Saturday set for a sting in the tale

So this time England have the advantage of knowing exactly what it will take to ensure they win the most crowded of Six Nations photo-finishes.

By going out last on ‘Super Saturday’ against France at Twickenham, they will know the precise margin required to get their noses in front of Ireland and Wales, assuming both win their matches earlier in the day.

Wales, third with a points-difference of +12, are first up on Saturday, against Italy in Rome where France softened them up yesterday under a sky weeping in sorrow at what they were witnessing.

Another emphatic away win this weekend by a minimum margin of 26 points would enable Wales to put the heat back on Ireland (+33) immediately before they kick off at Murrayfield.

A Welsh win, for argument’s sake, by 30 points and an Irish one by 15 would leave England (+37) needing to beat France by 12. Whatever the scenario, it will raise renewed questions over why the final three matches are not staged simultaneously.

TV, of course, demands a run for its money — in this case five hours continuous action based on the glorious possibility that the trophy could be won at any of the three final round venues.

Should Ireland pull up short of the winning post, their fate will evoke painful memories of what happened at the final hurdle eight years ago. Going in first against Italy in Rome and cruising home 51-19, they ran a last-minute penalty in search of a ninth try rather than take the shot at goal. The move broke down and Italy scored from nowhere through their South African full back Roland de Marigny. Ireland then waited for an eternity in the Eternal City to find out whether France would pick the title out of their pocket.

Instead of having to beat Scotland in Paris by 29 points, Ireland’s fateful decision meant that 24 would be enough. France made it by 27 in the end thanks to a mass break out of goal led by a man called Elvis, as in Vermeulen.

His desperate stoppage-time try stole the title from Ireland — the Six Nations very own double reprise of Jailhouse Rock and Don’t be Cruel rolled into one. The French steam-rolling of Italy yesterday in a match as grim as the Roman weather raises the possibility of Les Bleus staging another sting. All they need is to turn it on against England, rely on Ireland coming a cropper in Edinburgh and Wales falling flat in Rome and France walk away with the trophy. In that event, rest assured there will be a steward’s inquiry…