What We Can Learn From Week 1 of the Men's Six Nations

Wow, week 1 of the 2026 Men's Six Nations is done and it was bonkers. This weekends match ups gave us a perfect reminder of something becoming more relevant in the modern game: the aerial game isn’t optional anymore, it’s a performance weapon.

Let's take the Italy vs Scotland game for example. Italy didn’t win because they were bigger or more physical. They won because they adapted faster, adjusted their backfield coverage, and started dominating the contestable kick battle. Once they took control of the air, the entire flow of the game shifted in their favor.

Here’s what that means for us as developing rugby athletes:

• Winning the air creates pressure without the ball. Good contestable kicks forces the opposition into a decision under stress. Every time Italy won a contestable kick, Scotland was forced into reactive decisions. Poor exits, rushed passes, isolated carries, all triggered by aerial pressure.

• Aerial skills are about timing and jump height, not how tall the player is. Italy didn’t suddenly grow taller. Aerial contests are sprint → jump → land → reset. Italy maintained their chase intensity deeper into the match. That’s conditioning, mechanics, and mental discipline. This is exactly why we train acceleration, landing mechanics, and repeat sprint ability.

What this means for you: If you play in the back 3 (wings and full backs) and want to level up your game, start treating aerial contests like a core skill, not a bonus skill. Practice your takeoff footwork, your timing, your landing, and your ability to compete confidently in the air.

If you want more breakdowns like this — plus training tips you can actually use — stay tuned. I’ll be sending these every week throughout the Six Nations.

Talk soon,

Jenni

Gainzter HQ