Sunday, 15 March 2026
Issue No. 116
Good morning and welcome to Sport Briefing, where Oliver Brown reflects on a remarkable finale to a wild Six Nations.
Julian Bennetts, Head of Sport
Also In today’s edition
Antonelli lands breakthrough win on dramatic day of racing in Shanghai
Marinakis, like an ancient immortal
… and read to the end to see a very uncomfortable Chelsea huddle
In the end, it came down to one kick
Oliver Brown
Chief Sports Writer
How fitting that the greatest Six Nations of all should be decided, after 29 tries in a single day and a 94-point barnburner in Paris, by a single kick.
Thomas Ramos was his usual imperturbable self, stroking over the penalty that beat England and gave France their third title in five years, but this told barely a fraction of perhaps the most exhilaratingly madcap Test the northern hemisphere has ever produced. This was Anglo-French rivalry at its most ferocious, with England fighting like cornered animals and the hosts requiring four tries by the lightning Louis Bielle-Biarrey to prevail.
Can anything match the annual sporting majesty of the Six Nations? Not on this evidence, as five weeks of twists culminated in an unforgettable final flourish under the Stade de France lights. England, belatedly, were let off the leash, unrecognisable from the rabble in Rome as they attacked with tempo and intent. Inspired by the magnificent Ollie Chessum, they delayed the French coronation until the bitter end, stirring the travelling fans to such an extent that at one stage, the refrain of God Save the King could be heard above La Marseillaise.
The revival could not last, ultimately, England inexplicably box-kicking possession away as they defended a one-point lead with two minutes left. But the fact that they produced a display like this at all gave grounds for optimism, despite a 48-46 defeat confirming their worst ever campaign.
Wales, too, had reasons to feel hopeful, with the indignity of a wooden spoon much alleviated by a 31-17 home victory over Italy, their first in the Six Nations since 2023. As for Ireland, the sense of triumph kindled by a Triple Crown and a 43-21 win over Scotland in Dublin gave way to agony, as Ramos snatched the trophy away. One last shredding of the script, one last reminder why this tournament remains the most precious jewel.
France 48 England 46
• Match report: finally, visitors make a stand
• Player ratings: Spencer outplays Dupont
• England finally turned up, but that just makes it even more infuriating
• Twelve moments from a match for the ages
• Nothing matches the Six Nations
What I’m reading
Antonelli takes top spot at Chinese Grand Prix ahead of Russell and Hamilton
What a race, what an advert for the sport and what a day to remember for Kimi Antonelli who became the second youngest driver to win a grand prix. The Mercedes’ driver – aged 19 years and 202 days old – beat team-mate George Russell to victory in Shanghai, before Lewis Hamilton – at 41 the second oldest driver on the circuit – took his first podium since moving to Ferrari. It was a day that was filled with drama, from even before the flag dropped after the two McLarens failed to start and Tom Cary was trackside in Shanghai to record all of the action.
Spurs relegation would be on new regime, not Levy
Recent weeks must have felt like a bad dream at Spurs as the team have tumbled further towards what would be a devastating relegation. But, writes Sam Wallace, Tottenham cannot blame their woes on a bogey man from the past. After a week in which chief executive Vinai Venkatesham suggested he was dealing with a poisoned legacy from Daniel Levy, our chief football writer says it is highly unlikely Spurs would be in this mess under their former chairman. Instead, he argues, the current leadership must ask themselves if they are “ready for the black hole of relegation”.
It’s Evangelos’s world, we just live in it
John Percy’s profile of Evangelos Marinakis, the volatile Nottingham Forest owner, put me in mind of meddling ancient Greek god. Not only does he personally fly around Europe moving mortals from one place to another, but he hands out statues in order to inspire his employees and threatens his wrath if anyone in his presence wears the wrong colour. So far, so classical. Should Forest be relegated, however it is one of Marinakis’s high priests – Forest’s global head of football Edu Glasper – who will pay the price. I predict thunderbolts.
ALSO IN SPORT
Football
• Arsenal 2 Everton 0: Dowman, 16, provides a possible crowning moment
• Scouted at four, wonderkid at 16: Dowman’s rise to superstardom
• West Ham United 1 Manchester City 1: Arsenal’s day gets even better
Everything else
• Fitzpatrick falters as England’s hopes of a ‘fifth major’ are dashed
• Evidence that the Cheltenham Festival is fighting back
From the archive
After the Cheltenham week that was let us look back 60 years to the third and final Gold Cup win for Arkle who “survived an 11th-fence blunder with complete nonchalance,” according to Hotspur (Peter Scott). The winning margin of 30 lengths is a record which still stands.
What to watch today
⛷️ Winter Paralympics
Day nine
From 7.50am, Channel 4
⛳ PGA Tour
The Players Championship
11.30am, Sky Sports Golf
🚴 UCI WorldTour
Tirreno-Adriatico, stage seven
From 12.15pm, TNT Sports 2
Paris-Nice, stage eight
2.14pm, TNT Sports 3
⚽ Premier League
Manchester United vs Aston Villa
2pm, Sky Sports Main Event
Nottingham Forest vs Fulham
2pm, Sky Sports Premier League
Crystal Palace vs Leeds United
2pm, Sky Sports Cricket
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
4.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event
⚽Women’s League Cup final
Chelsea vs Manchester United
2.15pm, BBC One
🏉 Premiership Rugby Cup final
Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs
3.30pm, TNT Sports 1
🎾 Indian Wells men’s final
Medvedev vs Sinner
5.30pm, Sky Sports Tennis
And finally…
Chelsea have a pre-match routine where they huddle around the centre spot. Yesterday at Stamford Bridge, referee Paul Tierney simply refused to move to let them do it. So Chelsea surrounded him and went ahead anyway. They went on to lose 1-0 to Newcastle and after the game manager Liam Rosenior claimed the referee was more interested in disturbing his players than making the right decisions.
That is everything you needed to know this Sunday morning. Thom Gibbs returns tomorrow with the best of sport on television this week.
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