League increased from 13 to 10 and financial difficulties took their toll. We look back at the last 12 months as we head towards 2024.
Best Team – South Africa
Siya Kolisi stepped into the spotlight four years ago and the inspiring captain is once again the man to lift the trophy. South Africa demonstrated their fighting qualities throughout the tournament, continuing to narrowly win their bouts by knockout, breaking English hearts in the process.
The Springboks continued to revolutionize the World Cup. The orchestra is led by Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber makes some important calls. South Africa caused a stir when they came out on the bench with a 7-1 split between forwards and backs, followed by a record win over New Zealand in August.
Halfway through the World Cup they decided to replace the hookers with a midfielder. Leaving them short of a hooker to ensure they can get Handre Pollard into their team. The Leicester playmaker eventually scored the points that won him the World Cup.
Ireland, despite their World Cup disappointments, deserve special mention for their Grand Slam success in the Six Nations. England became their fifth and final victim as they celebrated with their home fans in Dublin. Farrell’s men secured bonus-point wins in four of their five games while playing some sensational rugby.
Best Player – Antoine Dupont
He may well become a prominent figure in the world for many years to come. The active France midfielder was named Six Nations player of the year for the third time in four years despite Les Blues finishing second. Defying physics to stop Mack Hansen from attempting it back in February remains one of the iconic images of the year.
Despite the support of the fans, he was unable to lead France to World Cup glory. In the quarterfinals, he played with a mask, violating the recovery time from injury and returning from a broken cheekbone. Luckily for a man of his talent, Dupont finished the season with some trophies as he and Toulouse won the Bouclier de Brennus after top 14 success. Rugby fans can book France Vs Ireland Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
Best Game – South Africa 29-28 France Six Nations Team
That is until Eben Etzebeth’s winning try silenced the Stade de France. Cyril Bayle scored for France four minutes later, and Kurt-Lee Arendse equalized minutes later. Bail and Peato Mauwaka crossed before the break, while Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe did so for South Africa.
The Springboks winger showed incredible speed to save Tomas Ramos’ cross. Those two points proved telling as Etzebeth scored the decisive try in the 67th minute of one of the greatest fights of the World Cup.
The Six Nations may also have witnessed one of its greatest games ever as Ireland saw off France in Dublin. Farrell’s side never beat Les Blues but scored four tries, including a classic try from Hugo Keenan. Damian Penaud scored a stunning goal but it was not enough to prevent a stunning 32-19 success for the hosts.
Best Try – Duhan van der Merwe vs England
When the Scotland winger received the ball on the halfway line, nothing happened. Few were prepared for what followed as the Edinburgh star secured Scotland’s second win at Twickenham in as many visits. Van der Merwe slipped past five defenders on his way to the try line.
His combination of speed and power can take on any opponent and England had no answer for him. He assessed Freddie Steward before rounding the defender and then passed on Alex Dombrandt to complete his masterpiece. He was surrounded by his teammates as Finn Russell had some words in Farrell’s direction as he celebrated the win.
This failure was Steve Borthwick’s first game as England manager, replacing Eddie Jones. It would be a baptism of fire before his team saw off Italy and Wales, which was nothing to shout about given the state of both teams. France claimed a record win at Twickenham as the gulf between England and the world’s best was highlighted.
World Cup Warm-Up Woes: England’s Struggles Ahead of the Six Nations
The warm-up to the World Cup also did not bring much optimism, as England lost three of their four games. The defeat to Fiji in London was the low point as Borthwick was unable to find a system that could bring the team’s attack to fruition.
The World Cup semi-final performance exceeded all expectations, although it included narrow wins over Samoa and Fiji. England produced their best performance in years and overtook South Africa, but third place in the tournament is a generous reflection on where they stand in the world pecking order.
Farrell has decided to spend some time away from England to protect his mental health at this crucial time for players in that country. The midfielder is the most capped player in England’s history but is by no means adored by everyone and has decided to put himself and his family first. He will continue to lead the Saracens attack.
The domestic game is by no means thriving as London Irish have followed Wasps and Worcester into bankruptcy. The product on the field is still interesting, but the problem is that few people watch it. English stars continue to avoid the Premier League, with some heading to France to ply their trade. Rugby fans can book France Six Nations Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
The RFU hopes new hybrid contracts can keep England’s best talent at home, but one of the country’s top prospects, Henry Arundell, has already said no thank you. Across the Channel, the French domestic league is thriving, helping its national team and proving that success in rugby is more than possible if you adopt the right strategy.
Speedster Henry Arundell WON’T be available for England during Six Nations 2024
Henry Arundell has decided to hone his skills at Racing 92 in France rather than return home, in a decisive move that challenges England’s innovative ‘hybrid contract’ system. The 21-year-old has reportedly joined Racing, signing a landmark two-year contract extension that ties him to France until 2026, according to The Times.
Buy Six Nations 2024 tickets on eticketing.co, the world’s largest ticket marketplace. The decision has major implications for Arundell’s international prospects as he will no longer be eligible for the Six Nations 2024 tournament, contrary to previous assurances.
The talented player turned down a joint offer from the RFU and Bath, opting instead to extend his contract with Racing, albeit on a reduced salary compared to the combined English offer.
The Times has learned that Bath and the RFU have extended an offer aimed at making Arundell the first England international under a hybrid contract scheme, where both club and country contribute to the player’s salary. However, the young athlete decided to reject this innovative proposal.
Arundell’s decision to remain in France is a significant blow to the RFU, which has defended these new contracts as a key element of ongoing negotiations between the union and clubs, known as the Professional Games Partnership.
Six Nations – Arundell’s Under-20 Debut: A Star in the Making
Arundell was man of the match against Scotland on his under-20 debut in February 2022, scoring from range in a 41–24 victory in Edinburgh. His first appearance in the London Irish starting team against Bristol Bears the following week was equally memorable and ultimately led to a first call-up to the England senior training squad after just six Premier League appearances.
Included in England’s summer tour of Australia, Henry made his debut from the bench in the first international Test, scoring a remarkable solo try with his first touch of the ball. He went on to feature in the following Guinness Six Nations campaign before being named in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
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