The 2010 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2010 RBS 6 Nations due to sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 11th series of the Six Nations Championship and the 116th international championship, an annual rugby union competition between the six major European national teams. The tournament was held between 6 February and 20 March 2010.
The championship was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. France won the tournament, achieving a final 12–10 victory over England to win the Grand Slam, their first since 2004 and ninth overall (including six in the Five Nations). This was also their 17th outright victory, including 12 victories in the Five Nations, excluding eight titles shared with other countries. France also retained the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy by defeating Italy in the tournament, to whom they had (then) never lost within the Six Nations.
Ireland, 2009 Grand Slam winners, came second with three victories and two defeats. Despite defeating England and Wales, Ireland failed to win the Triple Crown after a 23–20 defeat to Scotland in their final match. England and Wales came third and fourth respectively with two victories each, while Scotland and Italy finished in fifth and sixth positions for the third tournament in a row. Both teams achieved just one victory each, with Scotland also recording a draw in the Calcutta Cup match against England to place ahead of Italy.
Summary
The reigning champions on entering the tournament were Ireland, who won the Grand Slam and Triple Crown in 2009.
Ireland did not win the Triple Crown in 2010 due to a surprise 23–20 loss to Scotland in the final Six Nations match at Croke Park on 20 March, with Scotland avoiding their third "wooden spoon" since 2004 in the process. Brian O'Driscoll had opened the scoring in the 11th minute and Ireland were level with Scotland in the 64th minute after Tommy Bowe scored a try, with substitute Ronan O'Gara converting. Scotland's Johnnie Beattie scored his team's first try since they played Wales in their second game and Dan Parks scored a penalty in the final minute to prevent Ireland winning the Triple Crown. Ireland coach Declan Kidney described it as "not our greatest day".
Ireland's previous match – a 27–12 victory over Wales on 13 March – had seen O'Driscoll achieve 100 caps for his country. Ireland's previous match against England had seen John Hayes achieve 100 caps for his country, the first player to do so for Ireland.
Ireland's loss to Scotland meant France had won the Championship but could still achieve the Grand Slam by beating England in their final game at the Stade de France on 20 March. The Grand Slam was achieved by France following a 12–10 victory in this game. It was France's first Grand Slam since 2004. England scored the only try of the game. Jonny Wilkinson was not included in the England starting team for only the third time in his career. Bryce Lawrence from New Zealand refereed the game.
The nominations for "Player of the Championship" were announced on 17 March; these were Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Mathieu Bastareaud, Morgan Parra, Thierry Dusautoir, Imanol Harinordoquy (all France) and Shane Williams (Wales). Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll, who had won the award in three of the four previous seasons, was not included this time. Tommy Bowe was named as the player of the championship on 25 March, having polled nearly 50% of the fan votes.
Participants NationHome stadiumCityHead coachCaptainTwickenham StadiumLondon Martin JohnsonSteve Borthwick/Lewis MoodyStade de FranceSaint-Denis Marc LièvremontThierry DusautoirCroke ParkDublin Declan KidneyBrian O'DriscollStadio FlaminioRome Nick MallettLeonardo GhiraldiniMurrayfield StadiumEdinburgh Andy RobinsonMike Blair/Chris CusiterMillennium StadiumCardiff Warren GatlandRyan Jones
Squads
Table
Results The schedule for the 2010 Championship was released on 2 April 2009. Following the success of the tournament's first Friday night game, between France and Wales in the 2009 Championship, the organisers scheduled the reverse fixture to also be played on a Friday night.
'c' and 'm' following a try denote 'converted' and 'missed conversion' respectively.
Round 1
FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Tommy BoweOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Andrew Trimble FH 10Ronan O'Gara SH 9 Tomás O'Leary N8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 David Wallace BF 6 Kevin McLaughlinRL 5 Paul O'Connell LL 4 Leo CullenTP 3 John Hayes HK 2 Jerry Flannery LP 1 Cian HealyReplacements:HK 16Rory Best PR 17Tom Court LK 18Donnacha Ryan FL 19Seán O'Brien SH 20Eoin Reddan CE 21Paddy Wallace WG 22Keith Earls Coach:Declan Kidney FB 15Luke McLeanRW 14Kaine Robertson OC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Gonzalo GarcíaLW 11Mirco BergamascoFH 10Craig Gower SH 9 Tito Tebaldi N8 8 Alessandro ZanniOF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Josh SoleRL 5 Quintin GeldenhuysLL 4 Carlo Del Fava TP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c) LP 1 Salvatore PeruginiReplacements:HK 16Fabio Ongaro PR 17Matías Agüero LK 18Marco Bortolami FL 19Paul DerbyshireSH 20Simon Picone FH 21Riccardo Bocchino CE 22Andrea Masi Coach:Nick Mallett
FB 15Delon ArmitageRW 14Mark CuetoOC 13Mathew TaitIC 12Toby Flood LW 11Ugo MonyeFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Danny Care N8 8 Nick EasterOF 7 Lewis Moody BF 6 James HaskellRL 5 Steve Borthwick (c)LL 4 Simon Shaw TP 3 David Wilson HK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Tim PayneReplacements:HK 16Steve Thompson PR 17Dan Cole LK 18Louis Deacon FL 19Steffon Armitage SH 20Paul Hodgson CE 21Dan Hipkiss FB 22Ben FodenCoach:Martin Johnson FB 15Lee ByrneRW 14Tom James OC 13James HookIC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Gareth Cooper N8 8 Ryan Jones (c)OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Andy Powell RL 5 Luke Charteris LL 4 Alun Wyn Jones TP 3 Adam JonesHK 2 Gareth Williams LP 1 Paul JamesReplacements:HK 16Huw Bennett PR 17Rhys GillLK 18Bradley Davies FL 19Jonathan Thomas SH 20Richie Rees CE 21Andrew BishopWG 22Leigh Halfpenny Coach:Warren Gatland England wore a special kit to celebrate the centenary of the first international match – England vs Wales – at Twickenham Stadium. Dan Cole (England) made his international debut.
FB 15Chris PatersonRW 14Thom EvansOC 13Max EvansIC 12Graeme MorrisonLW 11Sean LamontFH 10Phil Godman SH 9 Chris Cusiter (c)N8 8 Johnnie BeattieOF 7 John BarclayBF 6 Kelly BrownRL 5 Alastair KellockLL 4 Nathan Hines TP 3 Moray Low HK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Alasdair Dickinson Replacements:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Allan Jacobsen LK 18Richie Gray FL 19Alan MacDonaldSH 20Rory LawsonCE 21Alex GroveFB 22Hugo Southwell Coach:Andy Robinson FB 15Clément PoitrenaudRW 14Benjamin FallOC 13Mathieu Bastareaud IC 12Yannick JauzionLW 11Aurélien Rougerie FH 10François Trinh-DucSH 9 Morgan Parra N8 8 Imanol HarinordoquyOF 7 Fulgence OuedraogoBF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c) RL 5 Pascal Papé LL 4 Lionel NalletTP 3 Nicolas Mas HK 2 William Servat LP 1 Thomas DomingoReplacements:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Luc Ducalcon LK 18Julien Pierre FL 19Julien Bonnaire SH 20Frédéric Michalak CE 21David Marty WG 22Vincent Clerc Coach:Marc Lièvremont Luc Ducalcon (France) made his international debut.
Round 2
FB 15Lee ByrneRW 14Leigh HalfpennyOC 13James HookIC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Gareth Cooper N8 8 Ryan Jones (c)OF 7 Martyn Williams BF 6 Andy Powell RL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Jonathan ThomasTP 3 Adam JonesHK 2 Gareth Williams LP 1 Paul James Replacements:HK 16Huw Bennett PR 17Gethin Jenkins LK 18Bradley Davies FL 19Sam Warburton SH 20Richie Rees CE 21Andrew BishopCE 22Tom ShanklinCoach:Warren Gatland FB 15Chris Paterson RW 14Thom Evans OC 13Sean LamontIC 12Graeme MorrisonLW 11Rory Lamont FH 10Dan Parks SH 9 Chris Cusiter (c)N8 8 Johnnie BeattieOF 7 John BarclayBF 6 Kelly BrownRL 5 Alastair KellockLL 4 Jim Hamilton TP 3 Euan MurrayHK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Alasdair Dickinson Replacements:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Allan Jacobsen LK 18Richie Gray FL 19Alan MacDonald SH 20Mike Blair FH 21Phil Godman WG 22Max Evans Coach:Andy Robinson Chris Paterson became the 13th player in history with at least 100 international appearances. His missed conversion ended a personal streak of 35 consecutive successful kicks at goal in the Six Nations, dating back to 2007.
FB 15Clément PoitrenaudRW 14Vincent Clerc OC 13Mathieu BastareaudIC 12Yannick Jauzion LW 11Alexis Palisson FH 10François Trinh-DucSH 9 Morgan ParraN8 8 Imanol Harinordoquy OF 7 Fulgence OuedraogoBF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Pascal Papé LL 4 Lionel NalletTP 3 Nicolas Mas HK 2 William Servat LP 1 Thomas DomingoReplacements:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Sylvain Marconnet LK 18Julien Pierre FL 19Julien Bonnaire SH 20Frédéric Michalak CE 21David Marty WG 22Julien Malzieu Coach:Marc Lièvremont FB 15Rob Kearney RW 14Tommy BoweOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Keith EarlsFH 10Ronan O'Gara SH 9 Tomás O'Leary N8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Stephen FerrisRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Leo Cullen TP 3 John Hayes HK 2 Jerry Flannery LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Rory Best PR 17Tom Court LK 18Donnacha Ryan FL 19Seán O'BrienSH 20Eoin Reddan FH 21Johnny Sexton CE 22Paddy Wallace Coach:Declan Kidney
FB 15Luke McLeanRW 14Andrea Masi OC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Gonzalo GarcíaLW 11Mirco BergamascoFH 10Craig GowerSH 9 Tito Tebaldi N8 8 Alessandro ZanniOF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Josh SoleRL 5 Marco BortolamiLL 4 Quintin GeldenhuysTP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c) LP 1 Salvatore Perugini Replacements:HK 16Fabio Ongaro PR 17Matías Agüero LK 18Valerio BernabòFL 19Paul DerbyshireSH 20Pablo Canavosio FH 21Riccardo BocchinoWG 22Kaine Robertson Coach:Nick Mallett FB 15Delon ArmitageRW 14Mark CuetoOC 13Mathew TaitIC 12Riki FluteyLW 11Ugo MonyeFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Danny Care N8 8 Nick EasterOF 7 Lewis Moody BF 6 James HaskellRL 5 Steve Borthwick (c)LL 4 Simon Shaw TP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Tim Payne Replacements:HK 16Steve Thompson PR 17David Wilson PR 18Matt Mullan LK 19Louis Deacon FL 20Steffon Armitage SH 21Paul Hodgson FH 22Toby FloodCoach:Martin Johnson Jonny Wilkinson's two missed penalties ended a personal streak of consecutive successful penalty kicks in any international which he has started, dating back to 2003. Matt Mullan (England) made his international debut.
Round 3
FB 15Lee ByrneRW 14Leigh HalfpennyOC 13James HookIC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Richie ReesN8 8 Ryan Jones (c)OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Jonathan ThomasRL 5 Deiniol Jones LL 4 Bradley DaviesTP 3 Adam JonesHK 2 Huw BennettLP 1 Paul JamesReplacements:HK 16Ken OwensPR 17Rhys GillLK 18Luke Charteris FL 19Sam WarburtonSH 20Mike PhillipsCE 21Andrew BishopCE 22Tom ShanklinCoach:Warren Gatland FB 15Clément Poitrenaud RW 14Julien MalzieuOC 13Mathieu Bastareaud IC 12Yannick JauzionLW 11Alexis PalissonFH 10François Trinh-Duc SH 9 Morgan Parra N8 8 Imanol Harinordoquy OF 7 Julien BonnaireBF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Julien Pierre LL 4 Lionel NalletTP 3 Nicolas MasHK 2 William Servat LP 1 Thomas Domingo Replacements:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Jean-Baptiste Poux LK 18Sébastien Chabal FL 19Alexandre Lapandry FH 20Frédéric Michalak CE 21David Marty WG 22Marc Andreu Coach:Marc Lièvremont Notes: Marc Andreu (France) made his international debut.