Six Nations Championship - Classic Matches
PA Sport
January 18, 2008

PA Sport reflects on some of the great matches seen in the Five and Six Nations Championship over the years.

SCOTLAND 13 ENGLAND 7

MURRAYFIELD, FIVE NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1990

Following unprecedented media build-up, David Sole led his Scotland team on a purposeful slow march to greet the Auld Enemy in this Grand Slam decider.

Centre Jeremy Guscott crossed for England's first try in Edinburgh in 10 years, but three Craig Chalmers penalties helped Scotland to a five-point advantage at the break.

The hosts attacked from the restart with Gavin Hastings chipping over for winger Tony Stanger to chase and touch down.

That try left England requiring at least two scores.

Rob Andrew's single penalty was not enough as resilient Scots defending earned a third Slam against the odds.

ENGLAND 21 FRANCE 19

TWICKENHAM, FIVE NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP, SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1991

The Grand Slam and the match was won by a brutally efficient England, with Philippe Saint Andre's length-of-the-field try, epitomising Gallic flair, ultimately in vain.

Pierre Berbizier collected a missed attempt at goal from Simon Hodgkinson, fed the enigmatic full-back Serge Blanco, who decided to run from behind his own
line before Didier Camberabero chipped over one defender on the right wing, collected before a long kick in-field which Saint Andre scooped up before
scoring under the posts.

However, Hodgkinson scored four penalties, added to Rob Andrew's drop goal and Rory Underwood's try to send Twickenham into raptures with England's first Slam in 11 years.

FRANCE 21 SCOTLAND 23

PARC DES PRINCES, FIVE NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP, SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1995

A moment of magic from Gregor Townsend in the last minute of the match ended Scotland's 26-year run without a win in Paris.

Captain Gavin Hastings latched on to the ``Toonie flip'' - a sublime reverse pass from centre Townsend which found the full-back bursting through a gap in
the French threequarter line - to score and converted himself for Scotland's maiden win at the Parc des Princes.

The heroic Hastings, in his final season of international rugby before a brief sojourn in NFL Europe with the Scottish Claymores, finished with 18 points in a momentous match which capped a memorable career.

WALES 32 ENGLAND 31

WEMBLEY, FIVE NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP, SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 1999

Scott Gibbs scored under the posts for Wales to defeat England in their temporary home and hand Scotland the last Five Nations title.

England were chasing the Grand Slam and Dan Luger's second-minute score gave them a dream start.

Steve Hanley touched down on his debut and Richard Hill crossed before half-time but Wales kept in touch through the metronomic boot of Neil Jenkins.

Shane Howarth went over early in the second half before Gibbs tore through England's defence to leave Jenkins to kick the two points required for victory.

It was a fitting finale to the oldest rugby championship in the world.

FRANCE 25 IRELAND 27

PARIS, SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP, SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2000

Brian O'Driscoll's hat-trick inspired Ireland to a first victory in Paris in 28 years.

The 21-year-old, in his first appearance against Les Bleus, dazzled with a series of mesmerising runs to cross the French line three times.

O'Driscoll's third score came after scrum-half Peter Stringer had dropped the ball.

The centre scooped it up without breaking step and beat the covering defence to touch down with six minutes remaining.

David Humphreys kicked the conversion but Ireland still trailed by a point.

The replacement fly-half was presented with a penalty two minutes from time and coolly slotted over for a first win over France since 1983.

SCOTLAND 17 ITALY 37

MURRAYFIELD, SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2007

A year after an agonising 18-18 draw in Cardiff, Italy claimed their first away victory since joining the Six Nations Championship.

The Azzurri beat the Scots 34-20 in their first-ever fixture and have gone on to win four games at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome, but their first away win came
in their eighth campaign and at their 20th attempt.

Mauro Bergamasco, Andrea Scanavacca and Kaine Robertson crossed for tries in a disastrous opening six minutes for Scotland to hand Pierre Berbizier's side a
21-0 lead.

Despite a fightback from the hosts, Alessandro Troncon's score five minutes from the end sealed the win for a jubilant Italy.

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