SIX NATIONS SHOULD REMAIN ON FREE-TO-AIR TV, SAYS ENGLAND CAPTAIN MARO ITOJE

Itoje says ‘rugby needs more eyes on it, not less’. Photo: PA

Maro Itoje leads England into what could be the final Six Nations shown on terrestrial television with a call to organisers to prioritise the game’s reach when considering the next broadcast deal.

The BBC and ITV have shared the TV rights since 2016, but their contract ends after the current tournament and TNT Sports has confirmed it is considering bidding for 2026 onwards.

For the first time the game’s biggest draw outside the World Cup faces the prospect of going behind a paywall, but Itoje insists it must remain free-to-air.

“The Six Nations should be viewed by as many people as possible,” said the England captain ahead of Saturday’s clash with Ireland in Dublin.

“I grew up watching the Six Nations on the BBC and on ITV. The fact that it’s been on free-to-air…I think rugby needs more eyes on it, not less.

“Obviously I’m not involved in the finances of the deals, but even though international rugby is massive, the sport should be looking at ways to be more accessible to more people, as opposed to the opposite.”

Saturday’s Aviva Stadium showdown promises to be a blockbuster start to the rivals’ title bids, with the outcome setting the tone for the remainder of their campaigns.

Ireland enter as strong favourites and are out for revenge after they were edged 23-22 in dramatic circumstances at Allianz Stadium last year. Few are backing England to cause an upset, but Itoje insists that only adds to the motivation.

“When people write you off it always gets the juices flowing a little bit, whether that’s in sport or when my teachers predicted me to get lower grades than I eventually got!” Itoje said.

“It always gives you a little bit of extra motivation and a bit more anticipation for what you can do and what you can achieve.

“You definitely have to give Ireland respect. You see their strength and acknowledge where they are good.

“But when you play any team, you don’t put them on a pedestal. We believe in our team, we believe in what we can do. It’s just our job to go and do it.”

England enter the Six Nations on the back of a poor 2024 which produced only five wins in 12 Tests, although on three occasions they fell to late defeats to New Zealand, while also losing narrowly to France and Australia.

“What last year has shown us is that, despite the results not going our way, if you were to watch the games, most people would see the potential of the team,” Itoje said.

“As players, we believe in what we’re doing, we believe in what we’re about and now our part of the bargain is to get over the line.

“We put ourselves in positions to win most, if not all of the games, but for varying reasons we didn’t.

“Ultimately we didn’t take our opportunity when it arose. Our job is to make sure that when those moments come, we take them.

“In games you have a finite amount of chances. If you don’t take your chances then you’re not going to win.”

- DUNCAN BECH

MAX JORGENSEN'S LAST-GASP TRY PROPELS AUSTRALIA TO STUNNING WIN OVER ENGLAND

 Joe Schmidt’s side come out on top of 10-try Twickenham thriller with late, late score.

Australia's Max Jorgensen dives over the line to score their late winning try during the Autumn Nations Series match against England at Twickenham. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

Autumn Nations Series: England 37 Australia 42

Max Jorgensen’s last-gasp try gave Joe Schmidt’s Australia a dramatic 42-37 victory over England on Saturday in a frenetic 10-try match that saw the lead change hands four times in a breathtaking final 15 minutes.

England thought they had snatched it when Marcus Smith converted Maro Itoje’s 78th-minute score, only for the irrepressible Wallabies to dig deep and somehow grab the upset win.

It was only their second victory in 12 games against England and first in five at Twickenham since their 2015 World Cup pool win, and left the hosts shaking their heads after a fourth successive defeat.

Unlike in the last three against New Zealand, England did, as promised, keep playing in the last quarter, but unfortunately for them, so did Australia, who got their grand slam tour off to a spectacular start.

England had opened up with a superb try after five minutes. Ollie Lawrence, who barely touched the ball last week, collected a low, probing Smith kick and, six, crisp passes later Chandler Cunningham-South dived over.

Seven minutes later the flanker got his second, catching the Australian defence cold by charging over from a tap penalty after another sharp Smith break.

England lost flanker Tom Curry, knocked out by a knee to the head making a tackle, after 23 minutes and it seemed to unsettle them as Australia, playing with real ambition and adventure, took control, albeit helped by a blizzard of missed tackles.

A sublime no-look one-handed pop pass by centre Joseph Suaalii, the 21-year-old rugby league convert playing his first senior game in union, sent fullback Tom Wright over before Tate McDermott, on as a blood replacement at scrumhalf, then made an immediate impact with a great dart to feed Harry Wilson for a second.

More pressure earned a penalty that Noah Lolesio popped over to somehow put them 20-18 ahead at half-time and leave the Twickenham crowd collectively scratching their heads in bemusement.

Australia started the second half strongly and lock Jeremy Williams produced an acrobatic winger-style finish to touch down in the corner for their third try.

England had gone from 12 points ahead to 10 behind either side of half-time, but, unlike in most of their recent games, they did keep pressing and found the scores needed.

They closed the gap with a first international try for replacement wing Ollie Sleightholme after a deft Smith grubber.

They then edged ahead with Sleightholme’s second try after a quick lineout and a driving run by the impressive Lawrence, with Smith converting to make it 30-28 with 10 minutes to go.

A bungled pass on halfway was then scooped up by Australia winger Andrew Kellaway who raced clear, with Ben Donaldson converting for a two-point lead.

England hit straight back though, Itoje reaching over to level and Smith nailed the conversion and the crowd celebrating what they thought was a victory.

Australia, however, refused to lie down, forging forward with a series of scrums with the clock in the red then blasting clear as Len Ikitau offloaded brilliantly for replacement Jorgensen to race clear and gleefully dive over the line.

England next face world champions South Africa at Twickenham next Saturday, while Australia play Wales on Sunday.

- The Irish Times