France’s Widening Gap with England in the Six Nations
The Decline of France’s Dominance
In 2018, France were the last team other than England to claim the Six Nations title. However, their 21-point defeat against their rivals in Bordeaux on Saturday has highlighted the widening gap at the top of the competition. Prior to this latest match, France had lost by just a single score in three of their previous four encounters with the Red Roses. While a one-off result may not be overly concerning, the French have now suffered 13 consecutive losses against England, suggesting a concerning trend.
Strength at the Grassroots Level
Interestingly, France remain a dominant force at the age-group level, having recently thrashed England Under-20s 74-0. Additionally, the French domestic league will undergo a restructuring next season, transitioning from a two-pool format with 12 teams to a single pool of 10 sides, which is expected to boost the overall competitiveness. Nurturing talented players will be a key priority for France in the coming years, as they seek to overcome the growing mental barrier against their English rivals.
Italy’s Positive Progress
Prior to the 2023 Six Nations, Italy announced the awarding of 22 professional contracts to their players. Since then, they have managed to record two victories over Ireland, showcasing positive progress. In their recent campaign, the Italians put in a resilient first-half performance against England, conceding only 10 points. Their away win against Ireland was also a notable achievement. The majority of the Italian team ply their trade in the domestic league, with a few players, such as centre Beatrice Rigoni and forward Sara Tounesi, representing Sale Sharks, Silvia Turani playing for Harlequins, and prop Sara Seye turning out for Ealing Trailfinders. This increased professional exposure has helped to raise the standards of the Italian national team, and further progress is expected in the future.
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