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 NationVenueCityHead coachCaptainTwickenham StadiumLondon Brian AshtonPhil VickeryStade de FranceSaint-Denis Bernard LaporteRaphaël IbañezCroke ParkDublin Eddie O'SullivanBrian O'DriscollStadio FlaminioRome Pierre BerbizierMarco BortolamiMurrayfield StadiumEdinburgh Frank HaddenChris PatersonMillennium StadiumCardiff Gareth JenkinsStephen Jones

Squads

Table

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

FB 15Roland de MarignyRW 14Maurizio ZaffriOC 13Gonzalo Canale IC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Andrea MasiFH 10Andrea Scanavacca SH 9Paul Griffen N8 8Sergio ParisseOF 7Mauro BergamascoBF 6Alessandro TronconRL 5Roberto Mandelli (c)LL 4Santiago Dellapè TP 3David Dal Maso HK 2Fabio Ongaro LP 1Salvatore Perugini Substitutions:HK 16Carlo Festuccia PR 17Andrea Lo Cicero PR 18Martin Castrogiovanni LK 19Marco Bortolami SH 20Josh Sole FH 21Ramiro Pez WG 22Kaine Robertson Coach: Pierre Berbizier FB 15Clément PoitrenaudRW 14Cédric HeymansOC 13Florian Fritz IC 12Yannick JauzionLW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10David SkrelaSH 9 Pierre MignoniN8 8 Sébastien Chabal OF 7 Julien Bonnaire BF 6 Serge BetsenRL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Lionel NalletTP 3 Pieter de VilliersHK 2 Raphaël Ibañez (c) LP 1 Olivier Milloud Substitutions:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Sylvain Marconnet LK 18Pascal Papé FL 19Imanol Harinordoquy SH 20Dimitri YachviliFH 21Lionel Beauxis WG 22Vincent ClercCoach:Bernard Laporte

FB 15Olly MorganRW 14Josh LewseyOC 13Mike TindallIC 12Andy FarrellLW 11Jason RobinsonFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9Harry EllisN8 8Martin CorryOF 7Magnus LundBF 6Joe WorsleyRL 5Danny GrewcockLL 4Louis DeaconTP 3Phil Vickery (c) HK 2George ChuterLP 1Perry FreshwaterSubstitutions:HK 16Lee MearsPR 17Julian White LK 18Tom PalmerFL 19Tom ReesSH 20Peter RichardsFH 21Toby FloodCE 22Mathew TaitCoach:Brian Ashton FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Sean LamontOC 13Marcus Di RolloIC 12Andrew Henderson LW 11Chris PatersonFH 10Dan ParksSH 9 Chris CusiterN8 8 Dave CallamOF 7 Kelly Brown BF 6 Simon TaylorRL 5 Jim Hamilton LL 4 Alastair Kellock (c)TP 3 Euan MurrayHK 2 Dougie HallLP 1 Gavin Kerr Substitutions:HK 16Ross FordPR 17Allan Jacobsen LK 18Scott Murray FL 19Ally Hogg SH 20Rory LawsonCE 21Rob Dewey FB 22Rory LamontCoach:Frank Hadden

FB 15Kevin MorganRW 14Hal Luscombe OC 13Jamie RobinsonIC 12James HookLW 11Chris CzekajFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9Dwayne Peel N8 8Ryan Jones (c) OF 7Martyn Williams BF 6Alix PophamRL 5Alun Wyn JonesLL 4Ian Gough TP 3Chris Horsman HK 2T. Rhys Thomas LP 1Gethin JenkinsSubstitutions:HK 16Matthew Rees PR 17Duncan Jones LK 18Robert Sidoli FH 19Gavin Thomas SH 20Mike Phillips CE 21Ceri SweeneyWG 22Aled Brew Coach: Gareth Jenkins FB 15Girvan DempseyRW 14Andrew TrimbleOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c) IC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Denis Hickie FH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Denis LeamyOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Marcus HoranSubstitutions:HK 16Jerry Flannery PR 17Simon BestLK 18Mick O'DriscollFL 19Neil BestSH 20Isaac BossFH 21Paddy WallaceFB 22Geordan Murphy Coach:Eddie O'Sullivan

Round 2

FB 15Iain BalshawRW 14Josh LewseyOC 13Mike TindallIC 12Andy FarrellLW 11Jason RobinsonFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9Harry EllisN8 8Martin CorryOF 7Magnus LundBF 6Nick EasterRL 5Danny GrewcockLL 4Louis DeaconTP 3Phil Vickery (c)HK 2George Chuter LP 1Perry FreshwaterSubstitutions:HK 16Lee MearsPR 17Julian White LK 18Tom PalmerFL 19Tom ReesSH 20Shaun PerryFH 21Toby FloodCE 22Mathew TaitCoach:Brian Ashton FB 15Roland de MarignyRW 14Kaine RobertsonOC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Enrico Patrizio FH 10Andrea ScanavaccaSH 9 Alessandro TronconN8 8 Sergio Parisse OF 7 Warren SpraggBF 6 Roberto MandelliRL 5 Marco Bortolami (c)LL 4 Santiago Dellapè TP 3 Martin CastrogiovanniHK 2 Walter PozzebonLP 1 Andrea Lo Cicero Substitutions:HK 16Fabio OngaroPR 17Salvatore Perugini LK 18Valerio Bernabò FL 19Josh SoleSH 20Paul GriffenCE 21Ramiro PezWG 22Matteo Pratichetti Coach: Pierre Berbizier

FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Sean LamontOC 13Marcus Di RolloIC 12Rob DeweyLW 11Chris PatersonFH 10Phil Godman SH 9Chris CusiterN8 8Dave CallamOF 7Kelly Brown BF 6Simon Taylor (c)RL 5Scott MurrayLL 4Jim Hamilton TP 3Euan MurrayHK 2Ross FordLP 1Gavin Kerr Substitutions:PR 16Allan Jacobsen LK 17Nathan Hines FL 18Ally Hogg SH 19Rory LawsonCE 20Graeme MorrisonCE 21Simon WebsterWG 22Nikki Walker Coach:Frank Hadden FB 15Kevin MorganRW 14Mark JonesOC 13Jamie RobinsonIC 12James HookLW 11Chris CzekajFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9Dwayne PeelN8 8Ryan Jones (c)OF 7Martyn WilliamsBF 6Alix PophamRL 5Alun Wyn JonesLL 4Robert Sidoli TP 3Duncan JonesHK 2T. Rhys ThomasLP 1Adam JonesSubstitutions:HK 16Matthew ReesPR 17Gethin JenkinsLK 18Ian Gough FH 19Jonathan ThomasSH 20Mike PhillipsFH 21Ceri SweeneyCE 22Tom ShanklinCoach:Gareth Jenkins

FB 15Girvan DempseyRW 14Geordan MurphyOC 13Gordon D'ArcyIC 12Shane HorganLW 11Denis HickieFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Isaac BossN8 8 Denis LeamyOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Rory BestLP 1 Marcus HoranSubstitutions:HK 16Jerry FlanneryPR 17Simon BestLK 18Mick O'DriscollFL 19Neil BestSH 20Eoin ReddanFH 21Paddy WallaceWG 22Andrew TrimbleCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Clément PoitrenaudRW 14Vincent ClercOC 13David MartyIC 12Yannick JauzionLW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10David SkrelaSH 9 Pierre MignoniN8 8 Sébastien ChabalOF 7 Imanol HarinordoquyBF 6 Serge BetsenRL 5 Pascal PapéLL 4 Lionel NalletTP 3 Pieter de VilliersHK 2 Raphaël IbañezLP 1 Sylvain MarconnetSubstitutions:HK 16Yannick BruPR 17Olivier MilloudLK 18Jérôme ThionFL 19Julien BonnaireSH 20Dimitri YachviliFH 21Lionel BeauxisFB 22Cédric HeymansCoach:Bernard Laporte

Round 3

FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Sean LamontOC 13Marcus Di RolloIC 12Rob DeweyLW 11Chris PatersonFH 10Phil GodmanSH 9 Chris CusiterN8 8 Dave CallamOF 7 Kelly BrownBF 6 Simon TaylorRL 5 Scott MurrayLL 4 Nathan HinesTP 3 Euan MurrayHK 2 Dougie HallLP 1 Gavin KerrSubstitutions:HK 16Ross FordPR 17Allan JacobsenLK 18Jim HamiltonFL 19Ally HoggSH 20Rory LawsonCE 21Andrew HendersonWG 22Nikki WalkerCoach:Frank Hadden FB 15Roland de MarignyRW 14Kaine RobertsonOC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Andrea MasiFH 10Andrea ScanavaccaSH 9 Alessandro TronconN8 8 Sergio ParisseOF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Alessandro ZanniRL 5 Marco BortolamiLL 4 Santiago DellapèTP 3 Martín CastrogiovanniHK 2 Carlo FestucciaLP 1 Andrea Lo CiceroSubstitutions:HK 16Fabio OngaroPR 17Salvatore PeruginiPR 18Enrico PatrizioLK 19Valerio BernabòFL 20Maurizio ZaffiriSH 21Paul GriffenFH 22Ramiro PezCoach:Pierre Berbizier This was Italy's biggest margin of victory over a Tier 1 nation.

FB 15Girvan DempseyRW 14Shane HorganOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Denis HickieFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Denis LeamyOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Rory BestLP 1 Marcus HoranSubstitutions:HK 16Jerry FlanneryPR 17Simon BestLK 18Mick O'DriscollFL 19Neil BestSH 20Isaac BossFH 21Paddy WallaceWG 22Andrew TrimbleCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Olly MorganRW 14Josh LewseyOC 13Mike TindallIC 12Andy FarrellLW 11David StrettleFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Harry EllisN8 8 Martin CorryOF 7 Magnus LundBF 6 Joe WorsleyRL 5 Danny GrewcockLL 4 Louis DeaconTP 3 Phil Vickery (c)HK 2 George ChuterLP 1 Perry FreshwaterSubstitutions:HK 16Lee MearsPR 17Julian WhiteLK 18Tom PalmerFL 19Tom ReesSH 20Shaun PerryFH 21Toby FloodCE 22Mathew TaitCoach:Brian Ashton