The Greatest 5/6 Nations Tries

With the RBS 6 Nations commencing in one week’s time, the team here at ENS thought we would delve into the archives and select our top five 5/6 Nations tries. Selecting the best five proved to be a difficult task and some excellent tries have just missed out. Do you agree with our choices?

1. Phillipe Saint-André, England v France, Twickenham, 1991

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyXlSvELtOM

This is French flair at its best and was deservedly voted the greatest try ever scored at Twickenham. You can only admire the audaciousness of the great Serge Blanco to begin an attack from behind his own try line but this is proof that ‘he who dares wins’. The names involved in this length of the field score are legendary, with Phillippe Sella setting up Didier Camberabero for his double chip kick, which makes fools of Dean Richards and Peter Winterbottom. All Saint-Andre had to do was collect and touchdown and thus write his name into the history books. For all you English fans, it’s not all bad news, as England did in fact win the match 21-19 to claim the Grand Slam. However, there is only one thing this match will be remembered for.

2. Phil Bennett, Wales v Scotland, Murrayfield, 1977

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQcFOKN8uOE&feature=related

This try is the stuff of Welsh legends, fittingly scored by a Welsh legend in his own right. Gerald Davies initiates the break out from the Welsh 22 with two scintillating sidesteps. There is a slight hint of a forward pass in the build-up but that takes nothing away from the phenomenal offload by Steve Fenwick to Phil Bennett, who finishes the move in style with a sidestep to match Davies’s earlier effort.

3. Jim Calder (1982), Scotland v Wales, Cardiff Arms Park, 1982

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quTJJa-zLlI

The kicking tennis featured at the beginning of this clip, including an effort by the Scottish lock Bill Cuthbertson, had scattered the Welsh defence across the pitch but how well the Scots took advantage of it. Roger Baird superbly gathers a Welsh kick in his own 22 and carries towards half-way before offloading to Iain Paxton. The work rate of the Scottish forwards is incredible to see, as the lock Alan Tomes gives the scoring pass to his flanker Jim Calder. The joy in the voice of the great Bill McClaren just makes this try that much more special.

4. Gareth Edwards, Wales v Scotland, Cardiff Arms Park, 1972

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbw6_MO8pHY

The Welsh wizard at his magical best. This is a truly incredible individual score by Gareth Edwards and one that will be replayed for years to come. Not only does he show scorching pace in breaking away from the line-out but the skill he shows in chipping the Scottish full-back, hacking the ball forward and touching the ball down is sensational. It’s no wonder he is considered by many to be the most naturally gifted player to ever grace a rugby field.

5. Ben Cohen, England v Ireland, Twickenham, 2002

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3KDV4loYHw

This gem of a team try was yet another highlight in a golden era for English rugby. On route to the Irish try line, England put the ball through nearly every set of hands in the team. Austin Healey’s run ignites England’s surge up field and is only bettered by the inter-passing between Hill and Dallaglio, who provides the scoring offload for wing Ben Cohen. The only thing more pleasing on the eyes of English fans than this effort was the sight of Martin Johnson lifting the William Webb Ellis trophy a year later.