SIX NATIONS PREDICTIONS WEEK 2

Scotland v Ireland 1415hrs ko Saturday

Ireland's toughest test mentally since Grand Slam game last year. Can they beat Scotland away at Murrayfield after poor performance against England and with injuries to key players? If Scotland can repeat their victory two years ago it will be Gregor Townsend's finest ever moment and give them the edge for a repeat game in Japan. Scotland's bench is strong so it will be tight, and pretty feisty, as these teams have history from 1972, when Scotland refused to travel to Dublin to Busgate two years ago, when Ireland claimed the Scottish police delayed their bus.

Scotland will be competitive on Saturday

Ireland by 5

Italy v Wales 1645hrs ko Saturday

Italy had a rough ride for 70 minutes at Murrayfield last week but are improving under O'Shea. Wales should beware as they did not play well in Paris last week and having made 10 changes to that starting XV will not find it easy. If Italy get ahead early on, and the crowd come into play, Gats Grand Slam dream could be shattered...

Will Wales 10 changes come back to haunt them?

Wales by 10

England v France ko 1500hrs Sunday

The challenge England face is repeating last week's marvellous performance at home against inferior opposition. Yes France were dreadful in that second half but still led after 70 minutes and have some great young players coming through from their U20 team that won Junior RWC. If France get ahead early and silence the prawn sandwich brigade (Twickenham crowd) then it will be good contest.

Once more unto the breach mes amies

England by 10

SIX NATIONS WEEK 1 REVIEW: FRANCE V WALES

At half time, France were 16-0 ahead at home and cruising. Wales were dreadful for the first 40 minutes, missing tackles, knocking on under no pressure and even blowing an easy try scoring opportunity when Liam Williams blew a simple 3 on 1. To give France credit, their massive pack dominated and they played some lovely stuff in terrible conditions, scoring a couple of tries through Huget and Picamoles. However, if Parra had not missed a number of kicks, then France would have been 20+ points ahead, and it would have been game over.

Picamoles opens France's account in this year's Six Nations

Wales must have got a right roasting from Gatland and Edwards at half time, as six minutes after the restart, Josh Adams made an incisive break in midfield and Tomos Williams scored near the posts to narrow the gap. Less than five minutes later, the French lead was cut to two points, courtesy of a Huget error. George North chased an average speculative kick by Parkes, but managed to touch the ball down, after Huget lost control over his line.

Ooh la la ... George North enter stage left

With Biggar and Lopez exchanging penalties, the French still had a narrow lead going into the final ten minutes, and looked as if they were going to sneak only their second win in 8 games. However, their players had other ideas, and under no pressure in the Welsh half, French lock Sebastien Vahaamahina, decided to throw a high-risk miss-pass out wide, which George North easily picked off and ran half the length of the pitch to score the winning try. 

North intercepts that pass to win the game, and that Frenchman is involved again

It was clearly a leaving gift for Warren Gatland, on his last trip to the Stade de France with Wales, whom, despite their good Autumn record, had lost three out of five recent visits. Gats said before the game that if Wales won in Paris, a Grand Slam was a possibility, and with Ireland and England still to come in Cardiff, it could happen. I think they will lose one of these matches, plus Scotland away in Murrayfield, but what do I know? I thought Ireland would beat England.

SIX NATIONS WEEK 1 REVIEW: IRELAND v ENGLAND

Out with it ... England's finest performance in living memory, YES, better than beating New Zealand in 2012 (at home, NZ on tour). England on Saturday beat (probably) the best team in the world at full strength at home, scoring 4 tries in the process. Their physicality, intensity, accuracy and defence were simply awesome. Phew... well done Jones, Mitchell and coaching team, your game plan was masterful! And YES I got my prediction wrong like every other neutral fan or commentator - Ireland by 10 points - come on?!?

How many Irishmen would make the England team?

Stuart Barnes thinks Ireland (like all top professionals) are so well coached, that when England went off script and didn't allow them the time or space they are used to, they could not adapt. If you remember, Scotland beat Ireland at Murrayfield, first game up two years ago, by going off script, scoring three tries in first half, so wrecking the Irish Grand Slam dream. The difference again on Saturday, was that England played what's in front of them all game, and their execution was breathtaking - Owen Farrell's pass for the first try taking out three defenders, Henry Slade's flat, quick pass to May, before touching down the kick, Nowell's pressure on Stockdale for Daly's try, etc

Not sure Stockdale actually had the ball, but all history now

Add to that, superb individual performances by every member of the English pack, making 48 offensive tackles in all, constantly stopping Ireland from getting over the gainline. There were heroes all over the park, from Mako Vunipola (25 tackles), Mark Wilson (27 tackles), to Tom Curry (a man possessed) and Billy (Vunipola) who is well and truly back, sucking in defenders like fly paper. So, England return home next weekend to play France, who will present a different physical challenge up front, and, if they repeat their first half Welsh performance, could push them all the way.

Where do Ireland go from here? Can you imagine them losing two games in a row, so missing out on both the Grand Slam and Six Nations Championship. They have a few injuries up front, where they would expect to dominate the Scots, and deny the likes of Russell, Hogg and Jones quick ball, but have enormous strength of depth in every position, so not feeling too sorry for them. Scotland, however, have the opportunity to take a big mental step forward by beating a top 4 side, and gaining a psychological edge over their World group opponents.

Will Scotland try another cheeky lineout like 2 years ago?

Two more great Six Nations contests to savour in 6 days time - who said this tournament is a phoney war and only results in Japan matter?