Richjhart

Hello Richard,

I have replied to your e-mail. Hope to hear back from you. All the best, Gareth Griffith-Jones (talk) 12:05, 7 March 2012 (UTC)

Triple crown winner not winning six nations

I made an edit that it was not only France or Italy that could win the six nations when another nation won the triple crown, stating that any other home nation could also win it.

The edit was reverted on the grounds of "improbable scenario".

I would dispute this - with all due respect to Italy I would say it is just as likely for a home nations team to win the six nations when another wins the triple crown. A perfect example is this year:

Wales have won the triple crown. However if they were to lose to France, and England won their remaining two games - all of which is possible - the winner of the six nations would then come down to points difference. The current wording implies that it is impossible for a home nations team to win the six nations and another to win the triple crown. It should be removed, or expanded to mention that it is "simpler" for Italy or France to end up in that situation.

In fact, this almost occured in 1996. England won the triple crown and the five nations. However, Scotland also won 3 games. Had they won by bigger margins, or England by smaller margins, Scotland would have taken the five nations despite England winning the triple crown.

I know this is original research, but so is the current statement.

Richjhart (talk) 11:07, 28 February 2012 (UTC)

... on points-difference...

Unlike the Grand Slam, the Triple Crown winners will not necessarily be the tournament winners, since France or Italy–or even another of the home nations– could outperform them on points-difference within the Six Nations Championship. This first occurred in the 1977 Five Nations Championship, when Wales won the Triple Crown by defeating the other three British Isles teams, while France won the Championship by completing the Grand Slam over all four of the British Isles teams. Gareth Griffith-Jones (talk) 09:06, 06 March 2012 (UTC)

Not necessarily on points-difference even, it could be outright, couldnt it? If England took the Triple Crown but lost to both France and Italy, while Wales won all their matches except the one against England, then Wales would be above England in the table regardless of points-difference.--Victor Yus (talk) 09:24, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

Yes, results of matches will always take precedence over numbers of points won or leaked in determining the Championship winner.

I am sure you don't need to ask who I support. What about yourself? Gareth Griffith-Jones (talk) 10:06, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

I'm of mixed ancestry so I can take my pick, but I admit I always find a Welsh victory particularly rousing. Perhaps because the brilliant performances of G. Edwards & co. are among my earliest sporting memories... Victor Yus (talk) 10:51, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

We are clearly of the same generation. The coming weekends should be great. Gareth Griffith-Jones (talk) 11:03, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

I agree it will always be possible for a team - even another home nations team - to win outright on points alone. I only specified points difference because that scenario is more likely at the moment because Italy are CURRENTLY less likely to beat a triple crown winner. There is nothing to say that should the competition get closer then the scenario of a different home nations team being the outright winner on points starts to get more likely. There is nothing mathematicaly stopping it this year in fact - although to be honest it seems unlikely to me. Note as well that it was not possible until it became the six nations. Richjhart (talk) 12:19, 7 March 2012 (UTC)

This has continued this morning over on the article Discussion page. I have made an assumption, that you would be in agreement. I hope I am correct in this.

The words... "on points-difference"... are still there, but will only be seen by an editor. With kind regards, Gareth Griffith-Jones (talk) 10:11, 8 March 2012 (UTC)