ENGLAND FALL AT FINAL HURDLE

Just as with the England v Scotland game, after 5 minutes, you could sense it was not going to be the away team's day. Ireland were aggressive, ruthless, England were average, overawed, New Zealand were relaxed, smiling.

The Six Nations is a great tournament, 2017 was especially, with every team losing at least one game, offering supporters of all sides (except Italy) their day in the sun (or on the beer), and 3 teams on 14 points a few behind England, the rightly winners. But, no matter how impressive England were against Scotland (who were awful), they struggled against the rest, winning ugly against Wales, France and Italy, and looking second best against a weakened yet proud Ireland.

The 6N Championship but no Slam

Yes, an improving Scotland, a decent Ireland and Wales, plus a record equalling England should in theory create the recipe for the strongest Lions squad in many years. And, yes (again) Warren Gatland has tough choices to make across most positions (even in the starting XV), but the problem is they are not playing a re-building SA or a lightweight Australia, they are playing a brutal, skilful NZ at home, with two tests in the fortress, that is Eden Park, Auckland.

NZ's Super 18 Rugby franchises make up the top 3 places in the Australasian league, with Chiefs and Crusaders unbeaten, and Hurricanes having lost just one game. Anyone who has started their weekends watching Super 18 rugby games will know what the Lions are up against. If England had convincingly beaten Ireland in their own backyard, overtaken NZ's record, they would have laid down an important marker for Northern Hemisphere rugby, and the Kiwis would rightly be feeling nervous. As it is, they fell at that all important final hurdle, and that will mean the Lions starting the tour as firm underdogs.

SCOTLAND SEE COTTER OFF IN STYLE

Yes, Italy are poor, yes, Italy butchered at least two tries, yes, Scotland were at home, BUT, considering this game has been a potential banana skin for them over the last few years, winning 4 tries to nil was a GOOD result.

Scotland's home form this year has been impressive, beating Ireland, Wales and Italy, scoring 9 tries in the process, demonstrating the strides they have made under Vern Cotter. Even in Paris, despite the physical battering they took against France, they still got themselves in a winning position with Swinson's try - if only Russell had converted it, putting them 5 points in front, France might have gone for the big score rater than the penalties which won them the game. England was a bad day. Still they scored 14 tries in total, level with Ireland and only 2 behind England, who scored 7 of those in one game.

Au revoir Vern...bonne chance

They also have more strength in depth than in previous seasons, as, having lost Strauss, Laidlaw, Maitland and Hardie in Paris, replacements like Barclay, Price, Visser and Wilson really stepped up and help the team beat Wales. A sign of how the times has changed is sensible rugby people nominating Seymour, Russell, Watson and Jonny Gray for the Lions squad alongside the immortal Hogg. If Strauss, Laidlaw and Nel weren't injured there may have been more names in the hat.

So Vern is off to Montpelier (in tears), having moved Scotland from 8th to 5th in the world rankings (their highest ever) and improved their basic skills, game management and mental toughness. It is now down to Gregor Townsend to fulfil this side's potential, and take Scotland to the next level by beating a Top 6 side away (France in Paris would be nice), and making a World Cup semi-final.

FRANCE TAKE HONOURS IN LE FARCE

OATH roving reporter "Mark Jones" watched the France v Wales game on Saturday.

An uneventful 80 mins which Wales won, but "oops" forgot about the last 20. Which I think is best described as chaos and farcical. On the whole both teams are, I think, at about same level both well behind NZ and England (and probably Ireland) now.

Thank god, we can now let the England game kick off....

After 15 mins I thought France were going to blow us away at 10-0 but Wales finally woke up and at last took the points and got the scoreboard on their side. However our attack still looks blunt and we dropped too many balls. Slick passing was something neither side could do. But into last few minutes and Wales solid defence looked good and we just about deserved the win. But down came chaos and suddenly a French prop became injured, although he told Wayne Barnes he was not, but luckily a passing Frenchman with a high vis jacket was there to tell him he had a head injury and had to go off to allow their best scrummager (who had been warming up for 10 mins beforehand) to re-appear.

There followed a farce of a scrum x 9, a returning yellow card issued in injury time, an alleged bite and, oh yes, after 100 minutes of play, the inevitable winning French try. 

Well 6 nations is over, and it is clear Wales have some work to do. Bring on next year :)