SIX NATIONS REVIEW WEEK 2: ITALY V WALES

Wales made 10 changes to their starting team but still equalled their record run of 11 successive Test wins, and will now break a record set in 1910 if they beat England in Cardiff on 23rd February 2019. Centre Jonathan Davies captained Wales for the first time while flankers Thomas Young and Aaron Wainwright, wing Jonah Holmes and scrum-half Aled Davies all made their first Six Nations starts.

Despite all the changes and inexperience, Wales won comfortably, yet unconvincingly. Wales had all the possession and territory in the first half, but only had 4 penalties to show for it, They paid the price when Italy scored the first try after capitalising on a sliced Josh Adams kick, when the outstanding Steyn went over from the resulting lineout, and Italy were only 7 - 12 behind at halftime.

Josh Navidi won MOM showing Wales have good strength in depth in back row

Wales continued to struggle to convert pressure into points, until Liam Williams sliced through the Italian defence to set up a try for Josh Adams, and then Watkin scored a second following an Anscombe kick. Italy responded with a second try of their own, following a Tomasso Allan break to set up Padovani, and put Wales under great pressure in the closing stages, although realistically never looked like clawing back the two score deficit. 

So, Wales won ugly again, but failed to score a bonus point against the Italians, which may come back to haunt them if they beat England at home in a weeks' time, and then play Ireland for the Championship. Italy are now on a record of 19 losing matches in the Six Nations with their last victory coming against Scotland in February 2015, and their last home victory being Ireland six years ago.

SIX NATIONS REVIEW WEEK 2: ENGLAND V FRANCE

I can't help thinking that if France were to put out a Toulouse team for the rest of the Six Nations, they would fare better than the current French international side. At least they would be organised and communicate with one another on the pitch, which France did none of on Sunday against England. YES, Jacques Brunel, the French coach selected a winger at full back, plus two centres on the wing, to combat England's impressive kick chase strategy, which worked so well against Ireland the week before. NO, the coach was not responsible for France constantly leaving acres of space behind the scrum half and breakdown, which England exploited from the the first minute onwards.

Damn those rosbifs, they played what was in front of them

I was an average fullback (being a superb scrum half) but I knew to stand opposite 10 and track the ball along the line to deter any kick in behind the centres, but also (if a kick did happen) to increase my chances of being first to the ball. I was not at the game, so did not have an aerial view from the stand, and therefore cannot comment on Huget's (or the wingers) positioning, but he was obviously not filling the space that England so readily exploited during the first half. Once Huget was substituted on 41 minutes by (quelle surprise) a specialist full back in Ramos, England had to change their tactics. Huget, to his credit, showed why he is in the team with a beautiful running line to split the English defence for Fickou's try, but, like Robbie Henshaw of Ireland, needs to be played in his specialist position to maximise his impact.

Yes chaps, happy to buy a hat trick jug

Rugby is a strange game - England with only one team in the last 8 of the European Champions Cup versus 2 from France & Scotland and 3 from Ireland, now look like the only side capable of beating NZ in the Autumn, far more so than Ireland or Wales. With all their Pacific Islanders fit and on top form, they will present Wales with a formidable challenge at the Principality in two weeks time, a game which will probably determine the Grand Slam winners. All credit to Eddie Jones, the coaching team and senior players like Farrell, Kruis and May, for making the nation proud again. However, it does not mean that England's name is etched already on the William Web Ellis Cup, as there is plenty of rugby to be played before Japan, and the Southern Hemisphere nations will be only start to panic if England's amazing form continues into their RWC warm up games. Remember, that four years ago England stuck 55 points on France and yet later that year crashed out of the World Cup at the group stages.

SIX NATIONS REVIEW WEEK 2: SCOTLAND V IRELAND

First half was compelling viewing, high on accuracy, low on errors which contributed to entertaining rugby by both teams. The second half was the opposite. Laidlaw, the Scottish captain was clearly not happy with the referee, but he was not the reason Scotland lost another tight game where they dominated possession. Yes, Peter O'Mahoney should have been binned in the first half, either, for his late no arms tackle on Hogg (which may have ended his tournament), or for deliberate hands on ball off his feet 5m from the Irish line. But, No, Romain Poite was not responsible for Scotland gifting Ireland their first try, Seymour overrunning Jones' 2 on 1 pass at the end of the first half or numerous unforced knock ons or forward passes. Ireland got ahead early on (which Scotland needed to do) and never looked like losing, based on excellent defence and a very low error count. Scotland need to play less with their hearts and more with their heads - they ignored at least 3 kickable penalties in the first half, which would have put more pressure on Ireland in the second half, and they gave away silly penalties when under no pressure in the opposition half, allowing Ireland to clear their lines too easily.

Peter gave away his medal to this Irish fan so we forgive him

Scotland appear to have lost Ryan Wilson and (possibly) Stuart Hogg, two key players in key positions, for the France game, which will stretch their resources very thin, and may even impact on Glasgow's progress in the European Champions Cup at end of March. Ireland won ugly, and lost Sexton early on, but scored three tries away from home, conceding only one (an intercept), and are still in the Championship, with only Italy and France up next before Wales decider in Cardiff.