Donal Lenihan: France (probably) deserved to win it all but Ireland reap long-term benefits

Fitting in so many ways that this incredible tournament should come down to the last play in the last game. The drama from start to finish has been non-stop.

14 March 2026; Dan Sheehan of Ireland dives over to score his side's second try during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

If you had to put your house on any player in world rugby to kick the clutch penalty to win a Six Nations championship, it would be Thomas Ramos. Pressure, what pressure? The Toulouse playmaker has ice in his veins.

Even as Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli debated over where the potential winning kick should be taken from, Ramos looked on nonchalantly, confident in his mind that it didn’t matter. Watching on in Dublin I suspect the Irish players who’ve crossed paths with the classy full back on many occasions for club and country suspected as much.