The 2012 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2012 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 13th series of the Six Nations Championship. The annual northern hemisphere rugby union championship was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
Including the competition's previous incarnations as the Home Nations Championship and Five Nations Championship, it was the 118th tournament of the annual European championship.
For the first time since 2008, there were no Friday night fixtures.
Whilst Italy continued to play their home matches in Rome, they used the Stadio Olimpico instead of the Stadio Flaminio, which Italy had used for their home Championship fixtures since entering the competition in 2000. The Championship was won by Wales, who achieved their third Grand Slam in eight tournaments.
Participants NationHome stadiumCityHead coachCaptainTwickenham StadiumLondon Stuart LancasterChris RobshawStade de FranceSaint-Denis Philippe Saint-AndréThierry DusautoirAviva StadiumDublin Declan KidneyRory Best/Paul O'ConnellStadio OlimpicoRome Jacques Brunel Sergio ParisseMurrayfield StadiumEdinburgh Andy Robinson Ross FordMillennium StadiumCardiff Warren Gatland Sam Warburton
Squads
Table
Results Round 1
FB 15Maxime MédardRW 14Vincent ClercOC 13Aurélien Rougerie IC 12Wesley FofanaLW 11Julien MalzieuFH 10François Trinh-Duc SH 9 Dimitri Yachvili N8 8 Louis Picamoles OF 7 Julien BonnaireBF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Lionel Nallet LL 4 Pascal PapéTP 3 Nicolas Mas HK 2 William Servat LP 1 Vincent Debaty Replacements:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Jean-Baptiste Poux LK 18Yoann Maestri N8 19Imanol Harinordoquy SH 20Morgan Parra FH 21Lionel Beauxis CE 22Maxime Mermoz Coach: Philippe Saint-André FB 15Andrea MasiRW 14Giovanbattista VendittiOC 13Tommaso BenvenutiIC 12Alberto Sgarbi LW 11Luke McLeanFH 10Kris Burton SH 9 Edoardo Gori N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Robert Barbieri BF 6 Alessandro ZanniRL 5 Quintin Geldenhuys LL 4 Corniel van Zyl TP 3 Martin CastrogiovanniHK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Andrea Lo Cicero Replacements:HK 16Tommaso D'Apice PR 17Lorenzo Cittadini LK 18Marco Bortolami FL 19Simone Favaro SH 20Fabio Semenzato FH 21Tobias Botes CE 22Gonzalo Canale Coach: Jacques Brunel
Man of the Match: Julien Malzieu (France)
Touch judges: Andrew Small (England) John Lacey (Ireland) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Nicolas Mas and Thierry Dusautoir (both France) earned their 50th caps. Wesley Fofana, Yoann Maestri (both France), Tobias Botes and Giovanbattista Venditti (both Italy) made their international debuts in this match. Vincent Clerc's try was the 32nd of his international career, placing him joint second with his coach Philippe Saint-André on the French try scoring list. (To this date, Serge Blanco remains the top French try scorer with 38.)
FB 15Rory LamontRW 14Lee JonesOC 13Nick De LucaIC 12Sean LamontLW 11Max EvansFH 10Dan Parks SH 9 Chris Cusiter N8 8 David DentonOF 7 Ross RennieBF 6 Alasdair Strokosch RL 5 Jim Hamilton LL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 Euan Murray HK 2 Ross Ford (c) LP 1 Allan JacobsenReplacements:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Geoff Cross LK 18Alastair Kellock FL 19John Barclay SH 20Mike Blair FH 21Greig Laidlaw CE 22Graeme MorrisonCoach: Andy Robinson FB 15Ben FodenRW 14Chris AshtonOC 13Brad Barritt IC 12Owen FarrellLW 11David StrettleFH 10Charlie Hodgson SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Phil Dowson OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c)BF 6 Tom CroftRL 5 Tom Palmer LL 4 Mouritz BothaTP 3 Dan ColeHK 2 Dylan HartleyLP 1 Alex Corbisiero Replacements:HK 16Rob WebberPR 17Matt Stevens LK 18Geoff Parling N8 19Ben Morgan SH 20Lee Dickson CE 21Jordan Turner-Hall FB 22Mike Brown Coach: Stuart Lancaster
Man of the Match: David Denton (Scotland)
Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: Tony Redmond (Ireland)
Brad Barritt, Lee Dickson, Phil Dowson, Owen Farrell, Ben Morgan, Geoff Parling, Jordan Turner-Hall (all England) and Lee Jones (Scotland) made their international debuts. Chris Robshaw of England captained his team earning only his second cap in this match. This match turned out to be Dan Parks's last appearance with the Scotland jersey as he announced his retirement from international rugby a few days after the game.
FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Tommy BoweOC 13Fergus McFaddenIC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Andrew TrimbleFH 10Johnny Sexton SH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 Seán O'BrienBF 6 Stephen Ferris RL 5 Paul O'Connell (c)LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan TP 3 Mike RossHK 2 Rory BestLP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Seán CroninPR 17Tom Court LK 18Donnacha Ryan FL 19Peter O'MahonySH 20Eoin Reddan FH 21Ronan O'Gara WG 22David KearneyCoach: Declan Kidney FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Alex Cuthbert OC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11George NorthFH 10Rhys PriestlandSH 9 Mike PhillipsN8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Sam Warburton (c) BF 6 Ryan JonesRL 5 Ian EvansLL 4 Bradley Davies TP 3 Adam Jones HK 2 Huw BennettLP 1 Rhys GillReplacements:HK 16Ken OwensPR 17Paul James N8 18Andy PowellFL 19Justin Tipuric SH 20Lloyd WilliamsFH 21James Hook CE 22Scott WilliamsCoach: Warren Gatland
Man of the Match: Mike Phillips (Wales)
Touch judges: Dave Pearson (England) Stuart Terheege (England) Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)
Huw Bennett (Wales) earned his 50th cap. Coming off the bench in the 76th minute to replace Johnny Sexton, Ronan O'Gara became the most capped Irish player with 117 caps, jointly with Brian O'Driscoll. O'Gara also took sole possession of the all-time lead for appearances in the Championship, with 57. He had previously been level with his countryman Mike Gibson, who made 56 appearances in the Five Nations between 1964 and 1979.
Round 2
FB 15Andrea MasiRW 14Giovanbattista VendittiOC 13Tommaso BenvenutiIC 12Gonzalo Canale LW 11Luke McLeanFH 10Kris Burton SH 9 Edoardo Gori N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Robert Barbieri BF 6 Alessandro ZanniRL 5 Quintin Geldenhuys LL 4 Marco BortolamiTP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Andrea Lo CiceroReplacements:HK 16Tommaso D'Apice PR 17Lorenzo Cittadini LK 18Antonio Pavanello FL 19Mauro Bergamasco SH 20Fabio Semenzato FH 21Tobias Botes CE 22Luca Morisi Coach: Jacques Brunel FB 15Ben FodenRW 14Chris AshtonOC 13Brad BarrittIC 12Owen FarrellLW 11David StrettleFH 10Charlie Hodgson SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Phil Dowson OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c)BF 6 Tom CroftRL 5 Tom Palmer LL 4 Mouritz BothaTP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Alex CorbisieroReplacements:HK 16Rob Webber PR 17Matt Stevens LK 18Geoff Parling N8 19Ben Morgan SH 20Lee Dickson CE 21Jordan Turner-Hall FB 22Mike BrownCoach: Stuart Lancaster
Man of the Match: Sergio Parisse (Italy)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Neil Paterson (Scotland) Television match official: Tony Redmond (Ireland)
Luca Morisi (Italy) and Rob Webber (England) made their international debuts. The four-point margin in this match is the joint-closest Italy have ever come to beating England.
This match was postponed due to an unplayable pitch. It was the first weather-related postponement of a Five/Six Nations game since 1985. The match was rescheduled for 4 March.
FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Alex CuthbertOC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Jamie Roberts LW 11George North FH 10Rhys PriestlandSH 9 Mike Phillips N8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Aaron ShinglerBF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Ian EvansLL 4 Ryan Jones (c) TP 3 Adam Jones HK 2 Huw Bennett LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements:HK 16Ken Owens PR 17Paul James LK 18Lou Reed N8 19Andy Powell SH 20Lloyd Williams FH 21James Hook CE 22Scott Williams Coach: Warren Gatland FB 15Rory Lamont RW 14Lee JonesOC 13Nick De Luca IC 12Sean LamontLW 11Max Evans FH 10Greig LaidlawSH 9 Chris Cusiter N8 8 David DentonOF 7 Ross RennieBF 6 Alasdair Strokosch RL 5 Jim Hamilton LL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 Geoff Cross HK 2 Ross Ford (c) LP 1 Allan JacobsenReplacements:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Ed Kalman LK 18Alastair Kellock FL 19John Barclay SH 20Mike Blair FH 21Duncan WeirFB 22Stuart Hogg Coach: Andy Robinson
Man of the Match: Dan Lydiate (Wales)
Touch judges: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Lou Reed, Aaron Shingler (both Wales), Stuart Hogg and Ed Kalman (both Scotland) made their international debuts.
Round 3
FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Tommy BoweOC 13Keith Earls IC 12Gordon D'Arcy LW 11Andrew TrimbleFH 10Johnny SextonSH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 Seán O'Brien BF 6 Stephen FerrisRL 5 Paul O'Connell (c)LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan TP 3 Mike RossHK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Tom Court LK 18Donnacha Ryan FL 19Peter O'Mahony SH 20Eoin Reddan FH 21Ronan O'Gara CE 22Fergus McFadden Coach: Declan Kidney FB 15Andrea MasiRW 14Giovanbattista VendittiOC 13Tommaso BenvenutiIC 12Alberto Sgarbi LW 11Luke McLeanFH 10Tobias Botes SH 9 Edoardo Gori N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Robert Barbieri BF 6 Alessandro ZanniRL 5 Marco BortolamiLL 4 Quintin Geldenhuys TP 3 Lorenzo Cittadini HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Michele RizzoReplacements:HK 16Tommaso D'Apice PR 17Fabio Staibano LK 18Antonio Pavanello FL 19Simone Favaro SH 20Fabio Semenzato FH 21Kris Burton CE 22Gonzalo Canale Coach: Jacques Brunel
Man of the Match: Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) David Changleng (Scotland) Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Peter O'Mahony (Ireland) made his international debut. Coming off the bench in the 69th minute to replace Gordon D'Arcy, Ronan O'Gara overtook Brian O'Driscoll as the most-capped Irish player with 118 caps.
FB 15Ben Foden RW 14Chris AshtonOC 13Manu TuilagiIC 12Brad BarrittLW 11David StrettleFH 10Owen Farrell SH 9 Lee Dickson N8 8 Ben Morgan OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c)BF 6 Tom CroftRL 5 Geoff ParlingLL 4 Mouritz Botha TP 3 Dan ColeHK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Alex Corbisiero Replacements:HK 16Rob Webber PR 17Matt Stevens LK 18Courtney Lawes N8 19Phil Dowson SH 20Ben Youngs FH 21Toby Flood FB 22Mike Brown Coach: Stuart Lancaster FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Alex CuthbertOC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Jamie Roberts LW 11George NorthFH 10Rhys Priestland SH 9 Mike PhillipsN8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Sam Warburton (c)BF 6 Dan LydiateRL 5 Ian EvansLL 4 Alun Wyn Jones TP 3 Adam JonesHK 2 Ken OwensLP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Richard HibbardPR 17Paul JamesLK 18Ryan Jones FL 19Justin TipuricSH 20Lloyd WilliamsFH 21Stephen JonesCE 22Scott Williams Coach: Warren Gatland
Man of the Match: Sam Warburton (Wales)
Touch judges: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Pascal Gaüzère (France) Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland) Wales won their 20th Triple Crown.
FB 15Stuart HoggRW 14Rory Lamont OC 13Sean LamontIC 12Graeme MorrisonLW 11Lee JonesFH 10Greig Laidlaw SH 9 Mike Blair N8 8 David Denton OF 7 Ross RennieBF 6 John BarclayRL 5 Jim Hamilton LL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 Geoff Cross HK 2 Ross Ford (c) LP 1 Allan JacobsenReplacements:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Ed Kalman LK 18Alastair Kellock N8 19Richie Vernon SH 20Chris Cusiter FH 21Duncan Weir CE 22Nick De Luca Coach: Andy Robinson FB 15Maxime Médard RW 14Vincent ClercOC 13Aurélien RougerieIC 12Wesley FofanaLW 11Julien MalzieuFH 10François Trinh-DucSH 9 Morgan Parra N8 8 Louis Picamoles OF 7 Imanol HarinordoquyBF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Yoann Maestri LL 4 Pascal PapéTP 3 Nicolas MasHK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski LP 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux Replacements:HK 16William Servat PR 17Vincent Debaty LK 18Lionel Nallet FL 19Julien Bonnaire SH 20Julien Dupuy FH 21Lionel Beauxis CE 22Maxime MermozCoach: Philippe Saint-André
Man of the Match: Ross Rennie (Scotland)
Touch judges: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)
Duncan Weir (Scotland) made his international debut.
Rescheduled match