After the heady heights of Wales' 2005 Grand Slam success it was a case of normal service being resumed in last season's RBS 6 Nations Championship.
France, despite losing their opening game against Scotland at Murrayfield, then reeled off four victories to land the title ahead of Brian O'Driscoll's Triple Crown-winning Ireland side.
Wales, hampered by injuries to key personnel, never got going, while England's demise continued as they lost three Six Nations games for the second campaign in a row, but Scotland secured an encouraging mid-table finish under their new coach Frank Hadden.
Here, PA Sport Rugby Union Correspondent Andrew Baldock reviews the 2006 Six Nations showpiece.
WEEK ONE
England, desperate to make a statement under head coach Andy Robinson, enjoyed a scintillating start as they swamped Wales - who were minus a suspended Gavin Henson - 47-13 at Twickenham with World Cup winners Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Dawson, Mike Tindall and Lewis Moody among their try scorers, but Ireland had a less straightforward time of it in despatching Lansdowne Road visitors Italy
26-16.
Scotland commanded all the opening weekend headlines though, as two tries from Northampton wing Sean Lamont left France shellshocked, ending their Grand Slam hopes as they fell at the first hurdle with a 20-16 defeat.
WEEK TWO
Wales, reeling from their Twickenham pummelling, recovered by defeating Millennium Stadium visitors Scotland 28-18, but it might have been a different story had the Scots not seen experienced lock Scott Murray sent off after he kicked out at opposite number Ian Gough. Wales' Grand Slam coach Mike Ruddock then stunned the rugby world by quitting his job, and Australian Scott Johnson
took over in a caretaker capacity.
Ireland lost a 10-try spectacular against France in Paris - defending often appeared optional during a match that produced 74 points - but Charlie Hodgson ran the show for England in a 31-16 success against Italy in Rome.
WEEK THREE
It had been a case of so far, so good for England, yet the chariot's wheels were dislodged at Murrayfield as Scotland prevailed 18-12 in a tryless encounter to blow the title race wide open. Robinson lamented missed England chances, but worse was to come for the world champions.
`Ruddockgate` continued to overshadow the Wales camp, and Henson made a miserable return for the injured Stephen Jones against Ireland in Dublin as the home side cruised to a 31-5 win. France, meanwhile, saw off Italy 37-12.
WEEK FOUR
Ireland and France enjoyed contrasting victories in their push for the Six Nations title, with five Ronan O'Gara penalties seeing the Irish past a battling Scots outfit, but France crushed a shambolic England side 31-6 in Paris when seasoned observers were left wondering when the red rose outfit had last produced a performance so devoid of ideas, intelligence or spirit.
Wales, one sensed, could not wait for the tournament to finish, and an 18-18 home draw against Italy underlined just how far they had fallen.
WEEK FIVE
Only a French defeat against Wales in Cardiff could effectively prevent the Six Nations trophy heading to Paris, but France delivered the goods, edging out the Welsh 21-16 despite a brilliant individual display by scrum-half Mike Phillips.
Ireland secured the Triple Crown by edging past England 28-24 in a pulsating encounter, and Scotland ended their campaign with a hard-fought 13-10 success against Italy at Stadio Flaminio. France though, had already done enough.