Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
A stunning yet gritty Welsh victory over reigning champions and previous Six Nations leaders, Ireland, has created a nerve-wrangling finale to the championship that means any one of four sides can technically still win the title.
While it is highly improbable that the French can somehow finish on top of the pile all three of the leading contenders have a realistic chance with a number of intriguing permutations that could mean the only difference between the sides is points.
New leaders, England, have the only home fixture of the three although they face the toughest tie as they welcome France to Twickenham. They also have the advantage of being the last fixture to be played meaning they will know exactly what they have to achieve, although Les Blues will be keen to again decide the outcome of the championship.
As they did in 2013 Wales has overcome a slow start to regain form and notch a succession of wins.
It is 10 years since the Welsh achieved their largest win in Rome which resulted in a 30-point differential and it will be that type of dominant victory that will be required. After the French held the Italians scoreless last weekend and were prolific in the second-half as their opponents tired, Wales will travel with hope.
Irish dreams of a Grand Slam may well have evaporated amidst a sea of dancing daffodils yet they still have an excellent chance to win the Six Nations. They travel to Murrayfield and face a winless Scotland side who will be fighting to avoid the ignominy of the wooden spoon.
England will have to be more clinical than they were against Scotland where they wasted a handful of try-scoring opportunities with misplaced passes while well set. They even had two tries disallowed for forward passes when there was little pressure on the ball. However, at least they are creating these opportunities which is a positive latched upon by coach, Stuart Lancaster. The Calcutta Cup that this victory secured is only a minor prize.
If England fails to land the major prize they will rue all the points they missed against the Scots – which may be the only consolation those north of the border are able to take from what has been a hugely disappointing championship.
If the French play like they did against Italy then, despite the scoreline in that game, they will make plenty of mistakes and provide opportunities. It will be in defence that England will need to be wary if Les Blues bring their best mesmeric attacking game. In what should be an entertaining game I believe England will secure a marginal victory.
The nail-biting Welsh victory over Ireland was a wonderful advertisement for the game. While the first-half points were all scored with the boot the second-half had tremendous drama. Ireland, heavily criticised for playing ‘dour’ rugby, relied more on their running game than their kicking, resulting in their first defeat in 11 games. They looked devoid of creativity and the Welsh are one side that is comfortable defending against a battering ram.
Ireland proved fallible when put under pressure by a ferocious opposing defence, conceding numerous penalties, and against Leigh Halfpenny they were not safe, even in their own half.
The likelihood is that the Six Nations will boil down to whether Ireland can beat Scotland by five points more than England, who have not won the title since 2011. I believe they will do so comfortably and therefore stick with my original prediction that we will see Irish hearts smiling and the thick black stuff flowing!
