After two back-to-back victories against France and Scotland, England is now in the hunt for the 2025 Six Nations Championship, with just two wins from three games.

The final round of the tournament is shaping up to be an exciting one, and here are my key takeaways from round three.

Marcus Smith Faces Big Decision

With George Furbank sidelined due to injury, I’ve supported the Smith-Smith combination of Fin and Marcus in England’s last couple of matches.

It’s worked well, and the team has won both games.

However, the Calcutta Cup once again highlighted the issue that Marcus Smith is a fly-half playing out of position at full-back.

While he’s managed decently, it’s clear he’s not a natural fit there.

I believe it’s time for Marcus to have a frank conversation with Steve Borthwick.

He needs to be playing in his best position—fly-half.

He’s 26 now and at his prime, so it’s crucial that he’s used effectively, not wasting his best years playing out of position.

If Furbank returns for the Italy and Wales games, Borthwick will face a tough decision about who should be the main playmaker.

In my view, Fin Smith has proven himself under pressure and deserves a starting spot, meaning Marcus might have to settle for a bench role. Sometimes, being versatile can work against you!

Wales Show the Power of Good Coaching

I really enjoyed watching the Wales vs. Ireland match.

Wales had been struggling in their first two games under Warren Gatland, showing little confidence and few ideas.

However, in just four sessions under interim coach Matt Sherratt, they were transformed into a team that went toe-to-toe with Ireland.

Though they didn’t win, their performance should give the team plenty of confidence for their upcoming matches against Scotland and England.

Sherratt’s coaching style was impressive.

In a short amount of time, he got the basics right: team selection and speeding up the game to match the opposition.

It’s a testament to what good coaching can do in a short period.

Well done to him and the Welsh team for showing such a turnaround.

Scotland Still Struggles to Combine Attack and Forward Power

Scotland has some brilliant attacking players, and with the ball, they were far better than England at Twickenham.

I love watching them play, but they’re still missing a key element—strong forward play.

To consistently win big matches, you need to combine a potent attack with a solid forward performance, and that’s something Scotland is yet to master.

Finn Russell, Scotland’s fly-half, is undoubtedly talented.

However, his performances can be a bit inconsistent, like his captaincy.

Russell, much like his team, shows brilliant moments mixed with errors and lapses in basic skills—like the three missed conversions against England.

Those kicks weren’t the reason Scotland lost, but they certainly didn’t help.

Scotland will need to find more consistency in both attack and forward play to compete at the highest level.

Ireland Remains the Team to Beat for the Grand Slam

Ireland faced a real scare in Cardiff, but their resilience and confidence—especially with so many young players on the field—will serve them well.

Their upcoming match against France at home will be a defining moment in their pursuit of a Grand Slam.

After surviving a tough test in Wales, Ireland will feel confident about completing a clean sweep and securing the title.

Simon Easterby, who must have been relieved to leave Principality Stadium with a win, now has to guide his team through what is shaping up to be the toughest test of the tournament.

With Ireland playing at their best, they are undoubtedly the team to beat, and they’re ready to prove it.

France Must Regret Missed Opportunity Against England

France was in superb form when they dismantled Italy in Rome.

The Azzurri were far from their best, but France’s attack was too much to handle.

Antoine Dupont was once again at the heart of their efforts, and their young full-back, Leo Barre, also impressed with a strong performance.

Watching France dominate Italy made me think about how wasteful they were in their previous game against England.

That match was one they should have won, and had they done so, their meeting with Ireland could have been the ultimate Grand Slam decider.

Instead, the loss at Twickenham will haunt Fabien Galthie’s side for a long time.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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