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Rugby union competition

2007 Six Nations Championship

2007 Six Nations Championship
All data from the card 9
Date
3 February – 17 March 2007
Countries
England France Ireland Italy Scotland Wales
Champions
France (16th title)
Triple Crown
Ireland (9th title)
Matches played
15
Tries scored
65 (4.33 per match)
Top point scorer
Ronan O'Gara (82)
Top try scorers
Jason Robinson (4) Ronan O'Gara (4)
Player of the tournament
Brian O'Driscoll
Rugby was played for the first time at Croke Park, seen here during the Ireland vs. England match.
Rugby was played for the first time at Croke Park, seen here during the Ireland vs. England match.

The 2007 Six Nations Championship was the eighth series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the 113th series of the international championship. Fifteen matches were played over five weekends from 3 February to 17 March.

In this year, France again won on points difference above Ireland, after four teams had at least a mathematical chance of topping the table going into the final week. Italy had their first away win of the tournament, beating Scotland in Edinburgh. It was also the first time that they won two of their matches, as they went on to beat Wales in Rome, finishing in 4th place, their best result so far. Scotland won the wooden spoon on points difference below Wales, and Ireland won the Triple Crown for the second straight year and third time in four years.

Participants

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T Pts
1  France 5 4 0 1 155 86 +69 15 8
2  Ireland 5 4 0 1 149 84 +65 17 8
3  England 5 3 0 2 119 115 +4 10 6
4  Italy 5 2 0 3 94 147 −53 9 4
5  Wales 5 1 0 4 86 113 −27 7 2
6  Scotland 5 1 0 4 95 153 −58 7 2
Source: Six Nations Rugby
  • After Round 4 of the competition, all of the teams had lost at least one match, and as a result, no one could win the Grand Slam.
  • Ireland won the Triple Crown for the second straight year and third time in four years.

The first four rounds

In the build-up to the competition, Ireland were being tipped as favourites for the Grand Slam, having played well during the Autumn Tests. However, despite having started strongly with a win against Wales, they lost to France 20–17 in a historic encounter at Croke Park. In turn, Ireland went on to beat England, who subsequently won against France.

Round 3 of the competition saw Italy win their first ever away match in the Six Nations. Scotland conceded three tries (all converted) in the first six minutes, and Italy went on to secure a historic 37–17 victory. In the same round, England's defeat by Ireland at Croke Park 43–13 marked their worst result ever in the history of the tournament, both in number of points conceded and in points difference (30 points).

In round 4, Italy achieved a second victory in the same tournament for the first time, when they defeated Wales 23–20 in Rome in a match that ended in controversy. Trailing by three points, Wales had the chance to equalise in the closing moments of the game when they were awarded a kickable penalty near the Italian 22-metre line. But, having been informed by the referee that 10 seconds remained, they chose to kick for touch, believing that there was time for an attacking line-out and possible try-scoring opportunity, only for the referee to blow his whistle and end the game before the line-out could form. The Welsh players were incensed and the referee later apologised for the misunderstanding that had arisen.

Final day

All three matches in week five of the tournament were played on the same day and four teams — France, Ireland, England and Italy — still had a chance of winning the tournament: France were narrowly ahead of Ireland on points difference, England and Italy could become champions if they won by a large margin and the other results favoured them.

The game between Ireland and Italy was played first. At half-time, Ireland led by a single point, but they extended their lead in the second half. As time ran out, Ireland were in possession and could have kicked the ball into touch, ending the game and leaving France requiring a 30-point margin in their game; instead, they opted to seek another try, supposedly to set France a bigger target, only for Italy to regain possession and score a converted try, reducing France's target to 23 points.

The second game was between France and Scotland. After starting slowly, France steadily extended their lead, but were still three points short of their target when, with time running out, Elvis Vermeulen scored a try in injury-time, which was converted, to give France a 27-point victory and put them in the lead in the tournament. The referee referred the try to the Television Match Official (TMO), an Irishman, asking if there was any reason why the try should not be awarded. The TMO advised that there was no reason, and the referee awarded the try.

In the final match, England needed to beat Wales by 57 points to overtake France, while Wales were trying to avoid the wooden spoon. Wales led 15–0 after 15 minutes and 18–15 at half-time, and though England managed to draw level in the second half, James Hook then kicked two penalties and a drop goal, to give Wales the victory by 27–18. This result confirmed France's position as champions and handed the wooden spoon to Scotland, both on points difference.

Results

Round 1

3 February 2007
13:30 GMT
Italy 3–39 France
Pen: Pez (1/1) 36'ReportTry: Dominici 23' c
Heymans 30' c
Chabal (2) 40' m, 44' c
Jauzion 63' c
Con: Skrela (4/5)
Pen: Skrela (1/1) 13'
Beauxis (1/1) 72'
Stadio Flaminio, Rome
Attendance: 24,973
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
FB 15 Roland de Marigny
RW 14 Maurizio Zaffri
OC 13 Gonzalo Canale  78'
IC 12 Mirco Bergamasco
LW 11 Andrea Masi
FH 10 Andrea Scanavacca  25'
SH 9 Paul Griffen  71'
N8 8 Sergio Parisse
OF 7 Mauro Bergamasco
BF 6 Alessandro Troncon
RL 5 Roberto Mandelli (c)
LL 4 Santiago Dellapè  49'
TP 3 David Dal Maso  49'
HK 2 Fabio Ongaro  49'
LP 1 Salvatore Perugini  49'
Substitutions:
HK 16 Carlo Festuccia  49'
PR 17 Andrea Lo Cicero  49'
PR 18 Martin Castrogiovanni  49'
LK 19 Marco Bortolami  49'
SH 20 Josh Sole  71'
FH 21 Ramiro Pez  25'
WG 22 Kaine Robertson  78'
Coach:
Pierre Berbizier

3 February 2007
16:00 GMT
England 42–20 Scotland
Try: Robinson (2) 37' m, 55' c
Wilkinson 59' c
Lund 72' m
Con: Wilkinson (2/4)
Pen: Wilkinson (5/5) 11', 29', 31', 49', 53'
Drop: Wilkinson (1/2) 19'
ReportTry: Taylor 25' c
Dewey 77' c
Con: Paterson (2/2)
Pen: Paterson (2/3) 18', 43'
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 82,000
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
FB 15 Olly Morgan
RW 14 Josh Lewsey
OC 13 Mike Tindall
IC 12 Andy Farrell
LW 11 Jason Robinson
FH 10 Jonny Wilkinson
SH 9 Harry Ellis
N8 8 Martin Corry
OF 7 Magnus Lund
BF 6 Joe Worsley
RL 5 Danny Grewcock
LL 4 Louis Deacon
TP 3 Phil Vickery (c)  74'
HK 2 George Chuter
LP 1 Perry Freshwater
Substitutions:
HK 16 Lee Mears
PR 17 Julian White  74'
LK 18 Tom Palmer
FL 19 Tom Rees
SH 20 Peter Richards
FH 21 Toby Flood
CE 22 Mathew Tait
Coach:
Brian Ashton
FB 15 Hugo Southwell
RW 14 Sean Lamont
OC 13 Marcus Di Rollo
IC 12 Andrew Henderson  62'
LW 11 Chris Paterson
FH 10 Dan Parks
SH 9 Chris Cusiter
N8 8 Dave Callam
OF 7 Kelly Brown  62'
BF 6 Simon Taylor
RL 5 Jim Hamilton  62'
LL 4 Alastair Kellock (c)
TP 3 Euan Murray
HK 2 Dougie Hall
LP 1 Gavin Kerr  55'
Substitutions:
HK 16 Ross Ford
PR 17 Allan Jacobsen  55'
LK 18 Scott Murray  62'
FL 19 Ally Hogg  62'
SH 20 Rory Lawson
CE 21 Rob Dewey  62'
FB 22 Rory Lamont
Coach:
Frank Hadden

4 February 2007
15:00 GMT
Wales 9–19 Ireland
Pen: S. Jones (3/3) 9', 19', 25'ReportTry: R. Best 1' m
B. O'Driscoll 33' c
O'Gara 71' c
Con: O'Gara (2/3)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 74,239
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
FB 15 Kevin Morgan
RW 14 Hal Luscombe  60'
OC 13 Jamie Robinson
IC 12 James Hook
LW 11 Chris Czekaj
FH 10 Stephen Jones
SH 9 Dwayne Peel  73'
N8 8 Ryan Jones (c) 34' to 40'
OF 7 Martyn Williams  79'
BF 6 Alix Popham
RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones
LL 4 Ian Gough  71'
TP 3 Chris Horsman  55'
HK 2 T. Rhys Thomas  67'
LP 1 Gethin Jenkins
Substitutions:
HK 16 Matthew Rees  67'
PR 17 Duncan Jones  55'
LK 18 Robert Sidoli  71'
FH 19 Gavin Thomas  34'  40'  79'
SH 20 Mike Phillips  73'
CE 21 Ceri Sweeney
WG 22 Aled Brew  60'
Coach:
Gareth Jenkins
FB 15 Girvan Dempsey
RW 14 Andrew Trimble
OC 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c)  75'
IC 12 Gordon D'Arcy
LW 11 Denis Hickie  27'  37'
FH 10 Ronan O'Gara
SH 9 Peter Stringer
N8 8 Denis Leamy
OF 7 David Wallace
BF 6 Simon Easterby
RL 5 Paul O'Connell
LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2 Rory Best  65'
LP 1 Marcus Horan
Substitutions:
HK 16 Jerry Flannery  65'
PR 17 Simon Best
LK 18 Mick O'Driscoll
FL 19 Neil Best
SH 20 Isaac Boss
FH 21 Paddy Wallace
FB 22 Geordan Murphy  27'  37'  75'
Coach:
Eddie O'Sullivan

Round 2

10 February 2007
13:30 GMT
England 20–7 Italy
Try: Robinson 39' m
Pen: Wilkinson (5/5) 3', 15', 25', 56', 75'
ReportTry: Scanavacca 65' c
Con: Scanavacca (1/1)
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 82,000
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
FB 15 Iain Balshaw
RW 14 Josh Lewsey
OC 13 Mike Tindall
IC 12 Andy Farrell
LW 11 Jason Robinson
FH 10 Jonny Wilkinson
SH 9 Harry Ellis
N8 8 Martin Corry
OF 7 Magnus Lund
BF 6 Nick Easter
RL 5 Danny Grewcock
LL 4 Louis Deacon
TP 3 Phil Vickery (c)
HK 2 George Chuter  70'
LP 1 Perry Freshwater
Substitutions:
HK 16 Lee Mears
PR 17 Julian White  70'
LK 18 Tom Palmer
FL 19 Tom Rees
SH 20 Shaun Perry
FH 21 Toby Flood
CE 22 Mathew Tait
Coach:
Brian Ashton
FB 15 Roland de Marigny
RW 14 Kaine Robertson
OC 13 Gonzalo Canale
IC 12 Mirco Bergamasco
LW 11 Enrico Patrizio  24'
FH 10 Andrea Scanavacca
SH 9 Alessandro Troncon
N8 8 Sergio Parisse
OF 7 Warren Spragg
BF 6 Roberto Mandelli
RL 5 Marco Bortolami (c)
LL 4 Santiago Dellapè  71'
TP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni
HK 2 Walter Pozzebon
LP 1 Andrea Lo Cicero  58'
Substitutions:
HK 16 Fabio Ongaro
PR 17 Salvatore Perugini  58'
LK 18 Valerio Bernabò  71'
FL 19 Josh Sole
SH 20 Paul Griffen
CE 21 Ramiro Pez
WG 22 Matteo Pratichetti  24'
Coach:
Pierre Berbizier

10 February 2007
15:30 GMT
Scotland 21–9 Wales
Pen: Paterson (7/7) 6', 19', 37', 48', 52', 58', 79'ReportPen: S. Jones (3/3) 24', 40', 54'
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 67,500
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
FB 15 Hugo Southwell
RW 14 Sean Lamont
OC 13 Marcus Di Rollo
IC 12 Rob Dewey
LW 11 Chris Paterson
FH 10 Phil Godman  70'
SH 9 Chris Cusiter
N8 8 Dave Callam
OF 7 Kelly Brown  56'
BF 6 Simon Taylor (c)
RL 5 Scott Murray
LL 4 Jim Hamilton  49'
TP 3 Euan Murray
HK 2 Ross Ford
LP 1 Gavin Kerr  56'
Substitutions:
PR 16 Allan Jacobsen  56'
LK 17 Nathan Hines  49'
FL 18 Ally Hogg  56'
SH 19 Rory Lawson
CE 20 Graeme Morrison
CE 21 Simon Webster
WG 22 Nikki Walker  70'
Coach:
Frank Hadden

11 February 2007
15:00 GMT
Ireland 17–20 France
Try: O'Gara 31' m
Pen: O'Gara (4/4) 12', 24', 56', 78'
ReportTry: Ibañez 14' c
Clerc 79' c
Con: Skrela (1/1)
Beauxis (1/1)
Pen: Skrela (2/4) 4', 9'
Croke Park, Dublin
Attendance: 81,000
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)

Round 3

24 February 2007
15:00 GMT
Scotland 17–37 Italy
Try: Dewey 14' c
Paterson 60' c
Con: Paterson (2/2)
Pen: Paterson (1/1) 40'
ReportTry: Ma. Bergamasco 1' c
Scanavacca 4' c
Robertson 6' c
Troncon 75' c
Con: Scanavacca (4/4)
Pen: Scanavacca (3/3) 19', 66', 71'
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 50,284
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
  • This was Italy's biggest margin of victory over a Tier 1 nation.

24 February 2007
17:30 GMT
Ireland 43–13 England
Try: Dempsey 30' c
D. Wallace 37' c
Horgan 63' c
Boss 78' c
Con: O'Gara (3/3)
P. Wallace (1/1)
Pen: O'Gara (5/5) 6', 20', 26', 43', 57'
ReportTry: Strettle 46' c
Con: Wilkinson (1/1)
Pen: Wilkinson (2/3) 2', 56'
Croke Park, Dublin
Attendance: 81,611
Referee: Joël Jutge (France)

24 February 2007
20:00 GMT
France 32–21 Wales
Try: Dominici 28' c
Nallet 34' c
Con: Skrela (2/2)
Pen: Skrela (5/6) 11', 18', 38', 46', 52'
Beauxis (1/1) 80'
ReportTry: Popham 13' c
Shanklin 15' c
Robinson 74' c
Con: S. Jones (3/3)
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 79,959
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

Round 4

10 March 2007
13:30 GMT
Scotland 18–19 Ireland
Pen: Paterson (6/6) 17', 36', 40', 51', 61', 66'ReportTry: O'Gara 30' c
Con: O'Gara (1/1)
Pen: O'Gara (4/6) 9', 38', 68', 70'
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 67,800
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)

10 March 2007
15:30 GMT
Italy 23–20 Wales
Try: Robertson 37' c
Mauro Bergamasco 78' c
Con: Pez (2/2)
Pen: Pez (3/4) 12', 20', 73'
ReportTry: S. Williams 27' c
Rees 45' c
Con: S. Jones (1/1)
Hook (1/1)
Pen: Hook (2/2) 44', 54'
Stadio Flaminio, Rome
Attendance: 24,973
Referee: Chris White (England)
  • This was the first time that Italy won two matches in a Six Nations Championship.

11 March 2007
15:00 GMT
England 26–18 France
Try: Flood 48' c
Tindall 73' c
Con: Flood (1/1)
Geraghty (1/1)
Pen: Flood (3/5) 8', 31', 35'
Geraghty (1/1) 68'
ReportPen: Skrela (3/3) 4', 15', 21'
Yachvili (3/3) 34', 52', 59'
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 82,000
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
  • England's victory meant that no team could now win the Grand Slam.

Round 5

17 March 2007
13:30 GMT
Italy 24–51 Ireland
Try: Bortolami 75' m
De Marigny 80' c
Con: Scanavacca (1/2)
Pen: Pez (2/3) 15', 26'
Drop: Pez (2/2) 12', 29'
ReportTry: Dempsey (2) 17' m, 46' c
Easterby 21' m
D'Arcy 40' c
Horgan 51' m
Hickie (2) 55' c, 77' m
O'Gara 59' c
Con: O'Gara (4/8)
Pen: O'Gara (1/1) 6'
Stadio Flaminio, Rome
Attendance: 24,973
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

17 March 2007
15:30 GMT
France 46–19 Scotland
Try: Harinordoquy 29' c
Jauzion 33' c
Marty 52' c
Heymans 59' m
Milloud 62' c
Vermeulen 80' c
Con: Beauxis (5/6)
Pen: Beauxis (2/2) 19', 37'
ReportTry: Walker 7' c
S. Lamont 40' c
E. Murray 76' m
Con: Paterson (2/3)
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 79,959
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
  • France needed to win by 24 points to overtake Ireland.

17 March 2007
17:30 GMT
Wales 27–18 England
Try: Hook 3' c
Horsman 13' m
Con: Hook (1/2)
Pen: Hook (4/5) 11', 39', 64', 74'
Drop: Hook (1/2) 68'
ReportTry: Ellis 32' c
Robinson 40' m
Con: Flood (1/2)
Pen: Flood (1/1) 46'
Drop: Flood (1/1) 35'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 74,500
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
  • England needed to win by 57 points to win the Championship.

Scorers

Leading try scorers
Pos Name Tries Pld Team
1 Ronan O'Gara 4 5  Ireland
Jason Robinson 4 4  England
3 Girvan Dempsey 3 3  Ireland
4 Mauro Bergamasco 2 3  Italy
Sébastien Chabal 2 3  France
Rob Dewey 2 5  Scotland
Christophe Dominici 2 5  France
Cédric Heymans 2 4  France
Denis Hickie 2 5  Ireland
Shane Horgan 2 4  Ireland
Yannick Jauzion 2 5  France
Kaine Robertson 2 5  Italy
Andrea Scanavacca 2 4  Italy
Source:


Leading point scorers
Pos Name Points Pld Team
1 Ronan O'Gara 82 5  Ireland
2 Chris Paterson 65 5  Scotland
3 Jonny Wilkinson 50 3  England

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