Believe the hype: Six Nations showcases northern hemisphere’s resurgence

Human beings have a troublesome relationship with statistics. Them and damned lies. The wise treat them with caution, but only a fool, alas, dismisses these numbers as worthless. The hysterical, meanwhile, react extravagantly to whatever they find at the end of their nose and co-opt whichever statistics support their hysteria.

This Six Nations has been hailed already as the most competitive and deliciously anticipated in the history of the world, ever. “It says behind me: ‘Rugby’s Greatest Championship,’” said Eddie Jones last week, in front of the mandatory branding, “and I think it is that now by a country mile.”

He should know. England came fifth last year for the second time during his six years. But this claim of Six Nations vitality niggles only because of the feeling we have said it before. Probably this time a year ago, maybe a year before that, too.

So, to the statistics. World Rugby’s ranking system, introduced at the start of the 2003 Rugby World Cup, has suffered as ferocious a mauling as any sorry collection of digits in the history of the world, ever, but as a rolling index, responsive only to that other sometimes misleading stat, the result on the pitch, its findings are dismissed by, well, only a fool.

After a delve through the rankings at the start of each year since 2004, it is possible to ratify the claim that the Six Nations is better than ever. If we leave out Italy (and more on that later), the average ranking points of the other five (84.9) is higher now than it has ever been at the start of a year, pipping 2019’s 84.8. Even if we include Italy, whose ranking of 70.51 (14th in the world) is lower than it has ever been, only 2019’s figure is higher, just.

It is also true, though, that this is no