Photo: Wikimedia Commons

only the second team to secure three championships in four years.

Yet, in a time where many where celebrating in exultation following the rarity of the Patriot’s achievement, Brady himself didn’t. He was tired, mentally and physically. As his success grew, so did the expectations set on him. He was the leader to his teammates, and someone admired by the fans well as his fifth championship. run down and try and win the game in overtime, Brady led a drive down the pitch and set up kicker Adam Vinatieri for a field goal. With seconds remaining, Vinatieri would score the field goal and Brady would win his first Superbowl.

In 2014, Brady once more led the Patriots to the Super Bowl and this time to a win. They beat the Seahawks, 28-24 and Brady had his fourth championship. However, in the wake of this win, the NFL published a report regarding ‘deflation of footballs’ in one of the Patriots play-off games, better known as ‘deflategate’ which would forever tarnish Brady’s career.

The NFL accused Brady and his team of deliberately deflating the ball in order to gain an advantage on the opposition. The advantage gained by deflating the ball allows the quarterback to throw it more easily. Each team uses their own balls for a game so only the Patriots gained the advantage. Eventually, Brady would accept a four-game suspension after dropping his appeal.

Brady would spend three final years with the Patriots which saw him win his sixth Super Bowl and pick up his third MVP before he and the Patriots went their separate ways. Brady would sign for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and this would give Brady the chance to silence the critics who pinned his success to the Patriots setup rather than his own ability.

Brady led the Buccaneers to a 15win season and their second ever Super Bowl. Brady was up against Patrick Mahomes, the man to take over from Brady, who was looking to win back-to-back Super Bowls.

The 2002 season saw Brady officially become the Patriots starting quarterback, but it wasn’t until 2003 that the Patriots would be back in the Super Bowl. They would defeat the Titans and Colts before defeating the Panthers in nearly the exact same circumstances as Brady’s first, to win his second. The 2003 win was followed up with another Super Bowl victory in 2004 making Brady’s Patriots and those around him. With all of that combined, Brady thought to himself, ‘when is this gonna end’.

The following eight years saw individual success for Brady, winning two MVP’s, but changes to personnel within the team as well as injuries, including to Brady, saw the Patriots go eight years without Super Bowl success. 2007 saw the Patriots complete the first ever invincible regular season which resulted in them making the Super Bowl, but the perfect season failed to have the perfect ending, and for the first time, Brady was defeated in a Super Bowl. 2011 also witnessed the Patriots make the Super Bowl, but yet again, Brady was second best.

The 2016 season would start with Brady serving his four-game ban, but would culminate in the Patriots, yet again, in the Super Bowl. However, it would see them down 28-3 in the third quarter to the Atlanta Falcons. Normally, an unassailable lead. With 17 minutes left to play, Brady and his team, miraculously, went on to score 25 unanswered points and took the game to overtime.

Brady’s family would always be in attendance for every game he played. However, this season his mother was diagnosed with cancer and was not able to attend. This was the first game she was able to attend in-person. Brady won the coin toss, and the Patriots had the ball to start overtime. The next team to score would win.

Brady, with his mother watching on, drove his side down the field and scored the touchdown which completed the greatest comeback in the history of the game as

Brady went on to throw three touchdowns in a 31-9 win to secure his seventh championship and proved he was still the best and could win without the Patriots. This would be the last stand for Brady as his final two years with the Buccaneers and in the NFL would see time catch up with him, ultimately resulting in retirement.

Brady retires as the player to win the most games, have the most division titles, career passing yards, touchdown passes, Pro Bowl selections, fourth quarter comebacks, game-winning drives and NFL championships, to name only a few accomplishments.

The best of the ‘Six’ at the Six Nations

to Diego Dominguez. He scored 29 of Italy’s 34 points, including six penalties, a conversion, and a hat trick of drop goals.

Yachvili Scores Grand Slam Decider

For France:

Earlier in the November of 2003, England had beaten France in the Semi-finals of the World Cup, which they would go on to win. So when England and France met in the Six Nations, France had only one thing on their mind, revenge.

A moment of brilliance from Dimitri Yachvili gave France the revenge they had been seeking. An ingenious grubber kick and chase try was the highlight of his incredible performance that night as he also kicked the goals to secure France’s 4th Grand Slam in eight years.

Ronan O’Gara’s Late Drop Goal To Secure Ireland’s Grand Slam:

There have to be a couple of honourable mentions for Ireland as they have provided some iconic moments throughout the history of the Six Nations. These include Brian O’Driscoll announcing himself in international rugby with a hat trick and Johnny Sexton’s last-minute drop goal in 2018.

However, their most remarkable moment came in 2009. Ireland had to go through Wales in Cardiff to win a Grand Slam.

It was a very close game; fans would have thought it was over when Stephen Jones kicked a drop goal to take the lead for Wales. But with two minutes left, Ronan O’Gara scored a drop goal to take Ireland ever closer to winning the Grand Slam. A last-minute penalty to Wales was just short of the posts meaning Ireland had won their first grand slam since 1948.

Wales’ Magical Comeback Against Scotland In 2010:

Up until the 75th minute, Scotland had outplayed Wales. Scotland was leading by 10 points at 24-14. However, in the last five minutes, Wales’ Leigh Halfpenny scored a try, and Stephen Jones kicked a penalty to level the scores. Then marvellously, in the 81st minute, winger Shane Williams scored the winning try in front of an ecstatic crowd in Cardiff.

Daly’s Match-Winning Try Enabling England to Defend Their Title:

In 2017, defending champions England found themselves trailing 16-14 against Wales in Cardiff. But with only five minutes to go, the game was turned on its head.

George Ford caught a punt and played an excellent pass to Owen Farrell, who threw a perfect pass out to the winger Elliot Daly who sprinted into the corner and scored the match-winning try. Daly’s try enabled England to defend their Six Nations title successfully.

Scotland Comeback 31-0 In 2019 To Retain The Calcutta Cup For The First Time Since 1984:

Scotland had not won at Twickenham since 1983, and it looked to continue as England went 31-0 ahead. However, Scotland did not give up and produced something magical as Stuart McInally, Darcy Graham (2), Magnus Bradbury, and Finn Russell all scored to level it at 31-31. Then a Sam Johnson try was converted, giving Scotland a 38-31 lead with three minutes to go.

Heartbreakingly, George Ford salvaged a draw for England right at the very end. However, it was Scotland who rejoiced as a draw meant they retained the Calcutta cup for the first time since 1984.