Is it really impossible to name the winners of the Six Nations after just two matches of the tournament?
Following last weekend’s action, it seems pre-championship favourites France will take some stopping this year. A 33-10 victory against Ireland in Paris outlined Les Blues dominance over not just Ireland – but the entire pack.
Declan Kidney’s side had travelled to France’s capital determined to win their first match in the city for 10 years. Montages of Brian O’Driscoll scoring a famous hat-trick in 2000 were there to inspire the senses; but on Saturday they had no answer to a rampant French side, who now look odds on to lift the trophy next month.
Before the tournament had begun, Irish supporters had visions of their team winning back-to-back Grand Slams with another flawless campaign in 2010. Sadly, these dreams will remain a fantasy after tries from William Servat, Yannick Jauzion and Clement Poitrenaud – along with 15 points from the boot of Morgan Parra – condemned Ireland to their first Six Nations defeat since March 2008, where coincidentally, they lost by exactly the same scoreline, but to England.
This match was billed as a “tournament decider” by many, and following this impressive victory, it now seems likely that France will go on to win their fifth Six Nations in nine years. If they can overcome Wales at the end of February, they then face two home matches against underdogs Italy and then the only side who also still have a 100 per cent winning record in this year’s championships, England.
However, Martin Johnson’s side produced an uninspiring account of themselves in the Eternal City on Sunday afternoon. Following their confidence-boosting win against Wales the weekend prior to their match in Rome, England fans had travelled to the Stadio Flaminio expecting fireworks against the tournament outsiders, Italy.
With Riki Flutey back in the fold, there was a real buzz among the visitors’ supporters that they were about to witness a new and improved England – a team which had dramatically improved from last autumn’s debacle and were now building on last week’s success.
And there was almost a perfect start for Johnson’s side within the first 35 seconds as Delon Armitage stormed down the England left and very nearly won the race to cross the line. This was as good as it got for the visitors in the first half, though. The teams went into the break level at 6-6 – Italy were holding their own and looked good value for their six points; while England had flattered to deceive once again.
However, their long-awaited breakthrough did finally arrive in the second half when a moment of inspiration from Mathew Tait put the team on their way to their second consecutive victory. The try-scorer had managed to repay the faith shown in him by Johnson, who declared his delight at coming away from Italy with two points in the bag – his first win away from home in his 18 month tenure as head coach.
Jonny Wilkinson, who had been misfiring for most of the afternoon, scored the decisive drop kick with five minutes left on the clock to seal the match, as England ran out 17-12 winners.
Despite the entertainment value in both of these matches, it was the opening match of the weekend which provided fans of the championships with an unforgettable match sure to last long in the memory of Wales supporters.
Scotland’s lack of discipline and Wales’ never-say-day mentality earned the hosts an unlikely two points after they had trailed 21-6 with 30 minutes left to play in an extraordinary end to the match. A sterling effort from Warren Gatland’s side saw them rise from the brink of defeat to cloud nine with a last-gasp try from Shane Williams.
The visitors were undoubtedly the better side for the majority of the match, with fly-half Dan Parks controlling the game at the Millennium Stadium; and they went into the break comfortably ahead at 18-9.
But in the closing stages of the match, Scott Lawson and Phil Godman were both sin-binned in quick succession to give Wales hope of staging a remarkable late comeback.
Tries from Lee Byrne and Leigh Halfpenny reduced the deficit, and when Stephen Jones leveled the game on the 79th minute, Wales were given one opportunity to snatch victory.
In the final play of the match – buoyed by the vocal 70,000 crowd packed into the stadium – Wales refused to settle for the draw. They had managed to retain possession and as Williams went under the posts in the 81st minute, the Wales supporters would have raised the Millennium Stadium roof if Scotland coach Andy Robinson had allowed it to be retracted.
A famous win for Wales, then, and one which could inspire them to launch a bid for second place after all.
But at the end of the weekend, it’s France who appear firmly on course to win this year’s tournament and it will take a brave individual to bet against them sealing a Grand Slam, too.
Tags: