Six Nations: Full Contact (2024) User Reviews

Better than the newspaper reviews

[boylec-50478 · 8/10 · 25 January 2024]

The series has got quite a harsh reception in the media but I enjoyed it a lot. I follow rugby so didn't need explainers on the rules of the game but I could see how some background and also the history of the Six Nations could have been beneficial.

The characters are compelling and the interviews with specific players going to their homes, hearing their partners worries and learning their family history was interesting and fresh.

Overall I think it's a strong series but it's not quite sure whether it should be 'Drive to Survive' following multiple characters or 'The Quarterback' which focuses on just three NFL players.

I expect season 2 to get better and commend this first effort!

Decent series, but they missed a trick.

[thefenna · 7/10 · 24 January 2024]

If you're into background stories of individuals, the histories of the rivalries/competition etc, and the physicality of the sport, then this is totally the show for you. It's a decent series.

But if you're hoping for an insight into the sport's rules and how the game is played to help gain an interest in the sport, then you won't get any of that.

I was hoping the creators might have followed the F1 Drive to Survive series, where that had the odd explanation thrown in, which told us what the odd rule is, or what certain tactics aim to achieve etc.

I was never a fan of F1, but I watched that series and because stuff was explained, it created an interest for me and I now see a point in watching a full race.

I don't watch Rugby matches because I find them boring and too stop-start... Plus I don't understand all the rules, so confuses me when random penalties are given.

I was hoping this Six Nations series would've chucked in some education. A bit more insight in that regard might convince me to have more interest in actual games.

Others might feel the same perhaps.

Still, I enjoyed the series because I have had plenty of experience with the rugby atmosphere thru friends, so it's not a totally alien sport to me. But to folk that's never given it a proper chance (like me with F1), it might be tough to stick with. It's not convinced me to start watching full games anyway.

Above average

[collycolm · 6/10 · 25 January 2024]

It was fairly good. Was expecting to be blown away by it but it fell a little short. Probably down to personal preference but they didn't seem to spend that long on the Irish players. It seemed like a highlights reel of the 2023 6 Nations.

Probably expected more action shots of rugby itself. Some of the interviews with various players were interesting, especially Negri, which gave a huge insight into the Zimbabwean born Italian.

However, other players who were briefly interviewed, seemed to have huge potential but the documentary barely scratched the surface with these, leaving way more questions than answers.

Probably worth a watch but could have been a lot better.

Fantastic

[jaycrafter · 10/10 · 25 January 2024]

Full Contact stands out for its ability to seamlessly blending on-field intensity with behind-the-scenes intimacy. Navigating this balance cannot be easy, especially in a sport rooted in tradition. I think the producers succeed, creating a show that not only captivates with the raw power of the game but also adds a personal touch, connecting fans to the players and the sport on a deeper level.

Ellis Genge and Andrew Porter are excellent ambassadors and hopefully the stories they share will help young aspiring players focus their energies into this exciting sport!

Well done to the producers. They have done a tremendous job, looking forward to Season 2.

Good for the sport

[hooper-s · 9/10 · 24 January 2024]

Watched the first couple of episodes with my partner (who is in no way a rugby fan) and she is keen to watch more. For me the show is therefore doing exactly the right thing in bringing more people into the sport.

It's not perfect though and you could tell an 'all access' approach hadn't been taken. Would be good to see the more raw, heartfelt moments on the training field and in the changing rooms so you can really connect with the players and the team (rather than the motivational speeches which don't feel like the whole story).

But all around good show and would recommend to both rugby fans and people new to the sport.

Rugby for dummies... but it's not terrible.

[paulmoviez · 6/10 · 24 January 2024]

Should start by saying that I'm big into my rugby and understand that they were always going to try and entice the unanointed. And in all fairness, they successfully made the sport into a consumable little package and it's by no means a bad watch. The players they choose to focus on are (for the most part) good viewing, especially the likes of Porter and Russell.

All that being said, the show is flawed. I feel like dedicating one episode towards bringing casual viewers/newcomers up to speed and then going a little more in depth to the sport itself may have been the move rather than the oversimplifying route that they went down. Sound effects on every tackle gets old pretty quickly, as do the angles changing every 5 seconds, and MY GOD somebody has to answer for the SICKENING amount of slow-motion shots. Efforts to cinematize the matches don't land and are cringy across the board.

In summary, something in it for everyone and it is broadly speaking more entertaining than boring. But if you're looking for something that goes a bit deeper then keep looking.

A great showcase for rugby's quote-unquote 'Greatest Championship''

[allmoviesfan · 10/10 · 22 March 2024]

Featuring a cast of the game's best and brightest - Scotland's Finn Russell, France's Antoine Dupont, Ireland's Johnny Sexton, England's Owen Farrell, Wales' Dan Biggar and Italy's Seb Negri and all the coaches as well - "Six Nations: Full Contact" combines game footage that is superbly cinematic with footage from inside dressing rooms, in homes, at training headquarters and everywhere in between.

The insight from the players ranges from mundane to very interesting. The peek into those players' private life, though sparing, was fascinating. More of that in season two, please.

The best narratives are when teams aren't going very well, so Italian coach Kieran Crowley, who doesn't mind an F-bomb or twenty-nine, was always fascinating. Same, for similar reasons but without the F!@#$%g swearing, Warren Gatland of Wales.

Really enjoyed all eight episodes. I don't think rugby union has ever had a better platform. Hope it translates into new fans.

(Shoutout to Mark Robson, who voice-overed a lot of commentary for the games. He is an acquired taste, I must admit, but one of my favourites.)

Your typical over dramatized netflix sports show for people who don't watch the sport.

[alexisdelestre · 6/10 · 30 January 2024]

I pretty much said everything in the Title.

A 5-6/10 for people who enjoy the sport just for the imagery of the games that is top notch but everything is over dramatized and explained for people who don't know the sport. I understand that for people who love sports and want to get into something they know nothing about this is a decent introduction to the world of rugby so 7/10 for neophytes.

It would of been so much better if they filmed it like France football films their training camps, team talks and video analysis on their youtube channel! A more in depth look inside Nations locker rooms, learn more about our favorite players they do this a bit but it's over dramatized and feels fake.... such a missed opportunity!

Weird Sport

[atleverton · 6/10 · 31 January 2024]

This is a very weird sport. I mean, the losers win a wooden spoon. The sport is also a very brutal one. There's an argument in hockey that helmets made the sport more dangerous because players can hit harder. People who make that argument have never watched rugby. A hard hitting sport with barely a helmet to be seen. Also interesting to see are the motivational speeches given by the coaches, especially the Italian one. Clearly, the Italian team is the worst in the tournament, but he's saying that they have a shot. I wonder how motivational it would be if he had just said that he doesn't beleive that they can win. It's a good introduction to the sport, but drags a little bit.

Good, if you're into your rugby

[neilj-34446 · 7/10 · 22 February 2024]

It's a good insight to the demands, commitment, physical and mental challenge of top class rugby. If you like your rugby and especially the six nations then it's a good watch.

Some areas could be improved eg the editing of play is so disjointed that even if you know what's happening, it's not easy to follow the play. Also, not a single minute is dedicated to the fans (still got couple episodes to watch). This is so much a part of rugby and the six nations - the friendship between rival fans - it's a big miss IMHO.

Agree with some other reviews that if you don't know rugby, it's not very welcoming. I think adding screen graphics to give an insight into rules/reasons for decisions could have been a different approach eg as conversion being taken, on screen graphic showing line from where ball grounded and added text could have help the non-initiated.

So disappointing, worse... boring!

[philwatson15 · 3/10 · 28 January 2024]

I was desperate for this to be good! Desperate for it to encourage more people to see rugby for the entertainment that it is. But unfortunately it hasn't delivered.

Each episode features a player or 2 talking about their own journey, but no insight into the sport itself. Can't really see any positives about the series at all. I believe some teams weren't forthcoming with content for Netflix, but I don't think a second series is coming and to be honest I don't think I'd watch it.

If it does go again we want to see the teams behind the scenes. Not get to know a player or two. That's what Instagram is for!

Could be so much better

[connaughton · 5/10 · 28 January 2024]

The 6 Nations, oldest rugby tournament in the world, made up of Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. For those viewers not familiar, each team play the five other teams only once.

Interviews with players, coaches, and families and friends of the above. Some insight in to players they selected to cover, particularly mental health and doubts. Lots of nice footage of games, but often looks like video game, and missing the build up to a try being scored - just the end product, failure.

But, why of why, could they not show the matches in the order they occurred!? Infuriating. And very uneven coverage of each team.

missed opportunity

[daniele_loi · 5/10 · 24 January 2024]

This serie is another missed opportunity for this sport to reach other public different than the one that already follow. Is an empty box, too much "on field" content, what could be interesting personal stories are only are just mentioned and not explored in depth, for the rest there are banality and common places abut this sport without goin in the deep for example in the story of the rivalry, if compared to other sport series this is going to lose on every side. And strangely for being Netflix is also terribly shot, the frames and the poor steady of some of the scenes looks like are made with low level cameras, I had seasickness in some moments.

Doesn't live up to the hype

[duven6 · 2/10 · 15 March 2024]

I started watching and immediately felt like it was more of an advert than a documentary. There was nothing engaging on how it was presented either, I was defiantly not drawn in. I think it suffers from trying to add all the teams and players into a limited time and suffers for this, no connection and I think they tried to hard to replicate the F1 documentary and this was a bad idea. Perhaps they should look at other rugby documentaries like "All or nothing" and "Chasing the sun". These are what good rugby documentaries should look like. Very disappointed, that's almost a hour of my life I can't get back.

Good series but disjointed and follows the same predictable theme

[EddyGrimley · 2 February 2024]

I liked this series but the back and forth between games made it hard to follow for the casual fan. Also why do series like these feel the need to use attractive female reporters as their narrators? This has zero to do with credibility and everything to do with trying to hit every common theme of Netflix sports docos: drama, sport, tension, back story and attractive reporter telling us ridiculous facts and story lines. It's insulting to sports fans and reduces any credibility these producers have in regards to authenticity. We are supposed to believe the only reporters for these teams are 30 something attractive females and there isn't even one male reporter worth adding to the program. Every Netflix series has the same formula and it's getting old quick The rugby is fine but the rest is crap.