The third round of the 2025 Six Nations delivered another thrilling set of matches, with England narrowly defeating Scotland 16-15 in a hard-fought encounter. England’s tactical approach, Scotland’s missed kicks, and the highly debated 20-minute red card law all made headlines. The game in Cardiff between Wales and Ireland also raised questions about team performance and management. Here’s a breakdown of five key talking points from round three of the Six Nations.
Borthwick Defends England’s Winning Tactics
Steve Borthwick, the England head coach, found himself defending his team’s tactics after a win that was far from spectacular. Despite securing a victory over Scotland, England’s performance raised eyebrows, with many questioning their heavy reliance on kicking. England outscored Scotland by four tries to three, but they kicked away an alarming 69% of possession, and their pass-to-kick ratio stood at 2.7. For comparison, Scotland had a much higher ratio of 9.7, indicating that England were far more dependent on kicking than building attacking play through the hands.
Former Wales captain Sam Warburton was critical of England’s approach, suggesting that the team’s play looked uninspired. “England are playing off nine rugby much of the time,” he stated during BBC’s Six Nations Rugby Special, pointing to their conservative and narrow style of attack. England were often narrow in defence, conceding nine line breaks, seven of which came in the wider channels. Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland’s wing, was particularly effective in exploiting these spaces, especially in the first half.
Borthwick, however, stood by his tactical approach, explaining that although the game may not have been “pleasing on the eye,” England found a way to win. “It’s not necessarily how we wish to play, but there are two teams out there and we found a way to win,” said Borthwick. This comment reflects the coach’s pragmatic view, emphasizing that results are more important than aesthetics when it comes to the Six Nations. Nonetheless, England’s defensive frailties and unconvincing attacking play have left plenty to be discussed ahead of their next fixtures.
Russell’s Missed Kicks Cost Scotland, but Could Van der Merwe Have Done Better?
Despite Scotland outscoring England in tries, Scotland’s fly-half Finn Russell had an off day with the boot. Russell missed all three of his conversion attempts, including two easier ones earlier in the game. These missed kicks, especially in a tight match like this, were a crucial turning point, and former Scotland hooker Fraser Brown highlighted the impact, saying, “To go nil from three is not why Scotland lost, but as an international 10, Finn will be really disappointed.”
Russell’s poor kicking form this season has been notable. After missing just one kick during the Six Nations in 2024, Russell’s accuracy has dropped significantly in 2025, with a success rate of just 38%. His missed conversions left Scotland with a narrow margin for error, especially in the final stages when van der Merwe crossed for a late try, giving Russell the chance to level the score and potentially steal a win for Scotland. However, the difficult touchline kick proved too much for him.
In the build-up to van der Merwe’s try, former England wing Ugo Monye pointed out that the winger had not done enough to get closer to the posts, which would have improved the angle for Russell’s conversion attempt. “Van der Merwe is running away from the sticks on an outside angle,” Monye remarked. “You can see by his reaction that he does not look like he is celebrating scoring the winning try.” Monye’s analysis suggests that van der Merwe could have taken a better line to set up an easier kick for Russell.
Ireland & France to Meet in Showdown for Six Nations Glory
With three rounds completed, Ireland and France are firmly at the top of the Six Nations standings, setting the stage for what could be a title-deciding encounter in Dublin on March 8. When the fixtures for the 2025 Six Nations were announced, the Ireland versus France clash immediately stood out as a potential decider. Warburton commented, “Right when the fixtures came out, you thought that game is going to decide who wins the title.”
Ireland have been on a roll, securing three consecutive wins and looking to complete an unprecedented third Six Nations title in a row. France, on the other hand, suffered a heartbreaking loss to England in the previous round, which ended their hopes of a potential Grand Slam. However, they bounced back in emphatic style by demolishing Italy 11 tries to one, giving them significant momentum ahead of the showdown in Dublin.
With a superior points difference, France are only three points behind Ireland, making their upcoming match in Dublin a potential decider for the Six Nations Championship. Warburton predicted an Ireland win, while former Scotland captain John Barclay sided with France. This match is expected to be one of the highlights of the tournament and could be the key moment in determining which team will claim the coveted Six Nations trophy.
Wales Get New Manager Bounce After Gatland’s Departure
The news of Warren Gatland’s departure as Wales head coach shook the rugby world, and interim head coach Matt Sherratt found himself in a tough spot with only three training sessions to prepare the team. Despite these challenges, Wales put in a much-improved performance against Ireland, especially in the latter stages, when they nearly pulled off a dramatic upset.
Wales came within inches of taking the lead in the 73rd minute, when Ellis Mee almost completed a miracle finish. Although they ended up losing 27-18, the performance was a significant improvement on their previous loss to Italy. Sherratt made eight changes to his squad, including recalling Gloucester’s Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn, which seemed to freshen up the side and energize their play.
Sam Warburton praised Sherratt’s efforts, noting how he had quickly imposed his attacking game plan, which was a departure from the more conservative style that had been seen in the past 12 months. “The nine-10-12-13 combination have all worked and played together under Sherratt, and are the best players for their position,” Warburton said. Despite the loss, Sherratt’s changes and the improved performance offered hope for Wales’ future under his guidance.
20-Minute Red Card Needs ‘Firmer Punishment,’ According to Experts
The introduction of the 20-minute red card law in this year’s Six Nations has sparked significant debate. The law allows a team to replace a player who is sent off after 20 minutes, rather than playing the rest of the match with 14 players. The idea behind the law is to punish the individual player rather than the team, but its application has been questioned by some.
In the match between Ireland and Wales, Garry Ringrose received a red card for a high tackle on Ben Thomas. The decision was later reviewed, and the tackle was deemed to be dangerous, resulting in the red card. While Wales took advantage of Ireland being down to 14 players, they were unable to capitalize fully on the numerical advantage, and Bundee Aki came on after 20 minutes to replace Ringrose.
Experts like Barclay and Warburton have called for a firmer approach to the 20-minute red card, suggesting that harsher punishments could lead to a reduction in dangerous tackles. Barclay noted, “Ringrose is an exceptional player, and his tackle was one that we need to remove from the game.” Warburton also added that players’ behavior has not changed enough since he retired in 2018. He suggested that harsher punishments, such as longer bans, could deter players from committing reckless tackles.
In the case of Ringrose, Warburton believes that a one or two-week ban wouldn’t deter him from making similar tackles in the future, while a four-week ban might force players to reconsider their actions. The debate around the 20-minute red card continues, with many agreeing that while it aims to protect teams, the punishment may not be sufficient to change player behavior.
Conclusion: England’s Approach and the Upcoming Showdown
England’s narrow win over Scotland in round three of the Six Nations left many fans and pundits questioning their tactical approach. While the victory was crucial, England’s over-reliance on kicking and defensive shortcomings have raised concerns. With key matches still ahead, particularly against France, Steve Borthwick’s team will need to improve their attacking play and defensive structure if they are to compete for the Six Nations title.
As for the other teams, the upcoming showdown between Ireland and France promises to be one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament. Both teams have been in superb form, and the result will likely determine the winner of this year’s Six Nations Championship. Wales, meanwhile, are showing signs of improvement under interim head coach Matt Sherratt, and the 20-minute red card law continues to be a hot topic for debate, with experts calling for firmer punishments for dangerous tackles.
With the tournament now entering its final stages, the next round of matches will be crucial in shaping the outcome of the Six Nations.
