Only a week ago, it looked like the Six Nations were going to have to find a new name for this weekend’s ‘Super Saturday’.
Ireland appeared on course for the Grand Slam if they could beat France in Dublin and - given they would face Italy first up next - the drama of the final weekend looked like it would be lost.
‘Super Saturday’ would have to be rebranded as, simply, Saturday.
France’s stunning win over Ireland changed all that, though, and now the end to this year’s Six Nations is perfectly poised.
Ireland, England and France all have a shot at the title and, fittingly, play in that order. It means the leaders of the Six Nations should change after each match, with the victor laying down the gauntlet for those after them.
For England, this is the first time since 2020 they have been involved in a title hunt on the final day of the Six Nations.
They are second in the table, one point behind leaders France - who also have a vastly superior points difference to them.
It makes the equation for England simple. They realistically need a bonus-point win over Wales in Cardiff to put the pressure on France before they host Scotland later on Saturday evening.
“We want to win and win well,” said England No8 Ben Earl. “We want to go and win, and then see where we are at the end of the game.”
Steve Borthwick’s selection for this showdown in Cardiff certainly means that England will not die wondering.
The England head coach has sprung plenty of surprises with his team, making seven positional or personnel changes to the starting XV from last week’s win over Italy.
The match-day squad has three fly-halves and four open-side flankers in it, as well as just one centre and a solitary specialist lock.
Speed looks like the order of the day, especially at the breakdown. The Curry twins of Ben and Tom are paired at flanker, with the dynamic Earl supporting them from No8.
“The thing you are seeing around the park is speed wins,” said Earl. “We are talking a lot about moving the ball, being aggressive, outworking teams. Our players buy into that.”
There will be a lot of intrigue around how the backline functions. Marcus Smith is restored to full-back, but with fly-half George Ford on the bench there is a chance England could end the game with three playmakers on the pitch.
Elliot Daly has been shifted from full-back to the wing. Tom Roebuck will make his first Test start on the other wing as Tommy Freeman has moved to play in the centres.
It is a role that Freeman has done for his club side, Northampton Saints, and long term it is where England’s coaching staff believe he may end up.
The achilles injury suffered by Ollie Lawrence last week, which will keep him out of this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, has accelerated that plan.
“With his athleticism that he has, the ground he covers and the power he brings in the carry, he has always been that option,” said Borthwick. “Now he has grown over the last 18 months, he’s grown to be a formidable Test player.”
Cardiff will be a baptism of fire for Freeman at centre. Wales may be on a 16-game losing streak, but the atmosphere at the Principality Stadium promises to be hostile.
Interim head coach, Matt Sherratt, has lifted the mood after being parachuted in during the middle of the Six Nations - and he wants to sign off in style.
“If that win comes it would give everyone a massive lift, especially against England at home,” he said.
“There’ll be emotion on Saturday but it’s about getting that balance between heart and brain. There’ll be stacks of heart but we need to get our game on the pitch.”
