The 2011 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2011 RBS 6 Nations due to sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 12th series of the Six Nations Championship, and the 117th edition of the international championship. The annual rugby union tournament was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, and was won by England.
Ireland played their first Six Nations games at the Aviva Stadium, having played their first matches at the new stadium in November 2010.
For the first time in its history, the tournament opened with a Friday night fixture. For the first time in a decade, all of the teams had the same head coach as in the previous year's tournament.
This tournament was also notable for a major upset, with Italy beating 2010 champions France. Despite this upset, Italy still finished last, and was awarded the wooden spoon as a result. The champions were England, who won their first four matches, but were denied the Grand Slam and the Triple Crown by a defeat to Ireland.
Italy's Andrea Masi was named the Six Nations Player of the Championship, becoming the first Italian player to win the award with 30% of the voting. The runners up were Fabio Semenzato in second, Seán O'Brien in third and Toby Flood in fourth.
Final results England won the championship after winning four out of their five matches, losing against Ireland. Due to France defeating Wales in the final match of the tournament, England ended the tournament at the top of the table. Had England beaten Ireland it would have led to their first Grand Slam since 2003. Italy lost their final match against Scotland to claim the wooden spoon for the ninth time since entering the competition in 2000.
Participants NationHome stadiumCityHead coachCaptainTwickenham StadiumLondon Martin JohnsonMike TindallStade de FranceSaint-Denis Marc LièvremontThierry DusautoirAviva StadiumDublin Declan KidneyBrian O'DriscollStadio FlaminioRome Nick MallettSergio ParisseMurrayfield StadiumEdinburgh Andy RobinsonAlastair KellockMillennium StadiumCardiff Warren GatlandMatthew Rees
Squads See 2011 Six Nations Championship squads.
Table
Results
Round 1
FB 15James HookRW 14Morgan StoddartOC 13Jamie RobertsIC 12Jonathan DaviesLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen Jones SH 9 Mike Phillips N8 8 Andy Powell OF 7 Sam WarburtonBF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Bradley DaviesTP 3 Craig Mitchell HK 2 Matthew Rees (c) LP 1 Paul JamesReplacements:HK 16Richard Hibbard PR 17John Yapp N8 18Ryan Jones FL 19Jonathan Thomas SH 20Dwayne Peel FH 21Rhys PriestlandFB 22Lee Byrne Coach: Warren Gatland FB 15Ben FodenRW 14Chris AshtonOC 13Mike Tindall (c)IC 12Shontayne HapeLW 11Mark CuetoFH 10Toby Flood SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Nick EasterOF 7 James Haskell BF 6 Tom WoodRL 5 Tom PalmerLL 4 Louis Deacon TP 3 Dan ColeHK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Andrew Sheridan Replacements:HK 16Steve Thompson PR 17David Wilson LK 18Simon Shaw FL 19Joe Worsley SH 20Danny Care FH 21Jonny Wilkinson WG 22Matt BanahanCoach: Martin Johnson Man of the Match: Toby Flood (England)
Touch judges: Alan Lewis (Ireland) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland) Tom Wood (England) made his international debut.
FB 15Luke McLeanRW 14Andrea MasiOC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Alberto Sgarbi LW 11Mirco BergamascoFH 10Kris Burton SH 9 Edoardo Gori N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Alessandro ZanniBF 6 Josh Sole RL 5 Quintin GeldenhuysLL 4 Santiago Dellapè TP 3 Martin CastrogiovanniHK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Salvatore Perugini Replacements:HK 16Fabio Ongaro PR 17Andrea Lo Cicero LK 18Carlo Del Fava FL 19Valerio Bernabò SH 20Pablo Canavosio FH 21Luciano Orquera CE 22Gonzalo Garcia Coach: Nick Mallett FB 15Luke FitzgeraldRW 14Fergus McFaddenOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Gordon D'Arcy LW 11Keith EarlsFH 10Johnny Sexton SH 9 Tomás O'Leary N8 8 Seán O'BrienOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Denis Leamy RL 5 Paul O'Connell LL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 Mike RossHK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Tom Court LK 18Leo Cullen FL 19Shane JenningsSH 20Eoin Reddan FH 21Ronan O'Gara CE 22Paddy Wallace Coach: Declan Kidney Man of the Match: Seán O'Brien (Ireland)
Touch judges: Jérôme Garcès (France) David Changleng (Scotland) Television match official: Geoff Warren (England) Fergus McFadden (Ireland) made his international debut.
FB 15Damien TrailleRW 14Yoann HugetOC 13Aurélien RougerieIC 12Maxime Mermoz LW 11Maxime Médard FH 10François Trinh-DucSH 9 Morgan Parra N8 8 Imanol Harinordoquy OF 7 Julien BonnaireBF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Lionel Nallet LL 4 Julien PierreTP 3 Nicolas Mas HK 2 William Servat LP 1 Thomas DomingoReplacements:HK 16Guilhem Guirado PR 17Luc Ducalcon LK 18Jérôme Thion N8 19Sébastien Chabal SH 20Dimitri Yachvili FB 21Clément Poitrenaud WG 22Vincent Clerc Coach: Marc Lièvremont FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Nikki WalkerOC 13Joe AnsbroIC 12Nick De Luca LW 11Max EvansFH 10Dan Parks SH 9 Rory Lawson N8 8 Kelly BrownOF 7 John Barclay BF 6 Nathan Hines RL 5 Alastair Kellock (c)LL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 Euan Murray HK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Allan JacobsenReplacements:HK 16Dougie Hall PR 17Moray Low N8 18Richie Vernon FL 19Ross Rennie SH 20Mike Blair FH 21Ruaridh Jackson WG 22Sean Lamont Coach: Andy Robinson Man of the Match: Maxime Médard (France)
Touch judges: Andrew Small (England) Stuart Terheege (England) Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Round 2
FB 15Ben FodenRW 14Chris AshtonOC 13Mike Tindall (c)IC 12Shontayne HapeLW 11Mark Cueto FH 10Toby Flood SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Nick EasterOF 7 James HaskellBF 6 Tom Wood RL 5 Tom PalmerLL 4 Louis Deacon TP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Alex CorbisieroReplacements:HK 16Steve Thompson PR 17David Wilson LK 18Simon Shaw FL 19Hendre Fourie SH 20Danny Care FH 21Jonny Wilkinson WG 22Matt Banahan Coach: Martin Johnson FB 15Luke McLean RW 14Andrea Masi OC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Alberto Sgarbi LW 11Mirco BergamascoFH 10Luciano OrqueraSH 9 Fabio SemenzatoN8 8 Sergio ParisseOF 7 Alessandro ZanniBF 6 Valerio Bernabò RL 5 Quintin GeldenhuysLL 4 Carlo Del Fava TP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Salvatore PeruginiReplacements:HK 16Fabio Ongaro PR 17Andrea Lo Cicero LK 18Santiago Dellapè FL 19Robert Barbieri SH 20Pablo Canavosio FH 21Kris Burton CE 22Gonzalo Garcia Coach: Nick Mallett Man of the Match: Chris Ashton (England)
Touch judges: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Peter Allan (Scotland) Television match official: Tony Redmond (Ireland)
Chris Ashton's four-try performance marked a number of milestones: He became the first player of any nation to score four tries in a Six Nations match since the competition expanded in 2000. He also became the first England player to have scored four tries in a Six Nations, Five Nations, or Home Nations match since Ronald Poulton-Palmer scored four against France in 1914. His six tries in the tournament equalled the single-season record in the Six Nations era, shared by Will Greenwood of England in 2001 and Shane Williams of Wales in 2008. Carlo Del Fava earned his 50th cap Alex Corbisiero (England) and Fabio Semenzato (Italy) made their international debuts.
FB 15Hugo Southwell RW 14Nikki WalkerOC 13Joe AnsbroIC 12Nick De LucaLW 11Max EvansFH 10Dan ParksSH 9 Rory Lawson N8 8 Richie VernonOF 7 John Barclay BF 6 Kelly BrownRL 5 Alastair Kellock (c) LL 4 Nathan HinesTP 3 Euan Murray HK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Allan JacobsenReplacements:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Moray Low LK 18Scott MacLeod FL 19Ross Rennie SH 20Mike Blair FH 21Ruaridh JacksonWG 22Sean Lamont Coach: Andy Robinson FB 15Lee Byrne RW 14Morgan StoddartOC 13Jamie RobertsIC 12Jonathan DaviesLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10James Hook SH 9 Mike Phillips N8 8 Ryan JonesOF 7 Sam WarburtonBF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones LL 4 Bradley Davies TP 3 Craig MitchellHK 2 Matthew Rees (c) LP 1 Paul James Replacements:HK 16Richard Hibbard PR 17John Yapp LK 18Jonathan Thomas FL 19Josh Turnbull SH 20Tavis Knoyle FH 21Stephen Jones FB 22Rhys Priestland Coach: Warren Gatland Man of the Match: Sam Warburton (Wales)
Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Josh Turnbull and Rhys Priestland (both Wales) made their international debuts.
FB 15Luke FitzgeraldRW 14Fergus McFaddenOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Keith EarlsFH 10Johnny Sexton SH 9 Tomás O'Leary N8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Seán O'BrienRL 5 Paul O'Connell LL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 Mike RossHK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Tom Court LK 18Leo Cullen FL 19Denis LeamySH 20Eoin Reddan FH 21Ronan O'Gara CE 22Paddy WallaceCoach: Declan Kidney FB 15Clément Poitrenaud RW 14Yoann HugetOC 13Aurélien RougerieIC 12Damien Traille LW 11Maxime MédardFH 10François Trinh-DucSH 9 Morgan Parra N8 8 Imanol HarinordoquyOF 7 Julien Bonnaire BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Lionel NalletLL 4 Julien Pierre TP 3 Nicolas MasHK 2 William ServatLP 1 Thomas Domingo Replacements:HK 16Guilhem GuiradoPR 17Sylvain Marconnet LK 18Jérôme Thion N8 19Sébastien Chabal SH 20Dimitri Yachvili CE 21Yannick Jauzion WG 22Vincent Clerc Coach: Marc Lièvremont Man of the Match: Thierry Dusautoir (France)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) David Changleng (Scotland) Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)
Round 3
FB 15Luke McLeanRW 14Andrea Masi OC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Alberto SgarbiLW 11Mirco BergamascoFH 10Kris Burton SH 9 Fabio Semenzato N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Robert Barbieri BF 6 Alessandro ZanniRL 5 Quintin GeldenhuysLL 4 Santiago Dellapè TP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni HK 2 Leonardo GhiraldiniLP 1 Salvatore Perugini Replacements:HK 16Carlo FestucciaPR 17Andrea Lo Cicero LK 18Valerio Bernabò N8 19Manoa Vosawai SH 20Pablo Canavosio FH 21Luciano Orquera WG 22Tommaso Benvenuti Coach: Nick Mallett FB 15Lee ByrneRW 14Morgan StoddartOC 13James HookIC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Mike PhillipsN8 8 Ryan JonesOF 7 Sam WarburtonBF 6 Dan LydiateRL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Bradley DaviesTP 3 Craig MitchellHK 2 Matthew Rees (c) LP 1 Paul JamesReplacements:HK 16Richard Hibbard PR 17John YappN8 18Jonathan ThomasFL 19Josh TurnbullSH 20Tavis KnoyleFH 21Rhys PriestlandWG 22Leigh HalfpennyCoach: Warren Gatland Man of the Match: Fabio Semenzato (Italy)
Touch judges: Dave Pearson (England) John Lacey (Ireland) Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland) Alessandro Zanni (Italy) and James Hook (Wales) each earned their 50th caps.
FB 15Ben FodenRW 14Chris AshtonOC 13Mike Tindall (c)IC 12Shontayne Hape LW 11Mark CuetoFH 10Toby Flood SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Nick EasterOF 7 James HaskellBF 6 Tom WoodRL 5 Tom PalmerLL 4 Louis Deacon TP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Andrew Sheridan Replacements:HK 16Steve Thompson PR 17Alex Corbisiero LK 18Simon Shaw FL 19Hendre Fourie SH 20Danny Care FH 21Jonny Wilkinson WG 22Matt Banahan Coach:Martin Johnson FB 15Clément Poitrenaud RW 14Yoann HugetOC 13Aurélien RougerieIC 12Yannick JauzionLW 11Vincent ClercFH 10François Trinh-Duc SH 9 Dimitri Yachvili N8 8 Sébastien Chabal OF 7 Imanol HarinordoquyBF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Lionel NalletLL 4 Julien Pierre TP 3 Nicolas MasHK 2 William Servat LP 1 Thomas Domingo Replacements:HK 16Guilhem Guirado PR 17Sylvain Marconnet LK 18Jérôme Thion FL 19Julien Bonnaire SH 20Morgan Parra UB 21Damien Traille FB 22Alexis Palisson Coach: Marc Lièvremont Man of the Match: Tom Palmer (England)
Touch judges: Alan Lewis (Ireland) Tim Hayes (Wales) Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy) Dimitri Yachvili (France) earned his 50th cap. Jonny Wilkinson's 52nd-minute penalty for England made him the leading point scorer in international rugby, overtaking Dan Carter.