SIR CLIVE WOODWARD’S SIX NATIONS TAKEAWAYS: What cost France victory against England, why Italy’s future looks promising and the player who has the best passing game I have seen for a long, long time

England’s thrilling win over France was the highlight of round two of the Six Nations. 

But the first fortnight of action in the 2025 Championship has shown once again why it is the greatest rugby tournament in the world.

Here are my takeaways from the second weekend…

Arrogant France?

People say there is an arrogance about English rugby. But you have to question the French attitude at Twickenham. How they reacted to crucial moments ended up costing them dear. I think Fabien Galthie and his players just expected to win. There is nothing wrong in that. 

All great sides have a healthy confidence about them. But how you handle being the favourite is crucial. Whenever France butchered a try or made a mistake, they just seemed to shrug their shoulders as if to think it wouldn’t matter and they would soon score again. Ultimately, their wastefulness was the reason they lost the game. It was laissez faire. 

I’ve coached teams when you’re the heavy favourite and sometimes, complacency slips in and you get your preparation all wrong. I think that’s what happened to France. Galthie as head coach and his squad have big questions to answer. I was in awe of some of the rugby they played on Saturday. France are capable of being a truly great team. But this is a huge reality check. 

France were made to pay for their wastefulness in possession against England

It appeared that Fabien Galthie and his France players just expected to win 

They’re clearly not there yet having lost in the quarter-finals of their home World Cup and now made a horlicks of a Six Nations title bid which leaves them looking at only one Championship in five years under Galthie. That would be a poor return given the form of their players domestically with Toulouse and Bordeaux.

Time for a new Wales coach

There comes a moment as an international coach when you know you can do no more and that your time is up. Warren Gatland has reached that moment with Wales and I think deep down, he will acknowledge that to be the case. 

Gatland is a truly great coach and his first spell with Wales was littered with trophies. Gatland’s loyalty to Wales is evident in how he is sticking to the project. But he will know now it’s time for a fresh face and new voice to try and take the team forward at the end of this Six Nations. 

There is a case too for there to be a coaching change now because Wales were even worse in their defeat by Italy than they were in their 43-0 hammering by France. Gatland clearly doesn’t have the quality of player he did in his first spell. But there also doesn’t appear to be a clear direction of travel in terms of game plan and playing style. 

Wales plumbed new depths in Rome. And that spells big trouble for Gatland. The way things are going, he might not see the Championship’s end.

Warren Gatland should acknowledge it is time for his spell as Wales boss to come to an end

Fortress Twickenham

The home of English rugby has become a stadium where it has been far too easy for opposition teams to win. But to be at Twickenham on Saturday for the win over France was a thrilling experience. 

When Elliot Daly scored his late try and Fin Smith converted to win the game, the atmosphere was just electric. If you could bottle that feeling and emotion and sell it, you’d be very, very rich. 

Yes, they rode their luck, but into the last 20 minutes England and Twickenham came alive together. That feeling is what England have to keep hold of every time they play on home soil. I used to talk about getting those in the green seats off their feet cheering at how England were playing. 

That’s what happened on Saturday and making Twickenham an intimidating fortress once again can clearly help Steve Borthwick’s side no end. The same must happen for the Calcutta Cup next.

The atmosphere at Twickenham was electric as England managed to overcome France

Italy show some nous

As bad as Wales were in Rome, I thought Italy played some good rugby in awful conditions. In recent seasons, the Azzurri have looked dangerous in attack but shipped lots of points defensively. 

This weekend, heavy rain at the Stadio Olimpico meant the Italy-Wales game was never going to be a classic. What impressed me about Italy was that not only did they deal with the tag of favourites well, but they also managed the game impressively.

The home forwards did an excellent job and their half-backs Martin Page-Relo and Paolo Garbisi controlled things nicely. It was a promising sign of Italian progression. Page-Relo and Garbisi led Italy’s kicking game which was miles better than what Wales produced.

Italy played some good rugby in awful conditions during their clash against Wales

Classy Prendergast!

Ireland have a very classy young player in Sam Prendergast. His passing game is the best I have seen for a long, long time. 

I can give Prendergast no greater praise than that. The Irish No 10 battle between Prendergast and Jack Crowley is getting plenty of headlines, a little bit like it is between Marcus and Fin Smith with England. 

The passing game of Ireland’s Sam Prendergast is the best I’ve seen for a long, long time

In Ireland’s comfortable bonus-point win over Scotland, Prendergast was exceptional. Yes, he was playing behind the game’s dominant pack. But I thought Prendergast was wonderful and showed why he is starting ahead of Crowley. 

Scotland weren’t helped by losing star backs Finn Russell and Darcy Graham to head injuries, especially given they’d gone for a 6:2 bench split.

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