England and Ireland will push France all the way in which within the three-way Six Nations finale, writes CHRIS FOY

Super Saturday is back — prepare for thunderous drama, from an Irish invasion of Rome to molten hostility in Cardiff and another dazzling light-show climax in Paris. Well, probably.

This has become the signature Six Nations finale — three Tests in three iconic arenas, back to back. Millions all over the world will tune in and the whole day will be box office. It never fails to capture the imagination.

For a tantalising illustration of how this final round can ignite, rewind a decade to the glorious mayhem of 2015. Four teams were in the hunt for the title. Wales thrashed Italy to give themselves a chance, then Ireland dispatched Scotland to move into pole position. Then came the agonising wait. The wait is part of the ritual.

The Irish watched through their fingers as England threw the kitchen sink at France in a classic at Twickenham.

In added time, the hosts needed one more converted try to snatch the prize, but France kept them out. It finished 55-35 and Ireland wielded the trophy with relief as the top three were separated by a points difference of just 10.

It will be a similar scenario this year, as the contenders take their best shot then wait to see what happens. France are in control of their destiny, whereas Ireland and England are not. Those two are striving to earn bonus-point wins, score as many tries as possible, then see if Scotland can do them a favour by upsetting the favourites at the Stade de France.

France control their destiny and can take home the Six Nations trophy with a win over Scotland

England must get a bonus-point win over Wales and hope France lose to Scotland if Steve Borthwick’s side wish to claim their first title since 2020

It all adds up to a mammoth logistical exercise. If England have beaten Wales, and at half-time in Paris it appears as if they might win the title, Steve Borthwick and his team will leave their hotel in Cardiff and return to the Principality Stadium.

There they will wait in the hope of receiving a trophy and medals, which will be a new design with the M6N (Men’s Six Nations) branding.

In the event of Ireland taking the title, which also requires the French to falter, then Simon Easterby and his squad will be at a function in Rome. They would receive their medals at the function, but wait until tomorrow for a trophy presentation when they arrive back in Dublin.

However, the most likely turn of events is that France take care of business, having smashed Ireland last weekend. They may have contrived to lose against England at Twickenham, but Fabien Galthie’s side have been imperious aside from that calamity.

If they win with a bonus, France are home and dry. If they win without a bonus, they will still take the title given their vastly superior points difference. That would clear the way for the trophy to be presented by Six Nations chief executive Tom Harrison, followed by a vivid light and pyrotechnics show, which has become the Stade de France’s speciality.

The players will be able to join the party after their matches. Tournament organisers are ensuring all teams have gallons of Guinness — with and without alcohol — to toast their feats or drown their sorrows.

Ireland will not relinquish their title without a mammoth effort, as a fitting farewell to three veterans poised to retire — Conor Murray, Cian Healy and Peter O’Mahony. They are also seething at French accusations of ‘reprehensible’ foul play by Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter after the season-ending knee injury sustained by Antoine Dupont in Dublin last week.

Interim boss Easterby said French complaints in public meant ‘people are getting abuse’, adding: ‘It’s unnecessary and unacceptable. Those things could have been avoided. It could have been handled in a better way and on the back of that it’s created some ill-feeling and has affected other people in the wider group.

‘We believe there was no case to answer and it didn’t help, it fanned the flames of what was a really unfortunate incident.’

Game two will be ferocious and compelling, with England hoping to put pressure on France and Wales desperate to end a 16-Test losing run and stop their bitter rivals from winning the title in their capital.

Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins admitted that is a driving factor, saying: ‘This is the game you dream of playing as a kid. This game is special. They can win the championship and we can’t be having that in Cardiff.’

England will unleash a team full of creative threat, but captain Maro Itoje knows their fate is out of their hands. ‘We want to win (the title), but it’s not within our control,’ he said. ‘We just need to do what we need to do against Wales.’

The Saracens lock is well aware of the febrile atmosphere which England will have to contend with, adding: ‘The Principality is louder than most, particularly when the roof is closed. The atmosphere is great, it is a stadium you want to play in and I don’t see it as intimidating at all, I don’t see it as something to beware of. I see it as something to relish, something to enjoy. Wales will be aggressive. Despite their results, they are showing a lot of promise and improvement. They are going to be absolutely up for this game. We need to ensure we manage that.’

For Matt Sherratt, the Englishman who has done such a sterling job in charge of Wales since Warren Gatland left after the second-round loss in Italy, this fixture has added meaning as his parents came from either side of the border. ‘I used to have to sit between my mum and dad to split them up,’ he said.

‘Then I’d switch sides depending on who won. In the 1970s I was wearing red a bit more, then come the ’90s and early 2000s my dad’s voice took over. He’s going to the game and I’ve managed to change him (from England to Wales). I don’t know how long for, but definitely this weekend.’

This is also a send-off for Sherratt. When asked again if he would consider putting himself forward for the job long term, he added: ‘Not as a head coach. I’m going to go back to Cardiff as head coach on Monday.

‘If I can, I might try to dodge Monday. If we beat England, I’ll probably be in on Friday!’

The last part is where the champions are expected to be acclaimed in a tide of Gallic euphoria. It would take a huge twist for the Scots to deny France, who deserve the title. Still, the Scots will hurl themselves into it, even if an upset would hand the spoils to one of their enemies. ‘We’re aware of the context,’ said head coach Gregor Townsend, who needs a positive result to alleviate another campaign of faded hopes. ‘The atmosphere will be amazing. To be involved in the game is great.’

France have firepower. They could win by force, flair, or both. Don’t expect Super Saturday to finish with the lights going out on another Parisian party.