Heineken rules paint different picture

If the Six Nations organisers followed the Heineken Cup format, four teams would be vying for top spot this weekend.

Ireland meet England in Twickenham tomorrow and notwithstanding the claims from the Six Nations traditionalists, there’s nothing in it for them. This, despite scoring more tries than anyone else, and equalling the cumulative tries of France and England.

Part of the beauty of the Heineken Cup, although you might not always want it to be like that, is the intensity, the desire, the hunger for picking up bonus points, whether that’s by scoring four tries, not conceding them to the opposition or grabbing one for your team at the end of the game. It makes it all so exciting.