Six Nations: Ireland's fate now rests in the hands of England and France in Paris

Ireland fulfilled its task at the Aviva Stadium with a convincing 43-21 victory over Scotland, placing them as the temporary leader of the European tournament. However, the Irish cannot celebrate alone: their fate in this Six Nations edition depends entirely on what happens in Paris, where England will face France in the final round. With 19 points on the table, Ireland hopes the English will surprise the French at Stade de France, a combination that could see them crowned after a tournament full of surprises.

The standings show a tight race for the top spots. France and Scotland are tied with Ireland at 16 points each, while Italy, England, and Wales trail with 9, 6, and 5 points respectively. The outcome of the last match could completely reshape the rankings, especially if the British manage a feat on French soil.

An exciting match not reflected on the scoreboard

The match between the Shamrock and the Thistle was much more competitive than the final score suggests. Scotland arrived with legitimate hopes of winning the championship after a close fight with France for the lead. However, the visitors never managed to take the lead on the scoreboard, remaining constantly behind against a rival that set the pace from the start.

Ireland delivered a dominant performance in the contact areas, with Caelan Doris and Tadhg Beirne as key figures. Jamison Gibson-Park orchestrated the attack smoothly, creating fluid combinations among the backs that proved lethal. Four tries in the first twenty minutes foreshadowed the nature of the duel: three for the home team and one for Scotland, which responded with a nineteen-phase try by Finn Russell that temporarily kept the game open.

Scotland’s reaction in the second half, with a try after twelve phases, rekindled the visitors’ hopes, but Ireland knew how to close the game better. Tommy O’Brien sealed the victory with two decisive tries in the final minutes, giving the green team some breathing room when France interrupted the European football dominance in this tournament in 2025.

The historical context weighing on the Thistle

For Scotland, this defeat extends a historic drought. The last Six Nations victory was in 1999, back when the tournament was still contested among five nations. At the Aviva Stadium, the Scots have not won since 1998—a nineteen-year streak that highlights the difficulty of this rivalry. Ireland, on the other hand, extends its unbeaten streak against Scotland to nine consecutive years, having faced each other twelve times in this period with Irish victories every time.

Andy Farrell found key answers in positions that raised doubts: fly-half Jack Crowley and inside center Stuart McCloskey played crucial roles. With the first-choice front row recovered, the Irish pack regained its physical authority, a fundamental base for Ireland’s game.

Everything depends on the France vs. England clash

The outcome of the Six Nations will not be decided in Dublin but in Paris, where England must challenge France in a match that promises to be decisive. The English, with only six points, need a monumental victory to prevent France from reaffirming its European dominance. For Ireland, a British victory on French soil would be the miracle that crowns a remarkable recovery after a worrying start to the tournament. With resounding wins over England and Scotland, plus narrow but deserved victories over Italy and Wales, the Irish are ascending toward the final stretch, fully aware that the story of this Six Nations will continue far from their borders.