The opening weekend of the Six Nations is one of the great sporting events of the calendar year. Excitement and anticipation helped form a glorious atmosphere at all three of the stadiums over both Saturday and Sunday, as the eagerly-anticipated tournament finally got underway.
Ireland were expected to triumph with ease in their game against Italy, while England faced a tricky home tie against the Welsh and Sunday’s match featured an interesting battle between two unpredictable sides in the form of Scotland and France.
The fixture-generator had been kind to last year’s Grand Slam champions, Ireland, as they were handed a home tie against the tournament’s huge underdogs, the Azzurri. However, it didn’t go entirely to plan for the boys in green. Despite a 29-11 victory, it was an uninspiring display from the reigning champions, who struggled to produce their best rugby in a scrappy encounter at Croke Park.
It took 10 minutes for Declan Kidney’s side to get their first three points on the board, and it came through Ireland’s Mr Reliable, Ronan O’Gara, who was only in the starting XV because of an injury to Jonathan Sexton. He would go on to score a total of four penalties and two conversions in typically clinical fashion.
A well-worked attacking move presented an opportunity for Ireland No.8 James Heaslip to score the game’s first try on 14 minutes, and from that point on an Irish win seemed inevitable. When Tomas O'Leary scored a second try before the half-time whistle, Italy were expected to crumble - but instead their response was admirable. Kaine Robertson charged down Rob Kearney's clearance, picked up the loose ball and shocked Croke Park by touching down to score.
This was as good as it would get for the Italians, though. Ireland could only muster six points after the break, but Nick Mallett’s side could only grab three, ensuring that the champions had secured another routine Six Nations victory against the 250-1 outsiders.
But there will be concerns that the victory wasn’t more comprehensive. Improvements must be made if Ireland are to retain the Six Nations trophy, let alone finish it with another Grand Slam.
The second match of Saturday afternoon took place at Twickenham as England head coach Martin Johnson was keen to write a new chapter under his management against rivals Wales. Having previously been criticised for a series of poor performances in the autumn, England were left with a huge point to prove in these championships and they got their campaign off to the best possible start with a 30-17 win against Warren Gatland’s below-par side.
It proved a tense and nervy affair; but two tries from James Haskell and one from scrum-half Danny Care, plus three penalties and as many conversions from an accurate Jonny Wilkinson helped England secure their first win against Wales in this competition for four years.
Johnson got his line-up spot on, as Wales struggled to make the most of their chances. However, Adam Jones and James Hook did cross the line for the visitors in the second half to give the Welsh supporters hope of a late comeback.
It never came, though, and in the end the result marked a satisfying win for the hosts, who could well be this year’s dark horses.
The sole match on Sunday between tournament favourites, France, and hosts Scotland was expected to go in favour of the visitors; but it was the Scots who broke the deadlock through – who else – Chris Paterson.
Much of the pre-match build-up had focused on the return of powerful France centre Mathieu Bastareaud, who had been exiled from the international setup during the autumn because of the infamous scandal which resulted in the 21-year-old visiting a psychiatric hospital.
And it was as if the script had already been written during Sunday’s clash, as the Stade Français man scored two tries – the second a quite brilliant solo effort – to put Marc Lievremont’s side 15-6 ahead at the break.
Bastareaud’s redemption had been completed, and the decision to bring him back into the international fold was a shrewd move, entirely justified by his commanding performance.
There was a minute’s silence before the match for the late “voice of rugby” Bill McLaren, who died last month at the age of 86. Even the much-loved commentator would have appreciated the performance of the influential centre, despite his beloved Scotland being the victims of his try-scoring exploits.
Paterson ensured the scoreline was slightly more respectable by scoring three penalties in total, but a Morgan Parra penalty ensured that France would double the Scots’ nine points in an 18-9 victory.
Another low-scoring weekend in terms of tries, then - but a superb weekend of high-class action to open up the 2010 Six Nations. At this stage it’s even trickier to select a potential winner than it was before a ball had even been kicked, but it was England who pulled off the result of the weekend.
Can Johnson really complete a remarkable turnaround and lead them to glory?
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