2025 Six Nations news: Can England still win it?
England’s Six Nations campaign has already surpassed expectations, with Steve Borthwick’s side securing two wins against the tournament’s toughest opponents.
However, with two matches left, their title hopes remain uncertain and depend on a complex set of results.
Here, Sports News Blitz rugby union writer Charlie Elliott breaks down England’s path to potential Six Nations glory.
Is it coming home?
England have now played the three ‘hardest’ teams in the Six Nations and have two wins to their name, which is far beyond what many fans would have expected going into the tournament.
After no success since 2020 and none with fans in stadiums since 2017, can Borthwick finally mastermind some much-needed success?
The short answer is yes.
England can mathematically still win the Six Nations, but there are quite a few permutations in which this may happen.
With only two games to go, here are the circumstances in which the Six Nations could be heading to Twickenham.
All these results depend on Steve Borthwick’s side making sure that they win the final two games against Italy (home) and Wales (away), ideally with maximum points.
Failure to do this would mean that there is a very, very small chance that they will win the Championship.
Ireland vs France
As much as England fans would wish that it was in their hands, the unfortunate reality is that it relies almost entirely on the France vs Ireland clash at the Stade de France on March 8.
Because Ireland have won all three of their games so far, including against England, should they beat Les Bleus, they have a home game against Italy that could see them win the Grand Slam.
It is unlikely that they would fall to Gli Azzurri. Therefore, this game effectively decides their fate for the time being.
A win against France means that England would need two bonus-point wins and Ireland to lose to Italy with only a solitary bonus-point (assuming there isn’t a points difference swing; more on that later).
If France win, it sets up a hugely interesting last day, as they would go above Ireland into top spot, either level on points or a point above depending on bonus points.
All three teams could be on the same number of points going into the last game, playing three different teams on Super Saturday.
The ideal result for England is a France win with no bonus point.
MORE SIX NATIONS NEWS: Six Nations news: The team of the Championship so far
Points difference
Should the table go down to points difference, there is one clear winner unless a huge shift happens.
France have a points difference of 91 following huge wins against Wales and Italy, with Ireland only having 28 and England a measly –3.
If a final day shootout happens with each team needing to better each other's results, France hold the advantage and England may struggle.
England’s part to play
After Wales put in a valiant performance against Ireland in the last round, England will be wary of taking their final-day opponents too lightly.
Matt Sherratt has changed the way that they play and changed the team selection in a positive manner.
He has led many Wales fans to be quietly confident that at the very least they can give their eastern neighbours a big scare in Cardiff.
Italy may not quite be at the same threat level as Wales, especially due to the game being at Twickenham.
However, they are going through their own golden generation and have enough talent to put up a fight.
Failure to win both of these games will mean that Six Nations glory would almost certainly be gone, barring a minor miracle.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Women’s Super League analysis: Man Utd v Leicester City key battles and prediction
Final Day
As mentioned, on the final day, England will head to Wales while Ireland host Italy.
The hardest game out of the three competing nations is France, who must play Scotland at Murrayfield.
Depending on the result of the France vs Ireland game, England’s Calcutta Cup rivals might end up having to do a favour for their opponents.
Ireland vs Italy is the first game of the last day, with England next up and France to finish up.
There could be an instance in which each game causes a new nation to lead the table, which would be chaotic.
Or Ireland beat France and comfortably win the Grand Slam...
READ NEXT: MMA news: Sean Brady talks short-notice main event against Leon Edwards
