Twenty five years on from Italy’s big entrance, the Six Nations’ pizzazz never fades

In February 2000, the newcomers surprised Scotland and a quarter-century of highlights remind us of the tournament’s enduring power

SIX NATIONS: Can Italy can an upset it this year's Six Nations. Picture: @INPHO/Billy Stickland

It is more than 140 years since England beat Wales in the very first match of the old Home Nations championship, 2-0 at St Helen’s in Swansea in 1883, and there is an old man in the back bar of the Kings Head who will tell you that the English winger’s foot was in touch when he scored the winner.

Even the modern-day championship’s getting on. The Six Nations is 25 this year. The tournament brought in Italy and they marked the occasion by beating Scotland 34-20 in their first game. Diego Domínguez, their little wizard of a fly-half, kicked three drop goals and 29 points in total, and Scotland have not had a relaxed flight out to Rome since.