France could have snatched the Six Nations title in the final match but only once – and then briefly – did they look likely toParis in the springtime became like a rainy March day in Cardiff. They were perfect conditions for Wales and as Scotland played to them, kicking and harrying, France set out for the four tries and 21-point winning margin they needed to clinch the title, watching it slip from their grasp like the ball they struggled to hold on to.England’s defence of their title ended in Cardiff when a French referee awarded Wales two disputed tries and France found themselves 10-3 down after 14 minutes when an English official, Wayne Barnes, awarded Duhan van der Merwe a...
Having ended their Twickenham hoodoo, Gregor Townsend’s side seek to end a dismal run against another familiar foeIt is a measure of their popularity that the previous round of the Six Nations felt so empty without Scotland and France. Curse this virus. Difficult to tell which country’s absence was felt the keenest, but if Scotland wanted the perfect opportunity to remind us why we love them so much these days, while also fulfilling the tiresome directive to win, they could not have chosen much more appropriate opponents than Ireland.If exhilarating rugby is your thing, Ireland have not been such darlings of late. Probably not coincidentally, they also hold something of a hex over the Scots, having won nine of the...
France are only ever an offload away from top gear, Wales’s work ethic has revived them, but England have improvements to make with two out of five Six Nations rounds completedSo far, so good. We know about their strength in depth and their skill levels but we’re seeing a team who look fit, hungry and who believe they can win wherever they are playing. That is an incredible asset. Against Ireland they showed a great maturity for a young team and were able to wrestle back momentum whenever it threatened to slip away. In attack, they can be clinical - even if they left a couple of chances out there against Ireland - and they have an ability to go...
A remarkable recent dearth of British & Irish Lions caps will end if Scotland maintain their Twickenham standardsIt is an understatement to say Scotland have not had the lion’s share when it comes to the British & Irish Lions. In the Six Nations era, one player has started a Test match, the prop Tom Smith who was an ever-present in the 2001 Test series in Australia.Since then, Scotland have supplied, and then infrequently, players to the bench. On the past four tours, they have had six replacements, three of whom came on: the second row Richie Gray was the last, 13 minutes from the end of the final Test in Australia eight years ago. Related: Six Nations: talking points from...
Scotland’s master blender was at the heart of everything they did in their deserved Calcutta Cup victory over EnglandWhen a rivalry has been maturing for 150 years, the taste of success is always intoxicating. For Scotland this was as special as they come, a Calcutta Cup moment to toast for many decades. Up went Gregor Townsend’s arms at the final whistle and an entire nation rose with him. After 38 years of failing to conquer Twickenham, it is finally England’s turn to stare mournfully at the bottom of an empty glass.It was totally deserved, too. Any other result would have been a travesty. Could this yet be Scotland’s year? There are still four rounds to go and Paris will be...