1989 Five Nations Championship
The 1989 Five Nations Championship was the 60th series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the 95th series of the northern hemisphere rugby union championship. Ten matches were played over five weekends between 21 January and 18 March. France won it with three wins and one defeat (against England), while none of the other four teams was able to win the Triple Crown. England entered the final round of matches knowing that a win would give them at least a share of the championship, but were overturned in Cardiff as Wales scored their only victory of the season. Scotland also could have taken the championship had they won in France - even a draw would have been enough, thanks to England's defeat - but France won the game to seal the title.
| 1989 Five Nations Championship | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 21 January – 18 March 1989 | ||
| Countries |  England Ireland France Scotland Wales | ||
| Tournament statistics | |||
| Champions | France (9th title) | ||
| Matches played | 10 | ||
| Tries scored | 28 (2.8 per match) | ||
| Top point scorer(s) | Michael Kiernan (37 points) | ||
| Top try scorer(s) | Serge Blanco (4 tries) | ||
| |||
Participants
The teams involved were:
Squads
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 76 | 47 | +29 | 6 |
| 2 | England |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 27 | +21 | 5 |
| 2 | Scotland |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 75 | 59 | +16 | 5 |
| 4 | Ireland |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 64 | 92 | −28 | 2 |
| 4 | Wales |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 44 | 82 | −38 | 2 |
Results
| 21 January 1989 |
| Ireland | 21–26 | France |
| Try: Mullin Con: Kiernan Pen: Kiernan (5) | Try: Blanco Lafond Lagisquet (2) Con: Lafond (2) Pen: Lafond (2) |
| Lansdowne Road, Dublin Attendance: 52,000 Referee: Brian Anderson (Scotland) |
| 21 January 1989 |
| Scotland | 23–7 | Wales |
| Try: Armstrong Chalmers White Con: Dods Pen: Dods (2) Drop: Chalmers | Try: Hall Pen: Bowen |
| Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Jean-Claude Doulcet (France) |
| 4 February 1989 |
| Wales | 13–19 | Ireland |
| Try: Jones Pen: Thorburn (3) | Try: Dean Mannion Con: Kiernan Pen: Kiernan (3) |
| Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Referee: Roger Quittenton (England) |
| 4 February 1989 |
| England | 12–12 | Scotland |
| Pen: Andrew (2) Webb (2) | Try: Jeffrey Con: Dods Pen: Dods (2) |
| Twickenham Stadium, London Referee: Guy Maurette (France) |
- This is the first draw in the Five Nations since 1985 (Ireland 15–15 France)
- This is the first draw between England and Scotland since 1982
- England retained the Calcutta Cup
| 18 February 1989 |
| France | 31–12 | Wales |
| Try: Berbizier Blanco (2) Dintrans Con: Lafond (3) Pen: Lafond (2) Drop: Mesnel | Pen: Thorburn (4) |
| Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 50,370 Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland) |
| 18 February 1989 |
| Ireland | 3–16 | England |
| Pen: Kiernan | Try: Moore Richards Con: Andrew Pen: Andrew (2) |
| Lansdowne Road, Dublin Referee: Les Peard (Wales) |
| 4 March 1989 |
| Scotland | 37–21 | Ireland |
| Try: Cronin Jeffrey Tukalo (3) Con: Dods (4) Pen: Dods (3) | Try: Dunlea Mullin (2) Con: Kiernan (3) Pen: Kiernan |
| Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald (New Zealand) |
| 4 March 1989 |
| England | 11–0 | France |
| Try: Carling Robinson Pen: Andrew |
| Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 62,500 Referee: Stephen Hilditch (Ireland) |
| 18 March 1989 |
| France | 19–3 | Scotland |
| Try: Berbizier Blanco Lagisquet Con: Bérot (2) Pen: Bérot | Pen: Dods |
| Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 49,370 Referee: Owen Doyle (Ireland) |
| 18 March 1989 |
| Wales | 12–9 | England |
| Try: Hall Con: Thorburn Pen: Thorburn (2) | Pen: Andrew (2) Drop: Andrew |
| Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald (New Zealand) |