The fourth round of the 2026 Six Nations will be etched into the history books as the weekend the natural order was dismantled. From a record-breaking shootout in Edinburgh to a long-awaited revolution in Rome, the tournament's heavyweights were left reeling as the chasing pack - and the traditional underdogs - staged a series of defiant, high-octane ambushes.

The Murrayfield Massacre: Scotland 50 – 40 France

In what will surely go down as the most chaotic 80 minutes in Championship history, Scotland systematically dismantled France’s Grand Slam ambitions. The match was a breathtaking display of offensive rugby, yielding 13 tries and 90 points.

Darcy Graham stole the headlines, becoming Scotland’s all-time leading try scorer with a clinical brace, while Kyle Steyn matched the feat as the Scottish backline exploited uncharacteristic gaps in the French defense. By the hour mark, France trailed 47–14, looking utterly shell-shocked by the pace and precision of the Scottish attack. While Les Bleus staged a late, pride-salvaging comeback—scoring four tries in the final 15 minutes to secure a crucial scoring bonus point—the damage was done. France remains top of the table on points difference, but their aura of invincibility has been shattered.

The Roman Revolution: Italy 23 – 18 England

History was made at the Stadio Olimpico as Italy secured their first-ever victory over England at the 33rd attempt. After decades of "near misses," the Azzurri finally broke the glass ceiling against an England side in the midst of a radical tactical overhaul.

England initially appeared to have the measure of the contest, leading 12–10 at the interval thanks to tries from Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck. However, the second half saw a complete breakdown in English discipline. Yellow cards for Sam Underhill and captain Maro Itoje left the visitors vulnerable, and Italy showed a new-found maturity to exploit the advantage. Tommaso Menoncello was the standout performer, but it was Leonardo Marin’s 71st-minute try that sealed the historic result. For Italy, it is a moment of total vindication; for Steve Borthwick, it is a crisis that leaves England’s "New Era" under immediate fire.

Resilience in Dublin: Ireland 27 – 17 Wales

While less of a "shock" in terms of the final result, the contest in Dublin was far closer than the form guide suggested. Ireland, riding high after their demolition of England, found themselves in a dogfight against a Welsh side playing with immense grit.

A solo effort from Welsh prop Rhys Carre kept the visitors within striking distance for much of the match, frustrating an Irish attack that lacked its usual clinical edge. It took a second-half surge, sparked by Jack Conan and capped off by a late Jamie Osborne try, for Ireland to secure the four-try bonus point. The win keeps Andy Farrell’s men firmly in the title hunt, while Wales proved they are far more competitive than their winless record implies.