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AFP
March 20, 2015, 11:14 am
Paris (AFP) - For the second year running the Six Nations Championship will come down to a thrilling final day with several teams still in the running to take the title.
A year ago England and Ireland were neck and neck with France also in with a shout, albeit a slim one.
England trounced Italy 52-11 in Rome but it wasn't enough as Ireland's 22-20 win over France in Paris gave them the silverware on points difference.
And this season, points difference is likely to decide the championship once again, with potentially three teams finishing level at the top.
Ireland, England and Wales are separated by points difference at the moment and with none of them playing each other this weekend, they could all win and finish tied on match points.
England have the current edge with a points difference of +37 but, on paper and traditionally at least, they have the hardest task.
The 2003 world champions host France at Twickenham looking for their first Six Nations crown since 2011, having finished second the last three years.
"Having gone so close in recent years has been tough for myself and the other guys involved. As a player you want to be picking up silverware," said captain Chris Robshaw.
"Unfortunately that's eluded us a couple of times. We've collected the odd bit here and there, but to finally pick up the main trophy would be great."
Ireland have a points difference of +33 and travel to Murrayfield to take on winless Scotland.
On paper that looks an easier task, but Ireland have lost on their last two trips to Edinburgh.
They've never won back-to-back Six Nations titles but prop Mike Ross believes managing to do so would prove more than merely a historic success.
"It would be huge, it would be a huge one for us," he said.
"It would certainly give us a huge lift going into the World Cup."
Wales must start as outsiders despite a trip to Rome to face Italy on their agenda.
Their points difference of +12 means they have to make up 25 points on England and 21 on Ireland to claim the title.
Although they've beaten Italy seven times in a row -- including on their last three visits to Rome -- it is 16 years since they last won in Italy by a score that would suffice to take them to the title.
Their last three visits to Rome saw them win by 17, eight and five points, none of which would be enough.
It means the 2012 and 2013 champions must not only try to win the game but also be mindful of the need to score a sackful of points.
Perhaps, more realistically, they need Ireland and England to both fail to win.
"It's a tough ask but I think we can do it. We've reacted well in the past to certain situations like this," said centre Jonathan Davies.
There is another factor to take into consideration, albeit an unlikely one.
France can still win the title following their 29-0 victory in Italy last week -- a score Wales would gladly settle for on Saturday.
However, for France to do so, they must beat England by at least eight points and hope that both Ireland and Wales lose -- although they also need to overturn an 11-point difference to Ireland.
France have only ever won by that much at Twickenham once -- an 11-3 success back in 1951.
Nonetheless, with England playing France in the final match of the tournament, it means Twickenham looks set for a thrilling climax to the Six Nations Championship and a fitting prelude to the World Cup later this year.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...ee-way-climax/
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