Six Nations Five things we learned from game-changing Guinness Six Nations weekend
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Wales and Ireland were the winners as France and Scotland sat out round three.
The France national rugby union team (French: Équipe nationale de France de Rugby à XV) represents France in men's international rugby union and it is administered by the French Rugby Federation. They traditionally play in blue shirts emblazoned with the national emblem of a golden rooster on a red shield, with white shorts and red socks; thus they are commonly referred to as Les Tricolores or Les Bleus. The team's home matches are mostly played at the Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. France is ranked 4th in the World Rugby Rankings as of 3 November 2020.
Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by the British, and on New Years Day 1906, the national side played its first test match – against New Zealand in Paris. France played sporadically against the Home Nations until they joined them to form the Five Nations Championship (now the Six Nations) in 1910.
Wales and Ireland were the winners as France and Scotland sat out round three.
The French referee was at the centre of two highly controversial decisions as Wayne Pivac's side claimed the Triple Crown in Cardiff.
The France national rugby union team (French: Équipe nationale de France de Rugby à XV) represents France in men's international rugby union and it is administered by the French Rugby Federation. They traditionally play in blue shirts emblazoned with the national emblem of a golden rooster on a red shield, with white shorts and red socks; thus they are commonly referred to as Les Tricolores or Les Bleus. The team's home matches are mostly played at the Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. France is ranked 4th in the World Rugby Rankings as of 3 November 2020.
Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by the British, and on New Years Day 1906, the national side played its first test match – against New Zealand in Paris. France played sporadically against the Home Nations until they joined them to form the Five Nations Championship (now the Six Nations) in 1910.
Round 3 | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | PD | BP T | BP -7 | BP | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- ![]() | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 64 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
- ![]() | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 23 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
- ![]() | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 77 | 46 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
- ![]() | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 71 | 69 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
- ![]() | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
- ![]() | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 139 | -101 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Round 3 |
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In the Six Nations, each team plays every other team once (making a total of 15 matches), with home ground advantage alternating from one year to the next.
The bonus point system is used (0 points for a loss, 2 for a draw, 4 for a win, 1 for scoring four or more tries in a match, and 1 for losing by 7 points or fewer), with the only difference being that a Grand Slam winner will be given 3 extra points to ensure they finish top of the table.
Ties are broken by considering the points difference (total points scored minus total points conceded) of the teams. The rules of the championship further provide that if teams tie on both match points and points difference, the team that scored the most tries wins the championship.
France also competed in the rugby competitions at early Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in 1900 and two silver medals in the 1920s. The national team came of age during the 1950s and 1960s, winning their first Five Nations title outright in 1959. They won their first Grand Slam in 1968. Since then they have won the title outright 17 times, including nine grand slams, and shared it eight times.
France has competed in every Rugby World Cup since it began in 1987, and qualified for the knock-out stage each time. They have reached the final three times, losing to the All Blacks in 1987 and 2011, and to Australia in 1999. France hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup, where, as in 2003, they were beaten in the semi-finals by England, and will once again host the tournament in 2023.