The last weekend of Six Nations games saw England, Ireland and France all with a chance of being crowned champions. No fans and wild weather increased the ‘soulessness’ of the weekend. Certainly if one watched Wales v Scotland with the first ten lineouts ‘not straight’ and twenty knock ons inside 20mins, one wondered why Alun Wyn Jones had wanted to play 149 of these games. I was so glad I hadn’t bought a ticket. 14- 10 to Scotland at the death saw a merciful end and coach Gregor Townsend realised that for the first time since 1996 Scotland had won three games on the bounce.
Here in N.Devon I was craving for another Chiefs match, having won two finals the previous weekends and wondering if Eddie Jones knew that Sam Simmonds was European Player of the Year or that Wasp Jack Willis had over double the turnovers than anyone else.
In Rome, although winning by 34-5, England flattered to deceive. 22 kicks in the first half with only one finding grass. Italy celebrated a scrum penalty like Nottingham folks at curfew time. Tom Curry got England’s bonus point for a fourth try after Ben Youngs had scored a double in his 100th game, a true milestone for him. Owen Farrell’s two late conversions that hit the post surely gave Ireland renewed hope. They just needed to beat the French by 6pts to claim the crown.
In Paris the most competitive game of the weekend saw France at their best, albeit in patches, led by the mercurial Antoine Dupont. It was a great battle both up front and across the backs. Errors galore by the Irish allowed the French to finish comfortable winners 35-27 leaving themselves runners up behind ENGLAND, with Ireland 3rd. ROMAIN NTAMACK (FRENCH)topped the points list with 57. Maybe Shaun Edwards is the main reason for new French consistency and the Welsh demise.
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