Six Nations - England (A Post-Mortem)

We don't usually do retrospectives on the Almanac. The vast majority of sporting engagement in our modern world is built around the sharing of opinion, frustration or adulation of thing's that have just happened, and it's normally not our style. But today, we make an exception as we release our final Six Nations episode, decidedly after the fact, and with its subject this season's championships biggest disappointment - England.

What is wrong with English rugby union currently? Four games ago England were unbeaten for a dozen matches and seemed on top of the world, and then it all came crashing down. But were the signs there before the fall? Did the run flatter to decieve and is the drop less surprising than the run itself? And what is it about the English psyche, and our culture, that stops us embracing the kind of innovation that has made France and Ireland so successful, and has itself been the bedrock of English success in so many sports historically?

From old farts in boardrooms to robotic coaches, uninspiring anthems to deep seated cultural conservatism - and arguably arrogance - about yet another sport we invented that the world simply does better than us. Be warned, here there be ranting.

Six Nations - All-Time XV

In a move not entirely lacking in self indulgence, Jack and Ben discuss, debate and select their all-time Six Nations XV from 26 years of the competition's history.

Tune in to find the answers to the real big questions:

Can two Englishmen bear to leave Martin Johnson on the bench?

Which Jonny starts at fly half?

How can Ben's heart really be telling him to leave Brian O’Driscoll out of the team?

And how many Welshmen can they nearly pick but still end up leaving out?

For all these answers and more join us - and as a bonus debate to finish, we ask who has the best national anthem in the tournament as well (spoiler: it's not England).

The Six Nations - France

Les Bleus. Brilliant. Erratic. Inconsistent. Wonderful. The Six Nations has been a rollercoaster for French rugby fans, early dominance followed by a dozen wilderness years that sparked fierce criticism and debate, triggering as so often happens in France, revolution.

And that revolution, building up their domestic game, strengthening pathways and processes has given France such an abundance and depth of talent and remade them into perennial Six Nations challengers or champions and - whisper it quietly - potentially favourites for next year's World Cup.

Today, we look at the history of French rugby, how rugby league nearly won out before fascism destroyed its very foundations. We look at France's Six Nations years, the highs, the deep, long lows, and the recovery. As they sit poised to potentially make it back-to-back wins, we wonder how far this revolution can go, and what the rest of the world can do to stop them.

2026 Formula 1 Season

It's back, baby. And it's totally different from last year.

More electrical power, lighter cars, active aero, boost buttons, less downforce, less grip - so far, the drivers aren't loving their new rides, but the real acid test will be at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, when we finally get to see whether these changes mean closer racing with no lost excitement.

So set your alarms early, and tune is as we answer all the big questions: Will George win his first title? If the Red Bull is good can anyone stop Max? Will Ferrari fly off the grid and give Charles and Lewis a chance of glory? Did McLaren focus too much attention on 2025 and risk taking a step backwards in 2026? Can Williams win their first race for 14 years? How will the new teams fare? Is Lance Stroll deserving of his F1 seat? Is Valtteri Bottas really the sexiest man alive?

It's lights out, and the race is on.

The Six Nations - Ireland

In 52 completed Five Nations tournaments between the competition's resumption in 1947 and Italy's introduction in the year 2000, Ireland won six outright titles, four Triple Crowns and a lone Grand Slam in 1948. In the 26 seasons of the Six Nations they have won six outright titles, eight Triple Crowns and three Grand Slams, in 2009, 2018 and 2023. They beat New Zealand home, away and in the USA, topped the world rankings, and have become a genuine force in world rugby, despite their inability to get beyond World Cup quarter finals.

How they managed this, and in doing so produced some of the greatest players on the planet across multiple generations, is a testament to the impressive development of Irish rugby, domestically and internationally, since the turn of professionalism. They are consistently fun to watch, hard to play and able to pull magic from the hat under pressure - from magic feet in Paris, to all or nothing drop goals and demolition jobs at Croke Park and much more besides, It's been an incredible quarter century of Irish rugby.

We talk highs and bigger highs, ask how long this generation can sustain their levels and most importantly, whether they can actually win a knockout game at the World Cup next year.

The Six Nations - Scotland

Scotland have never won the Six Nations. 26 seasons of unpredictability and occasional, unquestionable brilliance along the way, but their last tournament victory - a memorable, unforgettable one at that - lies all the way back in 1999 in the final edition of the old Five Nations Championship.

There have been forgettable seasons along the way, for sure. Four wooden spoons and some heavy defeats too, but in recent seasons Scotland have emerged under Gregor Townsend as a genuine force in world rugby - but one that doesn't quite seem to be able to string together the consistency required to genuinely challenge for the Six Nations title.

As it stands in 2026 they sit second in the table, having comfortably ended England's 12-game winning streak at Murrayfield having lost to Italy in their opener, and followed that up by only narrowly seeing off Wales. Unpredictable, frustrating but evidently capable of upstaging anyone.

Today, we look back at the glory days of Scottish Rugby in our lifetime - 1990 and 1999, where England were the fall guys as Scotland rose to the pinnacle of Northern Hemisphere rugby union, and discuss when and how they could ever see their like again.

The Six Nations - Italy

16 wins in 130 games in the Six Nations paints a picture of Italy as perennial whipping boys, fodder for the more established nations, perhaps even unworthy of their place at the top table of European and Northern Hemisphere Rugby Union. But it does not tell the full story of Italy's continuous and steady rise and genuine improvement since they first joined the competition in the year 2000.

Playing catch up to five other nations where Rugby Union is in some cases a national obsession, in others a well organised and established secondary national sport, especially when you yourselves have fingers in so many sporting pies spreading talent pools thin - it was never going to be easy, and it was never going to be quick. But slowly and surely, led by legends of the game like Andrea Masi, the Bergamasco brothers and the irrepressible Sergio Parisse, the Italians have built fast, caught up and now stand as a genuine challenge to anyone in the tournament, especially at home.

In this episode we look at the quarter century of Italy in the competition and ask the important questions: How good are Italy really now? Could they win the Six Nations in the next decade? And what is it they have in common with Micah Richards? For the answers to these and more, friends, Romans, countrymen, lend us your ears!

The Six Nations - Wales

It's only been five years since Wales last won the Six Nations, and only two more beyond that since their last Grand Slam in 2019. But for Welsh fans it probably seems a lifetime ago with the current team struggling for wins against even mid-ranked nations and threatening to be perpetual wooden spoonists in the Northern Hemisphere's premier Rugby Union competition.

To say the fortunes of Welsh rugby can ebb and flow is quite the understatement. They produced arguably the best attacking force in the sports history to close out the 1970s, and for a decade from the mid-2000's a side that came close to those colossuses that preceded them. The highs form a stark contrast against the lows.

Today we briefly look at the origins of Welsh rugby and ask why industrialised, working class Wales of the late 19th Century didn't follow the North of England into Rugby League. Then, it's all about their recent success - Gavin Henson, Shane Williams, Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones and Leigh Halfpenny and many more players besides, as we explain how Wales came closer than any team in our lifetime to dominating the Six Nations.