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France
France has become a formidable side. They are ultra-physical up front, now imitating the South African approach of a 7-1 bench split, allowing their forwards to exhaust themselves, knowing they will only play 50-60 minutes. The ability to bring on the ‘Le Bomb Squad,’ featuring experienced and powerful players like Cyril Baille, Dorian Aldegheri, and Emmanuel Meafou, can shift the momentum of games, as seen against Scotland.

At the same time, they retain their signature French flair, boasting two of the best wingers in world rugby—Damien Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey. The latter, just 21 years old, has taken the tournament by storm, scoring eight tries and winning Player of the Tournament. Their bold approach, combined with a commitment to youth development and Shaun Edwards’ defensive structure, makes them the most dangerous team in world rugby—and one that is only getting better.

England
It was a tournament that improved game by game from an English perspective. Their pack now rivals any team in world rugby. Both props, Ellis Genge and Will Stuart, made significant strides in scrummaging, with the latter elevating himself from a Lions outsider to a probable starter in just five matches. Their back-row depth is unparalleled, to the point where Toulouse superstar Jack Willis is barely in the selection conversation anymore.

However, the backline still leaves much to be desired. The euphoria of the Wales victory shouldn’t overshadow the boos at Twickenham during their match against Scotland. England fans have a short-term memory, but the call for a more expansive attacking game has been present since Eddie Jones’ tenure in 2021. While positive steps were taken in the final games against Italy and Wales, for England to challenge the likes of France or New Zealand, their Northampton-dominated backline must evolve further against better-quality opposition.

Ireland
Ireland is a team that needs to transition. They peaked perfectly for the 2023 World Cup, rising to No. 1 in the world as a direct, powerful, and synchronised unit, only to fall short against New Zealand in the quarterfinals. That loss seems to have drained some direction from the squad.

Despite still being an excellent team, their ageing core is a concern. With Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Peter O’Mahony, and Conor Murray all at the end of their careers—and Johnny Sexton already retired—many key players will be past their primes by the next World Cup. Bundee Aki will be 37, Tadhg Beirne 36, James Lowe 35, and Jamison Gibson-Park nearly 36. Unlike France, England, and even Italy, Ireland must quickly embrace a transitional phase as soon as Andy Farrell returns to integrate new talent before the next World Cup cycle.

Scotland
Gregor Townsend must go. Rugby is fundamentally a power game, and Scotland has struggled to dominate up front. Townsend’s insistence on selecting his abundance of blindside flankers has left them consistently outmuscled by bigger teams. It never feels like Scotland will win a big game outside the Calcutta Cup.

Whenever they face France, South Africa, or Ireland, the result feels like a foregone conclusion. Despite years of mediocrity under Townsend (since 2017), his job remains surprisingly secure. In this tournament, the blame has unfairly fallen on Finn Russell, accused of doing too much and costing his team. In reality, Scotland’s backline is one of the best in the world—several of their players, including Russell, are deserving Lions selections. The real issue is that Russell is forced to overcompensate for a pack that consistently moves backwards. Under Townsend, Scotland has remained stuck in mediocrity, and this tournament was no different.

Wales
It would be easy to criticize Wales, given they are on the verge of rock bottom. Back-to-back wooden spoons and an 11-match winless streak in the Six Nations paint a grim picture. However, in some ways, there are reasons for optimism.

A young core is emerging through these tough times—Jac Morgan, Blair Murray, and Dafydd Jenkins provide a foundation for the future. Behind the scenes, figures like Jamie Roberts will play a crucial role in what is arguably the most important decision for Welsh rugby in years: choosing the right head coach. This team and country need direction and belief. Signs of progress were visible in their performances against Ireland and Scotland. This tournament was a disaster, but from here, the only way is up… surely?

Italy
Italy is a difficult team to evaluate. In some ways, they resemble Scotland—flashes of brilliance but plagued by inconsistency.

They boast genuine world-class backline talent, with Ange Capuozzo and the center pairing of Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello providing real attacking threats. However, in games against Scotland and Ireland, there was a lingering sense that either something brilliant or disastrous was about to happen. They remained competitive until the 60-minute mark before moments of madness cost them.

Perhaps they need greater bench depth or greater experience to iron out these errors. However, their defensive inconsistency means they are always at risk of conceding 40+ points. If they can find defensive stability, Italy could become a genuine force in the tournament rather than a team that simply entertains.

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Final Thoughts
The Six Nations once again delivered drama, upsets, and standout performances. France solidified itself as the most dangerous team in world rugby, England showed promise but still have work to do, and Ireland must navigate a generational shift. Scotland remains stagnant under Townsend, while Wales hit rock bottom but has a foundation for the future. Meanwhile, Italy continues to excite but must eliminate self-inflicted wounds to take the next step.

With another year of development before the next championship, it will be fascinating to see which teams rise and which fall. One thing is for sure—the Six Nations remains as compelling as ever.