A new Six Nations trophy was ushered in at the Hurlingham Club on Wednesday, but the competition remains the same as it ever was – a bitter and tribal rugby dust-up featuring England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
The new Six Nations trophy is only the second one crafted going back to 1883, and its six sides reflect the growth of this tournament since the last one was commissioned in 1993, seven years before Italy entered the fray.
The Six Nations may have transformed dramatically in those years to be now broadcast in 190 countries, but the essential partisan nature that has made it so successful remains.
This was underlined in no uncertain terms by the relationship between Joe Schmidt, the talkative and likable Ireland coach, and Vern Cotter, the dour and pragmatic coach of Scotland.
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Cotter hired Schmidt as backs coach to assist him at Clermont in France for five years before Schmidt went on to coach Leinster and then Ireland in 2013.
The tournament begins on February 6, and when asked whether Schmidt had any advice for his former senior on the eve of his first tournament, he gave a pithy riposte.
“I think he is a massive competitor – I wouldn’t give him any tips,” Schmidt said.
“I’d prefer to give him a bump down the stairs.”
The enmity is rarely ever more than skin deep. Schmidt and Cotter are good friends, and Schmidt said that it will be a unique challenge when their teams meet on the final day of the tournament on March 21.
“I learned a lot about forwards from Vern, and he probably learned a little about the backs from me,” Schmidt said.
“He thought when we split in training we were ducking out for a latte, but I do think there is a mutual respect.
“We know each other very well, and it is hard to undo each other’s thinking about a game.”
Schmidt guided Ireland to victory in the Six Nations last season, and alongside Cotter and Warren Gatland, the Wales coach, they make up a triumvirate from New Zealand in control of half of the teams in the competition.
Ireland, Scotland and Wales all scored tries freely in the autumn, and it is a welcome boost that running rugby could be a tantalising possibility throughout the next seven weeks.
This is the final Six Nations before the World Cup starts in September, and of the three New Zealand coaches it was Gatland who was the most acutely aware of its looming presence.
Wales lost to Australia in the autumn. Should they lose to England in the opener at Cardiff, they will surely face a more difficult challenge when they pitch up to take on both teams in Pool A in eight months.
“We are talking about the World Cup right now,” Gatland said. “It is always in the back of your mind, thinking about what is happening later on in the year.”
While the banter between coaches is always part of a Six Nations build-up, amid all the quips and witticisms, it is easy to forget that for the French this is a poignantly difficult time.
The massacre at Charlie Hebdo in Paris is a wound that will never heal, and it is one that is only three weeks old.
The shootings have united France and Les Bleus, whose captain, Thierry Dusatoir, wrote a moving blog for the Huffington Post in the aftermath of the killings.
“I am sure the Marseillaise against Scotland will be very emotional,” France coach Philippe Saint-Andre said. “French society has people from different origins. It is nice to see the team working like this in a good way. The team is representative of French society.
“Sport is nice this way. It allows us to take this moment to share and to be part of the community.”
Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.
The Six Nations matters.
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