Six Nations Super Saturday predictions: Who are our experts backing to win championship?

Telegraph

15-03-2025

The 2025 Six Nations concludes this weekend with Ireland, England and France all capable of winning the title in three mouth-watering matches stretching from early afternoon to a late night in Paris.
First Ireland take on Italy in Rome with the wooden spoon possibly looming for the hosts in a strange anomaly given that they have won a match. Next up is England's visit to the Cardiff cauldron. France, who finished round four with a one-point lead in the standings by virtue of a greater haul of bonus points, will then know exactly what they need to prevail in the 8pm kick-off at Stade de France.
Telegraph Sport's rugby experts predict how the weekend will unfold.
Italy 14 Ireland 52
How Simon Easterby would have loved to have fielded the side that is available to him in Rome against France last week. With James Lowe, Mack Hansen and Garry Ringrose restored to the back line, and a first appearance on the bench of Tadgh Furlong, expect Ireland to finish their campaign with a bang to ease the disappointment of their humbling by France and put some title pressure on England and Les Bleus. The fascinating subplot will be how Jack Crowley grabs hold of the game, with his first start of the championship.
Wales 15 England 40
Wales will hope for a rousing finish to another tough campaign against the old enemy and it should make for a fantastic atmosphere, but I expect England to push on from their display against Italy and the specific target of needing four tries should sharpen minds and free up their attacking intent.
France 28 Scotland 30
Gregor Townsend knows what it takes to win in Paris, and talk of France's procession to the Six Nations title will no doubt have fired up the Scotland players, as it famously did in 2021 when they needed a bonus-point win to pip Wales. Scotland won 27-23 and they should also have beaten France at Murrayfield last year only for the match officials somehow to rule that Sam Skinner had not scored with the final play of the game. It will take a monumental effort, but Scotland have the back line to cause France problems in the wide channels, in the scenario that France struggle to replicate the intensity of their display against Ireland.
France hold on to pip England
Italy 23 Ireland 45
It has been a disappointing campaign for Italy, with their defensive fragility nullifying moments of brilliance in attack. I expect that frustrating trend to continue to finish the tournament. The visitors are welcoming back important reinforcements and Jack Crowley has a point to prove at fly-half. All that should add up to Ireland spending at least a couple of hours as clubhouse leaders.
Wales 24 England 35
Matt Sherratt can certainly cause a stir here. The Wales scrum has earned penalties since round three, while a back row of Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau is a classy unit. Injuries at centre or lock would throw Steve Borthwick into contingency mode quickly. All that said, England can rouse themselves to prevail in a loose, entertaining game, scoring four tries to clinch second.
France 39 Scotland 30
This could be a cracker to cap a compelling couple of months and Scotland might have reflected on the lessons of their loss to South Africa in November. In that encounter, they created enough chances to oust the Springboks and countered their opponents' fearful power everywhere except the scrum. Even if France do not replicate the devastation of a 34-point surge in Dublin, a home crowd should carry them to the Championship.
France win in style
Italy 17 Ireland 53
The virtue for Ireland of going first on 'Super Saturday' is that there is no specific points total to chase, merely the knowledge that they must win by as wide a margin as possible to have any chance of being crowned champions. Italy should prepare for another shellacking. After shipping 73 to France, they are at risk of a repeat humiliation against a side scalded by a heavy loss in Dublin. The problem for the Italians is that while they can flicker in bursts, courtesy of Ange Capuozzo, they lack the cohesion for a true 80-minute performance against opposition of this calibre.
Wales 18 England 30
The danger for England is self-evident, with a wounded Wales desperate to avert a record-extending 17th consecutive Test defeat. But their commitment to all-out attack is promising, with Tom Roebuck making his first start on the wing and Tommy Freeman primed to round off his exceptional Six Nations with a switch to 13. I just cannot envisage Wales, for all their back-row heft, having enough to trouble England in the second half.
France 48 Scotland 21
With Gaël Fickou's restoration at outside centre, France's attack is little short of terrifying. Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored in his seventh straight Test against Ireland, breaking the record of a certain Damian Penaud, who achieved history of his own by equalling Serge Blanco's mark of 38 tries for his country – in 38 fewer games. Scotland, by contrast, remain a maddening study in thwarted promise. Their late toil last Saturday, where a succession of visits to the Welsh 22 yielded nothing, was an apt reflection of their tournament, full of expansive intent but ultimately lacking in composure. They will do well to keep title-chasing France from scoring 50 at home.
France hold their nerve
Italy 14 Ireland 54
Ireland are too professional and classy to allow a potential banana skin to blindside them. Despite defeating Wales, Italy have not managed to build fully on their impressive 2024 campaign and an Irish side looking to avenge that French humbling should have too much for them. Plus, there are Lions spots on the line; there might be a title to win, too.
Wales 22 England 30
It is never easy for England in the Cardiffian Lion's den but this Welsh side, while resurgent, is still some way off the level required to trouble the better sides for 80 minutes. Expect it to be cagey for 50 minutes before the visitors achieve some daylight. England know, too, that a bonus-point victory puts pressure on France.
France 42 Scotland 29
France might have thrown one match away this championship but their phenomenal victory in Dublin has granted them a reprieve. Lightning will not strike twice and although the Scottish challenge will be stern, the visitors just do not have the depth nor bench firepower to compete after 65 minutes, which is where France excelled against Ireland.
France to win title, but draw with Scotland
Italy 25 Ireland 30
The Irish have fallen off a cliff the last few games and it would be no surprise to see them run uncomfortably close by the Italians. Would then be a long wait for Simon Easterby's men.
Wales 18 England 21
If this is indeed a Welsh revival then it will need more than a couple of losing points. England are not up to much, but if they can survive what is sure to be a monumental atmosphere they will be too strong.
France 30 Scotland 30
The Tartan attack was electrifying in that first 50 minutes against Wales. Without Dupont and the pressure of silverware, the French will be vulnerable. I think it will be thrillingly close. And perhaps there will be no separating the two teams.
Wales to upset England, France to win overall
Italy 21 Ireland 40
Bounce-back performances are required from a lot of Ireland's Lions hopefuls but they should have enough here. Italy, while a delight to watch, just switch off for too many long periods in games and their regression in this year's championship has been frustrating.
Wales 25 England 23
Admittedly, the fact that England have shown real progress – please do not revert back to kicking for victory, trust your skills – combined with Wales' losing run means this call is made with slightly less conviction than a few weeks ago. But Wales have shown flashes of progress in the past two games, and Wales-England can be a funny fixture where form does not matter. Since the end of the autumn, this fixture has stood out with flashing alarm signs. Imagine the noise if Wales pull it off.
France 42 Scotland 33
There will be a point in this match where Scotland have France feeling very concerned, and another point where the crowd will breathe a sigh of relief as the home side pull away. Still seething at France for how wasteful they were at Allianz Stadium, but their bench feels too powerful for Scotland. Galthié's side are too good to have produced only one title – time to add to that. One final note: Louis Bielle-Biarrey, on seven tries, has a real chance to tie or surpass the record of eight tries in one Home, Five or Six Nations, held by Cyril Lowe (England, 1914) and Ian Smith (Scotland, 1925).