19-2-19 6 nations
6 NATIONS RUGBY
ITALY 14-25 FRANCE
PERFECT PENAUD
That’s scrappy from France. The Azzuri don’t allow the
visitors any time in the ruck and some poor handling sees Yacouba Camara
concede a penalty in front of the posts.Tommaso Allan knocks it through and
Italy make good on their promising start.
That’s a big shove from Italy and with it they earn a chance
to double the lead! Matthew Carley blows his whistle and Allan will kick for
the posts.Allan slots it through with just enough on the ball to drop the right
side of the upright. The hosts deserving of their lead so far.
Antoine Dupont scores from absolutely nowhere and Italy’s
solid start is completely undone. A lovely bit of work from Penaud to beat a
couple of Italian statues on the right and with the scrum half running in
support the wing slips him the ball to beat the last man. All too simple.
Ntamack knocks over the extras.
Camara enters a ruck from the side and Allan makes no
mistake with the kick. That’s a change in policy from Conor O’Shea, Italy
consistently kicked for the corner in the first half but at thge first
opportunity after the break Italy opt for the points.
France come to life whenever they get a bit of space in the
Italian half. Ntamack skips a couple of weak challenges and a long pass out to
the left flank ultimately gives Huget the chance to finish. The wing makes no
mistake, shrugging off his defender and powering over for the score. Extras
added with little fuss.
Tebaldi bulldozes over and Italy get the try they deserve.
It comes after a wonderful barrage of Italian attacking rugby, Parisse got it
started by knocking a couple of French defenders over to make a break, Esposito
shows good strength on the wing and as the Azzuri work it from left to right a
sliver of a gap finally opens up for Tebaldi shove through. However, Allan
misses the conversion so Italy still trail by three points.
Great retreating
effort from Allan as some sloppy Italian handling creates a chance for Medard
to chase his own grubber kick. However, it does set up France with good field
position as Italy get turned over. No messing around from
the French fly half as he gets himself in the pocket and knocks over the kick
Penaud, the saviour moments earlier when disrupting Zanon,
now seals the win for France. Les Bleus gather a box kick and offload to their
rampaging wing who turns on the burners to speed away for a killer score. That
sums it up for Italy
MY
OPINION
This was a disappointing result
for the French in the 6 nations as they do not look set in any way for the
World Cup the thing they set themselves up for the end of the year which is
very quickly but if anyone can do it we know it is the French
WALES 25-7 IRELAND
PERFECT PARKS
They get a penalty advantage but keep the pressure on, and
Anscombe’s clever chip kick is caught by Hadleigh Parkes! Anscombe adds the conversion
An exchange of kicks in midfield before Sexton is penalised
for grabbing Liam Williams as he tried to tackle Stockdale. You don’t need to
be an expert lip reader to see what Sexton thought of the call. Wales penalty,
and Anscombe will kick for goal...It’s a long way out, and close to the right
flank, but Anscombe’s kick is a missile that curls beautifully between the
posts.
Moriarty bursts over the gain line, but Navidi is penalised
for going in off his feet. From an Ireland lineout, Wales steal the ball and
the visitors are offside from Biggar’s kick across the field. So untidy from
Ireland, Wales extend their lead – if they can get to half-time with this
lead, they’ll have one hand on the trophy.
Rob Kearney tries to venture forward but runs into a red
wall. Cian Healy is penalised for clattering Francis, and Wales can add another
three point Anscome scores the pen
Anscombe’s fourth penalty threatens to squeak past the right
post, before darting inside.
Stander not moving away as Ireland continue to beat
themselves. Anscombe will go for his sixth successful kick...It’s never in
doubt, and Wales turn the screw again.
Wales are toying with their opponents here, a
couple of cute diagonal kicks opening up the Irish defence. Wales have another
penalty, and Anscombe will add gloss from in front of the posts... Seven kicks from seven, 20 points from
Wales,
Larmour collecting a
looped pass and shimmying in under the posts. Carty converts...
MY
OPINION
I think that this was a bad
result for the Irish as this was a game of poor errors for them that could be
fixed easily. Wales have shown that they have the capability to get the bare minimum
out of a game which can be seen as both a good and a bad thing
ENGLAND 38-38 SCOTLAND
MAGNIFICANT MAY
Ah, that didn’t take long. Vunipola collects a clearance and
barrels forward and England create an overlap, Slade teeing up Jack Nowell to
crash over the line. Owen Farrell converts despite the stiff breeze.
England’s maul is far too strong here, carving a path for
Tom Curry to get over the line! That’s his first try at Twickenham. Farrell has
another tricky conversion attempt, but nails it!
This is going to be a long night for Scotland. England win
the lineout and from Genge’s offload, Sinckler barrels straight down the
middle, before finding Launchbury for the score. Farrell adds the two points
with another clinical conversion
Farrell makes it 400 Six Nations career points.
England are taking the proverbial now. Graham works hard to
win back possession but soon enough the hosts are pouring forward again, and
Slade jogs down the left flank before handing off to Jonny May. He trundles in,
Farrell converts. This is so, so easy for England.
One of the more enjoyable tries you’ll see. McInally charges
down Farrell’s kick and is suddenly away and clear. The hooker looks out of
puff after 10 metres, but shrugs off two challenges and hauls himself over the
line! Russell adds the extra points.
This is a lovely try! The away fans might be glad they came
now. Finn Russell starts a flowing passing move, the ball going through Johnson
and Price before Darcy Graham collects on the left, spins his marker and
scores!
Well, well. Another terrific attacking move, Price with a
crafty chip kick that he gathers himself before offloading to Magnus Bradbury,
who chugs clear to score! Russell converts, and the gap is down to 12 points...
Russell, who has been exceptional in the second half, found
Maitland with a pass and he teed up Darcy Graham, who took the quickest route
to the corner for his second try. Scotland were 31-0 down.
Farrell, whose charged-down kick began this extraordinary
comeback, throws a pass to Kruis that Finn Russell pounces on, racing clear to
score! Laidlaw converts, and Scotland.
Berghan strips the ball from Vunipola and Finn Russell works
his magic again, finding Sam Johnson who wriggles free of a challenge and moves
slowly, inevitably towards the line. He goes over under the posts, and Laidlaw
converts. Scotland are rewriting history here.
Nowell is held up but England come again and Ford finds a
gap in the middle, sends Johnson the wrong way, and darts under the posts. He
converts, and England, from 31-0 up, have escaped with a draw!
MY
OPININ
What a match but this game
showed what Ireland should be worried
about come the world cup and the fact that Scotland can compete with any team when they are ready
which could make a match for the Irish
6 nations table
|
Team
|
Played
|
Won
|
Drawn
|
Bonus Points
|
Points
|
|
Wales
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
3
|
23
|
|
England
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
18
|
|
Ireland
|
5
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
16
|
|
France
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
10
|
|
Scotland
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
9
|
|
Italy
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
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