Set Move - Rugby Chat

The first weekend of the 2026 Six Nations felt like the wettest weekend of any Six Nations. The last weekend felt like watching the Harlem Globetrotters in Paris. This year’s competition was the best in years – ultra-competitive, attack beating defence and some real changes across teams. Or was there? We look at all the teams on a statistical basis to see what the numbers tell us. Have Scotland shed their all-out attack image? Are England still tough and rugged? Did France play champagne rugby? Quite often our feelings on a game or team dictate our attitude towards the eventual outcome, but using the stats (from RugbyPass unless stated otherwise) can often reveal a different story. France Damien who? In the end France didn’t need Penaud. The French are probably the best current exponents of total rugby that keeps the ball alive among forwards and backs, a proactive second and back row with wingers who work incredibly hard within the 15 metre channel. Their offload game was phen...

This weekend felt momentous. History was made twice in the same afternoon. But how was it made and do we have a proper 3 horse race heading into the final weekend? How Scotland beat France Was this the best match of the 6 Nations in over a decade? 90 points scored in what must be Scotland’s best ever performance. While the Scots may take beating England for granted, it's not every day that they put 50 points on a team who have not had to get out of third gear this championship. So how did they do it? (All stats and figures are from RugbyPass unless otherwise stated). The percentages Scotland have a reputation for playing an attacking brand of rugby, but they are probably the best team in the 6 Nations at playing the percentages. They have averaged 55% of territory and have had most of their possession between the halfway line and the opposition’s 22. This forced France to have 40% of their possession between their own 22 and the halfway. If you’re trying to play rugby in that...

The Women’s Rugby World Cup kicked off last night with a thumping 69-7 win for England against the USA. But who are the players to watch over the next few weeks? We look at some familiar and not so  familiar names. Meg Jones | England | Ealing Trailfinders | Centre Meg Jones is the first of two England players on this list. England’s Vice Captain could have played for Wales (sob) but turns out for the Red Roses. She is the complete player and a nightmare centre to play against. Jones has pace, can tackle, has flair, can kick and is central to England’s attacking threat. Expect to her to get on the outside shoulder of Asda players and put in some huge tackles in the process. Maud Muir | England | Gloucester Hartpury | Prop Ok there are two England players on this list, but I genuinely could not choose between Muir and Jones, so hear me out. At only twenty-four, Muir has played forty-three times for England. Muir started her rugby as a back rower, with her mobility around the park a ...