12/02/2016 Inside Six Nations

Now it's time for a look ahead to this weekend's rugby union

internationals, with Inside Six Nations, live

Last week it was Edinburgh, this week we are in Cardiff

Scotland will be hoping we're not a jinx as they prepare to face Wales

here tomorrow - but before we look ahead, let's just reflect on that

85 days have passed since the terrorist outrage in Paris. Rugby

returns to the Stade de France. He has opened France's account! He has

missed. And he gets over for the try! Laidlaw draws his side on

points... And Jack, what I try! That's the end of it. It is a draw!

That was last weekend. Let's look ahead this weekend. Starting with

the match between Wales and Scotland and Scotland. Scotland have an awful

record against the Welsh, having not be condemned for nine years and

having not won in Cardiff in four years. Rewind to the world record

kicks. I met the man who kicked it, Paul Thorburn, a For Nations. A

world record and it still stands today. His enormous penalty kick.

That made the great commentator Bill McLaren go woof! Show me what

happened, and it has changed. There were not these lights in your day.

The stadium has changed 90 degrees but it was at the end of the

line-out, the 15 metre line, and about a metre in. 62.4 metres --

just over 70 yards, and that, as you can see, is an awful long way. Does

it still look along with you? Yes, it is a long way.

COMMENTATOR: You will not believe this, but that is the Welsh ten

metres line, and Paul Thorburn is going to attempt a score-mac. It is

miles to those goalpost! -- attempt a goal. I thought I needed a bit of

a run-up so I ran in and gave it a bit of hoof. What a belt he has it!

COMMENTATOR: That is amazing! Bill McLaren and generally was a fabulous

commentator, he just brought the game alive, and he added something

special to that particular the moment, which I obviously have seen

on numerous occasions, and I think that was as good as the kick it

self, to be honest. COMMENTATOR: I have never seen a

cake like this one! Talking about the record, using quite humble about

it. It must be a good thing to have a world record your name for your

rugby career. I would have preferred more wins for Wales to that kick,

but I will have a few beers on it now and again and enjoy the moment,

and across modern technology I can see it on YouTube now and again.

This would be a monster... Thorburn, then, what a belt he has given it!

That is amazing! What a kick that was, and look at that, 62.4 metres.

Roughly where we are. I wonder if Dan Biggar will give it a monster

smacked tomorrow. He has made the headlines this week. Let's catch up

with all our reporters around the home nations. As the Welsh coach

Warren Gatland has never lost to Scotland and has turned to the same

15 that secured that draw on Dublin on Sunday, Dan Biggar is back from

the foot injury, back training, and is preferred to Priestland at ten.

John Davies could win his 50th cap at centre next to Jamie Roberts who

had a storming performance against Ireland. If you go into the game

against Scotland and think you are just going to be going in to win the

game you will come up short, because they have improved as a side. Under

Vern Cotter they have not won a Six Nations game but he can wait for

someone else before he wins a Six Nations game, please! In recent

years for Scotland the trip to Cardiff has been a bit like visiting

a fortress. Only once since the National Stadium was built in time

for the millennium has Scotland won there, and how Vern Cotter and his

players would like that to change tomorrow, to break this gait-mac

game losing streak. But he has given his players a vote of confidence,

selecting the same side that lost narrowly to England last weekend.

One enforced change. Duncan Taylor coming in at centre for Matt Scott

-- eight losing streak. He hopes continuity can at last breed

success. Last year we came last

in the Six Nations, and were very We were able to move

through the World Cup, and the World Cup

was positive for us. We qualified for a quarterfinal

and got through some critical games. I think the players showed they had

maturity and got a tight game Now we are getting

ourselves in situations where we can wind, and I think

that is exciting for the team, and hopefully we will get ourselves

in the same situation this weekend and put things into place

to work on during the week. After the draw against Wales,

Ireland though this game could well defined their Six Nations

championship. Because of the quick turn around the squad has spent very

little time together on the training pitch but they are boosted by the

return of Rob Kearney and Sean O'Brien from injury. Dave Carney has

been introduced on the wing as well. Ultimately it comes down to the

rugby and they are a quality side and for us we know we will have to

be better than last week. If last week and's game against Scotland was

all about getting the result, Eddie Jones will no expect his side to

build on that performance, with the England head coach say Dulac saying

they are going to Rome to give Italy a good hiding. Courtney Lawes at the

back is rewarded -- saying they are going to Rome. Much focus will be on

the coming man of English rugby, Maro Itoje, set to make his debut

from the bench. For me expectation is people confident we can go out

there and do a job and I am confident we can do it, good side,

good players, coached very well and we are prepared well so we should go

out and play well. Here are your matches.

England will see if they can make it tonight out of two. Coverage across

the BBC of course. Wales, would you believe, I've only changed 15 from

the Six Nations. Warren Gatland like all the other coaches will be hoping

for a vast improvement in their performances. I asked the former

Scotland captain Andy Nichol what he made of last weekend. He was fairly

underwhelmed. It was a wee bit disappointing, I have to say. After

the freedom of the World Cup where I think everyone went out to play

attacking rugby it was a bit more conservative, which I suppose is

inevitable because with the Six Nations, your first game sets you

up, so teams are going out to not lose, if you like. Much more

conservative impact pics and approach, more pragmatic. Not the

exciting free-flowing rugby we saw in the World Cup but that could come

possibly. A lot of faith from Vern Cotter and Warren Gatland in how

they approach those matches. Just the one change from this match and

it is in Scotland? To me it is the right call. If they are good enough

last week they are good enough this week. They just need to play will

better. Historically Scotland have not started the Six Nations well and

have only one opening fixture once, incredible and history of the Six

Nations. They will get better so that they will do them a lot of

good. Although it was quite painful to watch. France were lucky to get

away with that fixture because they were pretty awful in places, whether

not? Yes, and it is all about winning that first game. He has made

six changes for tomorrow which shows he is trying things. I don't think

he knows what his best team is but you doing that he has a win on his

belt and it will be much tougher for them tomorrow against Ireland, a

harder test. Eddie Jones was not happy with the intensity in places

of his new side against the Scots but they still got the win. Yes,

that is the important thing. They did not try a lot and I don't think

they wanted to. They get their job. They went to Murrayfield and it was

a bit like the overall Six Nations, pragmatic, very physical. The

defence got better as the game went on which strangled Scotland in that

second half and I just think they will be looking to take small steps

with their development and so we will see a bit more from England on

Sunday in Rome, and I think if they can get through these first two

games with wins in Edinburgh and Rome that will set them up for the

home games against Ireland and Wales and they will be in great shape for

the championship. With that draw in Dublin we suddenly only have two

teams who can go on to get a possible Grand Slam. Do not think it

will be a Grand Slam. I think this, edition was too close to call

beforehand so I don't think any team will win all five games. My

favourites before the turn and where Wales and they probably still are.

With the fixtures. Before the game I think Ireland would have taken that

draw and at 30-0 I think Wales would have -- 30 down. Wales are the most

settled side on the pitch and off it and I think we will see that come to

the fore as a jumping ship develops. Is Gottesman tipping Wales. The

women's Six Nations of course is running alongside the men's -- a

Scottish man tipping Wales. Here is a round-up of the action. A

sensational solo effort from Ireland centre -- Ireland's Centre. The

defending champions looked comfortable and confident in their

win over Wales. Sophie spends also crossed the whitewash in a

dominating display from the forewords, backs, and with the boot,

the captain kicking 11 points. World champions England were even more

impressive, putting five tries and 32 unanswered points past Scotland.

Miller-Mills scored twice as they looked to put last year's fourth

placed finish behind them. With France beating Italy 39-0, it is

they who top the table after week one. Their match tomorrow against

Ireland will go some way to determining the winners of this

year's championship. In the other match tomorrow England play Italy

just outside of children, and Wales and Scotland will both be hoping for

their first win -- just inside of Turin. The roof is off, the

Principality Stadium closed tomorrow. A massive match for Wales.

What will those matches bring? That's it for Inside Six Nations.

COMMENTATOR: He finds the line. Again. What is run by Evans. A

magnificent try. What a dry!