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Rugby: ‘The Six Nations is the gift that keeps on giving’
An hour after the final whistle on Saturday, when even the most committed Irish supporters had emptied the stands and danced off into the Dublin evening, the Ireland players, coaches and management were still mingling on the Aviva Stadium pitch.
Each member of the set-up was heavily outnumbered by family and friends, to a person drinking in the achievement of a first Grand Slam on home soil in the professional era.
It was a lovely sight and a fitting end to a Six Nations that promised so much and delivered in equal measure.
To say the sport was able to park its problems during the tournament would be naïve – at one point the Welsh financial crisis threatened to throw the whole championship off course, while the controversy around Freddie Steward’s red card was a stark reminder of how the game is grappling with its very essence.
But over the course of six dramatic weeks, the enduring appeal of the Six Nations, a tournament like no other, was there in abundance. In the words of former Wales captain Sam Warburton, it is the gift that keeps on giving.
However, while the majority of the games at one point felt in the balance – the tournament may never have been as competitive as this across the board – the irony is that in mid-March we are pretty much as we were in early February.
Ireland and France started the tournament head and shoulders above the rest; they end it that way too. Twelve months ago the French swept the board after beating Ireland in round two; this year the roles were reversed.
So while Ireland deservedly end the championship on top of world rugby, France are not too far behind. Both are outstanding rugby teams.
Elsewhere Scotland’s three wins ensured they are the best of the rest – which is backed up by the world rankings – but they missed opportunities to take a major scalp, a familiar frustration for Scottish supporters after a narrow defeat by New Zealand in the autumn.
England and Wales came into the tournament in poor form and with new coaches promising fresh starts, but end it with as many questions as answers. A couple of months into the new regimes, and neither seem sure yet about their best team, or their best style.
England were not able to improve on their two wins in 2022, nor Wales on their solitary victory a year ago. Both Steve Borthwick and Warren Gatland are up against coaches who have been building their teams over the course of at least three years, and it shows.
Both are also grappling with turbulent domestic scenes – in Wales especially – and questions over squad depth and the effectiveness of their player pathways. England Under-20s were hammered at home by France, while the Welsh U20s lost all five matches.
Finally, Italy were improving and threatening, ensuring no game felt like a dead rubber – great for the tournament – but nonetheless finished winless.
The Super Eagles camp in Cairo has grown to 22 players with the arrival of Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu, ahead of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) international friendly match against Egypt.
News reports that Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman and defenders Semi Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel reported to camp earlier on Monday at the Renaissance Hotel, joining a steadily increasing squad.
Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Igoh Ogbu and midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi were also among the latest arrivals to bolster the team.
They linked up with early arrivals Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who had checked in on Sunday.
Super Eagles Media Officer Promise Efoghe said that 20 players participated in the team’s first training session held on Monday evening.
“Training went smoothly and the players showed good energy and commitment, which is encouraging at this stage of preparations,” Efoghe said.
Efoghe said that Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika and Alebiosu arrived shortly after training, raising the number of players in camp to 22, with six more expected.
He said as part of preparations, the Super Eagles would play a friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday at the Cairo International Stadium.
“The friendly will help the technical crew assess team shape and readiness ahead of the AFCON challenge,” Efoghe said.
Nigeria, three-time champions, and seven-time winners Egypt will clash at 8 p.m. Egypt time (7 p.m. Nigeria time) in the build-up to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
Efoghe confirmed that the team will depart Cairo for Féz on Thursday aboard a chartered flight to continue final preparations.
Nigeria’s quest for a fourth continental title, following victories in 1980, 1994 and 2013, begins on Dec. 23 against Tanzania, under the theme “NAIJA 4 THE WIN.”
The Eagles will also face Tunisia on Dec. 27 and Uganda on Dec. 30 in Group C, with all matches scheduled for the Complexe Sportif de Féz.
Egypt, the only nation to win AFCON three consecutive times, will battle South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe in Group B, with matches holding in Agadir.
As anticipation builds for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, set to kick off on December 21 in Morocco, the Confederation of African Football has released a list of items prohibited across all tournament stadiums.
According to the guidelines cited on CAF’s website on Monday, the rules are aimed at ensuring fan safety throughout the competition.
Fans attending AFCON 2025 matches in Morocco will be subjected to security screening.
They are advised not to bring prohibited items into stadiums to ensure safety, order and a smooth match-day experience.
Below is the list of items fans are advised to leave at home before entering AFCON stadiums:
Alcoholic beverages, Illegal substances and drugs, Weapons and sharp objects, Fireworks and pyrotechnics, Glass bottles or containers, Flammable materials, Racist, violent or discriminatory banners, Unauthorised political, religious or commercial signs, Drones and animals, Large umbrellas and oversized hats, Professional cameras and recording equipment, Musical instruments and loud horns, Radio-emitting devices (except mobile phones) and Heavy or large bags.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has disclosed that the team are still a work in progress following his expensive overhaul of the squad since last season.
The Spanish tactician made this known after the Citizens thrashed Crystal Palace 3-0 in Sunday’s Premier League game.
In a chat with the club’s website, Guardiola stated that the team are in a better position than last season.
“Many things we have to improve.
Madrid gave me a lot of things, that still we are not ready, not in mentality but in how to approach certain games. They are young some of the players. But 3-0 here is a big statement for us.“When you win in the past, you believe the past was perfect, always brilliant, always the red carpet.
When we won with 100 points, all the things we achieved, we had a lot of games like today. The resilience was part of that.“There are moments that you struggle. Madrid was not the perfect game, but it was a step. We fought unbelievably to achieve that.
“We are in a better position than last season. We are close in the competitions we are in.”
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