France can celebrate winning the Six Nations Grand Slam (Picture: World Rugby via Getty Images)

This isn?t going to go down well with anyone with even the remotest interest in this year?s Six Nations but the 2024 Championship will be done and dusted in Marseille on Friday night.

France entertain Ireland and because they are the only two countries with even the slightest chance of finishing on top of the heap the match will determine who will take the title.

It will be all over bar the shouting and the only matters to be cleared up will be whether the winners also claim a Grand Slam and who will take the wooden spoon.

France are without the extraordinary qualities of scrum-half Antoine Dupont as their influential captain is concentrating on playing Sevens rugby in a bid to take France to Olympic gold in the summer.
But Ireland are entering an era without the equally remarkable Jonny Sexton, who retired from the international stage after last year?s World Cup, while England will miss Owen Farrell, who is taking a break from Test rugby, while Courtney Lawes leads a number of regulars who have retired.

Owen Farrell is one of multiple regulars who will be missed by England (Picture: World Rugby via Getty Images)

Scotland are improving but are not as good as the French or Irish and Wales are in a right old state of upheaval with veteran players hanging up their boots, others unhappy with their levels of pay and star man and face of the future Louis Rees-Zammi...