In a candid revelation, All Blacks icon Justin Marshall has tipped the scales in favor of the Six Nations over the Rugby Championship, especially after a heart-stopping 2026 tournament finale. The climax saw France snatch victory from Ireland with a nail-biting kick by Thomas Ramos, marking a historic win over England with a score of 48-46 — a match now celebrated as one of the greatest in the tournament's history.
The Rugby Championship, while rich with intense match-ups particularly featuring the All Blacks against South Africa, has recently seen its lustre dimmed, according to Marshall. He pointed out, “The Bledisloe Cup has become somewhat detrimental to the tournament because of the All Blacks' dominance over Australia. It’s not really providing the competitive balance needed.”
"But that Six Nations tournament, because of its history, is arguably a better and more constructed tournament, and the teams are playing rugby now."
Marshall’s praise didn’t end there. He highlighted the dynamic nature of this year's Six Nations, contrasting it with the often low-scoring affairs of the past, “You’re not seeing 9-6 or 9-3 or 12-9, whatever it might be. They are playing, we saw a lot of points in all those games.”
The Six Nations' ability to deliver thrilling and high-scoring matches consistently was exemplified in the France vs. England clash, which reminded Marshall of the legendary 2000 game against Australia, often dubbed the 'Game of the Century'. “It was a pretty cool game as well where the lead changed and a lot of tries were scored, and that was a very similar game,” he reminisced.
"It was an outstanding game of rugby, there’s no doubt about it. The whole competition was sensational."
Marshall applauded the individual performances as well, singling out French player Louis Bielle-Biarrey and noting Antoine Dupont’s impactful, albeit sporadic, brilliance. The English team earned his respect for their persistent and strategic gameplay, which collectively elevated the quality of the tournament to unforgettable heights.
As the dust settles on what many are calling one of the greatest Six Nations tournaments in living memory, the debate over the premier international rugby competition continues. But for now, the Six Nations holds a special place, particularly in the eyes of a southern hemisphere legend who knows a thing or two about thrilling rugby contests.
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In a candid revelation, All Blacks icon Justin Marshall has tipped the scales in favor of the Six Nations over the Rugby Championship, especially after a heart-stopping 2026 tournament finale. The climax saw France snatch victory from Ireland with a nail-biting kick by Thomas Ramos, marking a historic win over England with a score of 48-46 — a match now celebrated as one of the greatest in the tournament's history.
The Rugby Championship, while rich with intense match-ups particularly featuring the All Blacks against South Africa, has recently seen its lustre dimmed, according to Marshall. He pointed out, “The Bledisloe Cup has become somewhat detrimental to the tournament because of the All Blacks' dominance over Australia. It’s not really providing the competitive balance needed.”
"But that Six Nations tournament, because of its history, is arguably a better and more constructed tournament, and the teams are playing rugby now."
Marshall’s praise didn’t end there. He highlighted the dynamic nature of this year's Six Nations, contrasting it with the often low-scoring affairs of the past, “You’re not seeing 9-6 or 9-3 or 12-9, whatever it might be. They are playing, we saw a lot of points in all those games.”
The Six Nations' ability to deliver thrilling and high-scoring matches consistently was exemplified in the France vs. England clash, which reminded Marshall of the legendary 2000 game against Australia, often dubbed the 'Game of the Century'. “It was a pretty cool game as well where the lead changed and a lot of tries were scored, and that was a very similar game,” he reminisced.
"It was an outstanding game of rugby, there’s no doubt about it. The whole competition was sensational."
Marshall applauded the individual performances as well, singling out French player Louis Bielle-Biarrey and noting Antoine Dupont’s impactful, albeit sporadic, brilliance. The English team earned his respect for their persistent and strategic gameplay, which collectively elevated the quality of the tournament to unforgettable heights.
As the dust settles on what many are calling one of the greatest Six Nations tournaments in living memory, the debate over the premier international rugby competition continues. But for now, the Six Nations holds a special place, particularly in the eyes of a southern hemisphere legend who knows a thing or two about thrilling rugby contests.