SIX NATIONS REVIEW WEEK 3: FRANCE V SCOTLAND

What really upsets Scottish fans is that for years they were not competitive, and so therefore player mistakes under international pressure were understandable, as they were simply not good enough. With two Scottish clubs in the QF of the Champions Cup, a Top 6 world ranking and 3rd place in last year's Six Nations (having beaten England), Scottish Rugby has never been in better health, so that excuse cannot be made for the manner of defeat on Saturday. Even being ravaged by injuries (out of a small playing base), is no defence for such a poor Scotland performance against a dispirited French team, who had only won 3 out of their last 18 games.

Scotland missed 35 tackles against France

Scotland needed a quick start, France got one. Scotland needed to score early, France did. Scotland needed to do the basics well, especially in defence, but missed multiple tackles for France's first try, which started from their own 22. Even when Huget was yellow carded in the first half, Scotland could not take advantage, and were very lucky to only be 3 - 10 down at halfway. Scotland needed to score first after half time, but France scored after a minute of the second half with a flowing move, including a successful chip and chase from Bastareaud, which summed up the game.

Chip and chase ... really?

Gregor Townsend, the Scotland coach was so unimpressed by his team, that he emptied virtually the whole bench after 64 minutes. Encouragingly, Price and Hastings at half backs managed to exploit the quick ball Scotland's forwards started producing, but the team lacked the accuracy needed to score points and get them back in the game. By the time Scotland got a consolation try, France were out of sight, eventually securing the bonus point in the 87th minute. France won 27-10, but having had a few tries ruled out by the TMO, could have won by 30 points, such was the gulf.

Dupont, the new French generation is here

France clearly have some good young players, especially out wide in Dupont, Ntamack and Ramos, who cut the opposition to shreds at times. However, Scotland need to pick themselves up in two week's time against Wales at home, and play like their lives depend upon it - the fans will expect nothing less. Hopefully Finn Russell will be back to make them less predictable. France will have a spring in their step going to Dublin to play Ireland, with nothing to lose, exactly when they are at their most dangerous.

SIX NATIONS REVIEW WEEK 3: WALES V ENGLAND

Well, well, the only consistency in this tournament is the inconsistency of the leading Six Nations teams. Wales pulled an unexpected second half out of the bag, France pulled out an unexpected performance for 60 minutes and Italy led Ireland unexpectedly at half time. With the World Cup looming, where the winner will need to win seven games in a row, what will the Southern Hemisphere countries be thinking at the moment, with England and Ireland looking vulnerable in a one off game away from their home ground.

Anyway, back to the big match at the Principality, which I watched in a pub in Malvern, an hour from the Welsh border, with a good mix of supporters. It was a strange game, with England dominant in the first half, especially in the contact area, but only being 10-3 ahead, resulting in my halftime assessment to my Welsh friend of "England look too good, only a matter of time" - what did I know?

Liam Williams caught everything on Saturday

A combination of improved pressure on England's half backs, resulting in poor kick execution (and then decision making) and smart tactics by the Welsh forwards, sucking in the English defenders in their 22, and nullifying their defensive line speed out wide, which led to a frustrated English side giving away too many penalties, allowing Wales to turn possession into points and claw their way back into the game. Then, Gatland's inspired substitution of Anscombe for Biggar, the test match warrior at fly half, resulted in two late scores to swing the match Wales' way, denying England even a losing bonus point.

Eddie Jones and his England's leadership team seem unable to react to unexpected Wales' tactics in second half, and could find no plan B, and also, when England were crying out for fresh legs, minds and decision making in the last 15 minutes, why were Robson or Ford not given a chance? Eddie had correctly substituted Kyle Sinckler after 57 minutes (before he was given a yellow) so why freeze at the crucial moment and persist with both Farrell and Youngs, when momentum was swinging Wales' way.

Kyle Sinckler was tactically removed by Eddie Jones but had a fine first half

If Wales are to win the Six Nations Championship, having failed to gain a bonus point in previous two home games, they will have to remain undefeated for the Slam, as England, with only two games remaining against Italy and Scotland look set to gain maximum points taking them 20 in total. Wales, with only a current two point advantage, will then have to beat both Scotland (away) and Ireland (home), and benefit from the three point bonus (for winning all games) to take the title in Gatland's final season. Post battle on Saturday evening, England fans were very aware of the maths, whereas Wales fans (having beaten the auld enemy) couldn't have cared less.

SIX NATIONS PREDICTIONS WEEK 3

France v Scotland Saturday ko 1415hrs GMT

With Finn Russell mysteriously injured by the French last weekend, Peter Horne steps in at that key 10 position for the Scots. Although, as France has also picked a non fly half in the same position in 19 year old Romain Ntamack, the loss of Russell may not hurt Scotland as much as the absence of Stuart Hogg at fullback and WP Nel in front row.

Pete Horne picked at 10 for Scots on Saturday

Scotland are also forced to bring in Nick Grigg for Huw Jones at 13, also injured in the Ireland game, which means that on Saturday, in their backline, they will field only three players born in Scotland, with two players born in New Zealand, one born in Australia and the other in Nashville. In the pack, Magnus Bradbury makes a welcome return, especially as Ryan Wilson is injured, and the bench is strengthened by the return to fitness of Fraser Brown and Zander Fagerson in the front row. Josh Strauss has finally found his (South African) passport and Scotland will need him at his defensive best if they are to win in Paris for first time in 20 years.

France are seeking to avoid a third straight defeat in this year's tournament and an 11th loss in 14 games since Jacques Brunel was appointed in December 2017. Disappointingly for the Scots, despite changing both their half backs, they have decided to play key players in their specialist positions, with Yoann Huget returning to the wing after starting at full-back against England, and Gael Fickou also back in the centres after being on the wing. Brunel makes four changes in all to the England starting line up, with Racing 92's Wenceslas Lauret back on the flank, while Toulouse's Thomas Ramos makes his first start at full-back to earn only his second cap. 

Jacques Brunel, the French coach (this week anyway)

A must win game for both teams as they approach the halfway stage of the tournament, and avoid talk of a Wooden Spoon. Surely France cannot be as bad as they were last weekend? Surely Scotland have to fancy their chances against a disorganised, downbeat French team, who have never been easier to beat? I think Horne will fare better than his younger counterpart at 10, as he has a lot of familiar Glasgow faces outside him, but I think France will win ugly, in a tight game, edging the battle up front, especially in the loose. How Scotland miss Barclay and Watson in this area.

France by 7

Wales v England Saturday ko 1645hrs

England bring in Ben Moon in front row to cover for injured Mako Vunipola and also wing Jack Nowell for Chris Ashton. Ellie Genge, Joe Cokanasiga and Brad Shields come onto the bench. Wales, having made 10 starting changes the previous week against Italy, make a similar number for this cricual game. Gareth Anscombe edges out Dan Biggar at fly-half, Gareth Davies is back at 9, Cory Hill replaces Adam Beard at lock, Ken Owens and Rob Evans come back into the front row, George North and Hadleigh Parkes start out wide, and finally, Ross Moriarty and Justin Tipuric return to the back row.

Saturday will be the Great "Gats"by's last England battle

The hosts and visitors are the tournament's only two unbeaten teams and both can still win the Grand Slam. It is Warren Gatland's last game against England (will he replace Eddie?) so expect emotion. The roof of the Principality (allegedly) will be closed, Welsh fans may headbutt the English bus (on the way to the ground) and Max Boyce could make an appearance. It will be very patriotic, hostile and Welsh, but I think as England are playing rugby on a different planet at the moment, they will continue their good form and win convincingly. The difference may be the bench, where England can call on Launchbury, Shields, Robson, Ford and Cokanasiga, and Wales cannot, and they will miss Faletau and Halfpenny.

England by 12

UNNECESSARY INJURIES DEVALUE SIX NATIONS

Yes I am angry, and I have not even forked out for a ticket for any of the games this weekend. I do not understand how, rugby, as a sport, allows first pick international players, to play in the rest week between Six Nations games. This tournament is the biggest showcase for the game globally outside the RWC, so you want the best players competing against each other, not journeymen making games a foregone conclusion. Not only does it short change the armchair fans, many of whom prefer football, but always love joining in the patriotism of a Six Nations weekend, it is devaluing the proposition for the passionate travelling fan, who nowadays will fork out over £100 for a match ticket, plus travel, food and beverage (multiple).

Injuries are playing an increasingly important factor in match outcomes

And to add injury to insult, two of those players hurt playing for their clubs last weekend, Finn Russell (Scotland) and Dan Biggar (Wales) were playing against nationals from their international opposition this weekend. Yes, call it a conspiracy theory, but is it not a coincidence that two of the best fly halves the game has ever seen, did not get through their matches unscathed when playing French and English clubs respectively. Even, if these players escaped undamaged, the highly flaunted "player welfare" policy is thrown out of the window, expecting them to play two "Test" matches in less than a week. Fans want to see these players perform on the biggest stage, not an understudy. Scotland was especially impacted, with Greg Laidlaw, the captain of his country, also playing for his club, Clermont Auvergne, last weekend. as were Gary Graham, John Hardie (both Newcastle) and Josh Strauss, Byron McGuigan (both Sale). If Scotland fade in the last 20 minutes of the France game on Saturday, you will know why.

Finn Russell before his head injury last weekend

Yes, I am grumpy, but the game will not expand its global footprint, or penetrate new fans from other sports, if it does not do everything it can to look after its superstars, and ensure they participate in the big games. To progress, rugby needs more countries ranking outside the Top 4 to be able to compete with (and beat) the moneyed elite. As has been shown, injuries can affect even England, with 12 Premiership teams (and the biggest playing base of all), who only finished 5th in last year's Six Nations, but the other major Northern Hemisphere countries, Ireland & Wales (4 teams each) and Scotland & Italy (only 2 teams each) really feel the impact from the loss of key players in crucial positions.

With France in disarray, and with Russell pulling the strings at 10, Scotland had a real chance on Saturday of beating them away for the first time since 1999 - without him it will probably be business as usual. Disagree? Just think how England would cope without Farrell away from home, or Ireland without Sexton? And what of Wales? If Biggar is not fit to come off the bench against England to help close out a tight game, it could cost them a Grand Slam.

Rugby should wise up, and, like all great businesses, focus more on satisfying the needs of the supporter or fan, otherwise it will remain a minority sport for the rich, egotistical English or French club owner.

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.