RBS 6 Nations 2016: Power Ranking Teams After Matchday 4

England clinched the 2016 RBS Six Nations crown ahead of schedule on Matchday 4, after Scotland's 29-18 win over France on Sunday ensured Saturday's victory over Wales at Twickenham, England, was enough to claim the top prize.

Head coach Eddie Jones retained his 100 per cent record with the Red Rose as a result, and the 25-21 victory over Wales also secured the Triple Crown. Not bad going for your first four games in charge.

Just as Les Bleus were disappointed to drop at the hands of a much-improved Scottish side, Italy were embarrassed as Ireland finally freed their shackles and soared to a 58-15 win in Dublin.

England's title may be assured, but the Six Nations standings can still change dramatically in the final week, and we've ranked Europe's top guns as we move within sight of this year's curtain call.

Movement: None

Italy have resided at the bottom of our power rankings since the beginning of this year's tournament, and that doesn't look likely to change anytime soon after they sealed the wooden spoon on Matchday 4.

After starting their Six Nations so positively with a narrow defeat in France, it's been nothing but bad news for coach Jacques Brunel's team, and a 59-18 loss to Ireland on Saturday was the worst of it so far.

The Italians can conjure up the odd piece of magic—most likely through Sergio Parisse, Michele Campagnaro or Leonardo Sarto—but apart from that, they're still miles off the Six Nations pace.

That was particularly evident in defence on Saturday as they leaked no fewer than nine tries, and their bottom placing in the table is nothing but deserved.

Movement: Down One

France's standing in the European order dropped this week after they went from being the only team who could catch high-flying England to ruing back-to-back Six Nations defeats.

Looking back on their progress under new head coach Guy Noves, the slim wins over Italy and Ireland no longer look as impressive, and instead, Les Bleus are now at serious risk of finishing fifth in the standings.

Even Noves admitted it shouldn't be difficult for his side to improve upon their performance against the Scots when they play host to England in Week 5, per Rugby World's Gavin Mortimer.

The arrival of a new coach promised a new dawn for France leading up to this tournament, but the uninspired loss to Scotland only showed evidence this team is still searching for its identity.

Movement: Up One

Finally, Irish fans were given something to cheer on Saturday after a spirited display saw head coach Joe Schmidt rewarded for ringing the changes in his squad.

Granted, we have to take into account this was a lacklustre Italy team that conceded nine tries in Dublin, but some of the build-up play shown by Ireland and the patience playing through the phases was impressive nonetheless.

Ireland kept with their method of staying away from offload-laden rugby for the most part and instead simply sped up the phases once the ball had been grounded, not to mention hitting far better angles in the line.

All this came together and made for a much-improved performance across the board, and the Irish once again look like a threat as they head into a tense closing fixture against Scotland in Dublin.

Movement: None

Ireland's win over Italy may have been mighty, but Scotland were the most attractive team to watch on Matchday 4 as they exorcised a few demons against the French en route to a 29-18 win.

Munster scrum-half Conor Murray has evidently viewed their thumping of the French, too, after the Irishman hailed his side's Week 5 opponents as a "well-oiled machine," per The42.ie:

We’re up against a better team this weekend so you can’t assume that we’re going to play as well as it looked (against Italy).

They (Scotland) are playing with real width at the moment and they’re not afraid to throw the ball around. They’ve got a really strong scrum… that’s a really strong weapon for them at the moment. Their back-row are pretty dangerous, especially at slowing down opposition ball.

I think (Greig) Laidlaw and Finn Russell if he’s back fit – if not, (Peter) Horne can come in and do a really good job as well – they run the show quite well. Then you have the likes of (Tommy) Seymour, (Tim) Visser and (Stuart) Hogg. 

I know (Hogg) quite well and he’s in a rich vein of form. He had a massive impact on the game at the weekend and he’s going to be coming here with his confidence sky-high. They’re going to be a well-oiled machine coming here and looking to do damage.

There was a glimmering range of attack on show in Scotland's win, too, with full-back Stuart Hogg displaying quick feet, while Duncan Taylor scored on the end of a lung-bursting run and Tim Visser benefited from a looping miss-pass.

In short, the Scottish back line is showing a threatening array of skills, while the pack is providing a solid base to work off with one of the most fearsome back rows around at present.

All signs point to a classic affair in Dublin this Saturday, with table places on the line.

Movement: None

Wales were forced to settle for defeat at Twickenham on Saturday despite an admirable comeback attempt late on thanks to tries from George North and Taulupe Faletau.

Aviva Premiership communications director Paul Morgan was left impressed by that late revival, but head coach Warren Gatland's men ultimately suffered for an abysmal opening 50 or so minutes.

Wales' first-half performance saw them struggle to threaten their hosts as England ran rampant, and while the score may have been separated by just four points in the end, it could have been worse.

Nevertheless, Wales have still proved their standing as deserved runners-up and a team who could beat England on another day—this just wasn't to be it, and rightly so.

Movement: None

There isn't a qualm any of England's rivals could have with the Red Rose lifting this year's Six Nations title, and a Grand Slam may also be just reward for a team coming on in leaps and bounds under Jones.

With Owen Farrell taking care of things from the tee, emerging pack icon Maro Itoje making a nuisance of himself in all regards and 22-year-old Anthony Watson providing England's sole try against Wales, the future looks bright.

What was particularly impressive about the display was England's ability to not just hold Wales off in the first half, but also demonstrate an almost embarrassing grip on possession, 61 percent to be exact, per ESPN Scrum.

England became the first team to break the 100-point barrier at this year's tournament thanks to their Week 4 win—not to mention conceding the fewest points of any side (49)—and they are now looking to seal the Grand Slam.