Before the start of this year’s tournament the big talking points were the new high tackle interpretations and the introduction of bonus points.
Many pundits were predicting that the clash between Ireland and England in the final weekend would be a title decider but the results from the weekend will leave them revising that view.
The opening weekend of the Six Nations is always an exciting prospect for the fans of the competing nations. It’s when the collective optimism is at it’s highest. Each team and coach feel that they’ve prepared as best they can and that they have a chance to make a real impact in the tournament. However come Monday morning three coaches will be going back to the drawing board. Read on to find out which teams are still on track and which have got work to do.
Scotland 27 – Ireland 22
by Mark Rooney
Scotland started with a ferocity that the Irish couldn’t match. The Scottish defence force mistakes from Ireland in open play and at the lineout. It was from one such error that Scotland opened the scoring.
They ran turn over ball deep into the Irish 22 and sucked the defenders in while keeping their own width. A fizzer of a pass from Russell found Hogg out beyond the last defender and he went over for the first score. Laidlaw added the extras to make it 7-0 after 10 minutes.
Scotland maintained the pressure on defence and once again struck from turn over ball. Spinning the ball out wide where Hogg picked a line between Earls and Kearney to get in behind the defence. Then he pinned his ears back and went for the line. Laidlaw obliged again from the tee 14-0 as the first quarter ended.
Ireland then looked to steady the ship and went through almost 20 phases close to the Scottish line before Earls gathered a floated pass and squeezed in at the corner. 14-5 after 26 minutes.
Ireland’s lineout woes continued as they were caught out by a bit of clever thinking by the Scots. Ireland were expecting to defended a backs and all shove but instead Scotland went quick to centre Dunbar in the middle of the line and he went over unopposed. 21-5 with 10 to half time.
Jackson struck a penalty towards the end of the half to make the score 21-8 at the break.
Ireland started the second half with real purpose. The attack that looked blunt and predictable against the Scottish defence in the first half suddenly had an edge and they began to make metres.
Eight minutes of pressure on the Scottish line told as Henderson barged his way over with Jackson added the extra for 21-15.
Ireland bossed possession and the Scottish defenders began to look tired. As the gaps appeared Jackson picked a beautiful line to ghost through one and then stretch for the line as the defence reacted too late. He converted and Ireland hit the lead 21-22 with less than twenty to go.
Ireland continued to pile on the pressure and it looked like they’d pull away but two excellent pieces of play from Maitland saved two certain tries.
Having soaked up so much pressure Scotland then took the lead against the run of play breaking down field and forcing a penalty while Laidlaw converted for 24-22 with seven to go.
They then ran the final few minutes down in the Irish 22 and struck a penalty on the buzzer to stretch out to 27-22.
The Game Changer
Scotland’s third try by Alex Dunbar turned a shock lead into a winning position.
Man of the Match
Jackson did a good job for Ireland in the absence of Sexton and almost inspired them to a memorable comeback victory. Scotland’s first half laid the ground work for this victory and Hogg was central to that, solid under the high ball, big clearance kicks and two tries were enough to clinch the GAGR Man of the Match award.
Get more match information from ESPN Scrum.
England 19 – France 16
by “MST”
This is a match up that usually starts out intriguing and ends up being disappointing, but this time it turned out to be enthralling from start to finish. It was a match full of all the classic sporting clichés you could possible want. It was tough, tight, an arm wrestle, a match of two halves and it came down to inches.
The game started with the French regaining the flair from the past and showing some lovely running rugby. Unfortunately they suffered from their continued affliction of being unable to convert once they got into the red zone.
13 minutes in Jonny May was given a yellow card for a marginal tip tackle on Gael Fickou. There were mere inches in it, as one of Fickou’s legs was taken beyond the vertical. To the relief of English fans, their team conceded just 3 points while May was off the field.
The first half was ground out like a true arm wrestle, with only penalties being scored from both sides, though the French appeared to have more try scoring opportunities. The huge French forward pack nullified the English pack for the first half, with neither team gaining dominance in the scrum.
The second half started much the same as the first, with the French running and looking dangerous, but still unable to cross the line. The arm wrestle continued through the first 20 minutes of the half. The English forwards were unable to gain ascendancy over the French, which put the whole team and game plan under immense pressure and left them scrambling for options.
It was the French that eventually scored the first try, with substitute prop Rabah Slimani diving over the line in the 60th minute. With the successful conversion it took the French to a 16-12 lead.
Things started to swing England’s way as both teams made substitutions. The English bench had a big impact, and they started to gain some control over the match. In the 71st minute it was ex-NRL star and 6 Nations debutante Ben Te’o who was on the end of a good piece of play by England, crossing the line, making the score 19-16 which is how it stayed until full time.
The Game Changer
With just 2 minutes left on the clock Jean-Mark Doussain missed touch with a penalty kick, taking away the last possible chance France had to attack and handing England the win.
Get more match information from ESPN Scrum.
Italy 7 – Wales 33
by Nick Wasiliev
While the other two matches of the opening round were gritty, nail-biting affairs, the end score of this match probably wasn’t a indication of how close the match was up until the 60th minute. The men in red were favorites to take this match, but the Azzurri went into this match with a new air of confidence to end their losing streak against the Welsh, following their first ever victory against the Springboks last year.
Forecast rain arrived in Rome an hour before kick-off, and the first 25 minutes saw a scrappy affair, with both teams squandering chances. Wales were showing the most attacking flair, but to Italy’s credit, some strong defence proved decisive in stopping many scoring opportunities.
When the Azzurri finally got the ball though, they made sure they took advantage, getting on the board through a brilliant orchestrated maul, with the try going to Edoardo Gori. Leigh Halfpenny cut the deficit to four before the break, with Italy entering the change rooms ahead 7-3.
The second half saw Wales chip away at the lead through Halfpenny’s boot, which saw the Welsh take the lead for the first time in the 52nd minute. Italy were now starting to be undone by poor discipline, with prop Andrea Lovotti being sent to the sin bin in the 59th minute. Wales finally scored their first try in the 60th minute through the ever-reliable Jonathan Davies, with tries to Liam Williams and a stunning long range effort from George North blowing out the score, Wales taking the match 7-33, and handing them their fourth straight victory.
It was a match to forget for both sides. The Welsh were unconvincing in the first half, missing nine tackles. Such mistakes will not get them off so lightly when they face England next week. They also would be disappointed to have not come away with a bonus point win. But the Azzurri will be ruing their losses more. They led for more than half the match, but it was silly mistakes in discipline and not being able to counteract the Welsh attack that undid them. They face a hurting Ireland in Rome next week.
The Game Changer
Andrea Lovotti being sent to the bin in the 59th minute summed up the discipline of the Azzurri in the second half. In the ten minutes he was gone, Wales finally broke the deadlock and scored two tries.
Get more match information from ESPN Scrum.
The Wrap
Defending champions England had a bit of a scare against France but they came through in the end. Their fellow title favourites Ireland can’t say the same and Joe Schmidt now has a job on his hands to resurrect their title challenge. France came away with a defeat but performed much better than expected. Vern Cotter will be delighted with Scotland’s win over the Irish but will need to impress on his charges that this can’t be a one off result. Conor O’Shea will now understand the monumental task he has in trying to make Italy a force in the Six Nations. Sean Howley will be pleased to start off with a bonus point win and to remain under the radar as the media focuses on England’s title defence.
Up next Italy welcome a wounded Ireland who will be under pressure to produce a performance. Wales get a chance to derail England’s bid for back to back grand slams and deny them a shot at New Zealand’s world record. Scotland travel to Paris in bu0yant spirits to face what looks like a dangerous French outfit under Noves.
