Six Nations Special Scrum V Sunday

This year's six Nations saw a try -fest with 61 tries. England scored

14 tries and won the triple Crown. Ireland run in the 16 tries for the

tournament and were crowned champions. Wales finished in rampant

form. Jamie Roberts. A wonderful try for Wales. But does the result pose

more questions than answers? Welcome to visit special programme.

Ireland are the six Nations champions but Wales end their

campaign in fine style with a wreck and bass record win over Scotland.

Sadly, no trophy this year. Ladies and gentlemen, Jonathan Davies, Phil

Vickery, Shane Williams, and Martyn Williams.

So, good evening to you, boys. Shane, I don't know what you are

wearing. What is it? It is a headband. I have just done a mile on

a bike for sport relief. It was good. I cannot remember who won. We

find out later. We had a camera for you a couple of weeks ago and

managed... Supporting that important charity. Very good. Also, I would

like to give another very special welcome to a man on his Twitter

profile is an England rugby legend, add to that one of Scrum V's

favourite sons. Welcome back Mr Phil Vickery. Great to see you. Let's

talk about the tournament in general. How would you sum it up?

I've enjoyed it. It's been a great competition. There has been

disappointment, highs and lows. Some of the rugby, at times, has

struggled. Actually, throughout the five or six weeks, I think it's been

fantastic. To go into the final day yesterday, knowing that three teams

can realistically still win, I thought was brilliant. What a finale

last night. Where Ireland deserving winners? Ireland or England. They

have been consistent. England played exceptionally well against Italy.

They put a good score on. Ireland, especially going out there, because

for some reason, France started to play yesterday. It was a very, very

tough day. They thoroughly deserved it. Let me ask about Wales. They

went for it. Nothing to lose in many respects for both sides. In the end,

it was a job well done. It's always difficult when a side goes down for

ten minutes... It was a foregone conclusion then. It was a job well

done. Disappointment to finish third, which is not as bad as people

think. It was the type of performance and the type of wind

that the fans wanted and the boys themselves. They seemed to play

exceptionally well at home. There was one incident which did not help

matters for Scotland. A clean cut performance by Wales. Some great

tries. They were playing the plan a rugby and that was exactly what they

needed to do. There were some great tries. We will talk more about Wales

later in the programme but first, the highlights of Wales against

Scotland. Scotland have the early possession.

The referee is playing advantage to Scotland and the penalty is there

now. Offside. That is a bright start by Scotland.

It is good and there are points on board Scotland. - there are points

on the board for Scotland. Wales come looking for the first try. It

goes wide, over the head of George North. Wales will have the penalty.

Dan Biggar looks to poke over the kick which she does and draws late

dash Wales level. -- draws Wales level. It will be a try.

A good few turnovers in this match. Stuart Hogg kicks away the

advantage. Dan Biggar hazard. Oh! It is definitely a yellow. Let's see

if it... Off for ten minutes. That is a red card offence. And it is a

red card. Yellow turns to read. The referee has looked at the big screen

and says, no, that's the wrong decision. Stuart Hogg, Scotland's

greatest talent, is sent off. Lee Williams is coming forward. He

takes it very well. And now, a gallop from Williams. He slips. He

gets it away wonderfully to Mike Phillips. Infield, to George North.

What a try for Wales! Well kept in play. He is offside.

The get it back to John Davies. Will it be a try? Jonathan Davies is

there. They have got to go back, he was offside. Yeah, he is offside. No

try. A couple of minutes remaining in

this first half and Rhodri Jones taking his chance today. Jamie

Roberts. And Jonathan Davies may be in. He gets it infield to Jamie

Roberts and Wales now have another try.

And a penalty to Wales. The worst start possible for Scotland, bad.

So, Wales will be running everything in the second half as well. Tired

bodies in the Scottish defence. There is Jonathan Davies. Outside,

it is George North for the try. It comes so early in the second half.

Scotland are in all sorts of trouble.

It goes straight to Welsh hands, the Welsh skipper. That's the one thing

you cannot do. A horror show for Scotland at the moment. It is

Williams. A lovely off-load. Support from Jonathan Davies. He gets it to

Jamie Roberts. A try again, the length of the millennium Stadium

pitch. Phillips gets it away. Wales showing

no mercy here. He tries to get it away. Cuthbert

slips it wide and there is Alun Wyn Jones.

It rains tries at the millennium Stadium. Wales are racing past 40

points. -- Millennium Stadium. Denton has it and he is looking for

support. Scotland still have it. Still, advantage to Scotland. He has

kicked it away! Over the head of Debbie Fife.

Here come Wales again. A great kick. Williams is going to get there. He

slides in and schools. A wonderful try for Wales excavation

After that defeat to England at Twickenham, just what Wales needed,

a big win. The Scottish side were not as great

as England's last week. You still have to play well the boys did OK

today. I like to think we would have put 30 points on them. It was a good

performance. That was the longest day. We are disappointed. They

played pretty good. They punished us. When you lose a player, you are

in a bit of trouble. I thought the structure of our defence was very

good today. The attitude of the players, you know, often when you

are winning by a large margin, defence can become an afterthought

but it wasn't. Replays against 14 men for most of the game so yeah, we

scored some nice tries, but it was against 14 men and we would expect

that from ourselves. We've done reasonably well in this condition.

There were massive reasonably well in this condition.

on ourselves and I know from the media, you put a lot of expectations

and pressure on us as well. If you look at the last three years, we've

won 12 out of 15 games and that's not a bad record in this

competition. What we learned from this tournament is that we are going

to have to change and deal with other teams kicking strategies. All

teams have kicked a lot more than we have done. We need to try to negate

our strengths. As coaches, we are going to have to learn to assess

that and to work and change going forward.

A very measured Warren Gatland there. A great win but let's face

it, against 14 men. You are right but you've still got to beat what is

in front of you. Some interesting stats from the game.

Scotland were poor, let's face it. They turned over nearly half of the

ball they had but Wales were great defensively with eight steals the

ball. Four of the tries came from Scotland possession. Wales were on

the money in defence, particularly diving on the ball. Not just over

the ball, Jonathan Davies sneaked in through the outside channels. Luke

Charteris exposed how poor Scotland were at the tackle contest. Wales

wanted to up the tempo from that penalty. They took the outside

channel and you cannot allow a guy penalty. They took the outside

like George North that much space. The game was over at the red card

but Scotland had to endure 58 minutes with 14 men. Scott Johnson

refused to put an extra back on. Their line-out was poor. Both

centres here foolishly go for Jonathan Davies and you cannot allow

Leon Williams and George capital North - George North that amount of

space. Space was exploited time and time again. George North had a field

day out there. Look at this example. Four of the remaining Scotland packs

are now in this rug. It meant space on the opposite corner for other

players to get their tries. Some key stats:

there were subtle changes in game plan as well. Jamie Roberts was off

the gain line but here, we've been asking for this. A little pass from

Gethin Jenkins to Ken Owens across the gain line. George North came

into the 13 channel later phase. Mike Phillips, we've not seen a lot

of this from him, challenging this fringe of the Scottish defence and

sucking in defenders by ringing forward and against the grain. All

of this was orchestrated by a confident performance from Dan

Biggar at ten. Space comes in at the end for a grace - great first

trifolium Williams. Without confident display, shame, I will ask

you, do you think you should have had more game time

Dan Biggar was one of the form players in the six Nations,

certainly last year. He was inspirational in the George North

try. You must feel a bit hard done by. Yesterday, I thought he was

superb. He got up, kicked a penalty and after that took a high ball. He

was very brave. I thought he was very vocal was doubly worked the

backed - backs well. He works hard himself. He must feel hard done by.

Perhaps we might see him play more in the ten shirt. Was it the wrong

call to start with Rhys Priestland? It all depends what you want. He

plays closer to the line and with his header but with the control that

Dan Biggar brings you, I think he has to start and then if things are

going well and you are on the front foot, his kicking game is better,

when it gets looser, Yukon either bring on Rhys Priestland or James

Hook but I think now he is the established one. He is the one who

controls the game and gives them shape. I would start with Dan

Biggar. If Rhys Priestland was playing yesterday, Wales would not

have won by 50? I'm not saying that, Stuart Hogg

lost the plot. Wales played a little bit wider. Also, the tries were

brilliant but the throats were. Liam Williams outstanding. Liam Williams

offered more yesterday because of his angles of running. He was man of

the match. A lot better performance. But we have South Africa coming up.

Scotland were hopeless yesterday. That is the thing.

To try and compare yesterday 's game in comparison to the rest of the Six

Nations for Wales is very difficult because Scotland were very poor

yesterday and with the sending off, some fundamentals where defensively,

just all over the place. Seeing that team develop and who do you pick, I

think it is difficult. If we were selecting a Welsh team, comparing it

with the previous games, I think you need to... We made a lot of mistakes

against it Ireland and England. At international level, you cannot do

that. You could have died yesterday. Against the better sides, Wales

cannot do that. You have to tinker a little bit. I will come back to you

in a minute. What you make of the presentation?

He has basically shown that the accuracy that was missing at

Twickenham was there yesterday. But they were playing a lot

Twickenham was there yesterday. But It was easier to be accurate. That

is worrying for me as a Welsh It was easier to be accurate. That

think Ireland and in and have definitely improved. -- England. I

do not think we have gone backwards, we have stayed still. We have been

overtaken. It is a very rigid game plan. The criticism the players come

under is they do not seem to adjust on the pitch when things are going

wrong. They are their own worst enemies. Give a signing dish view of

what you have seen against Ireland, Italy and France. -- English. Hear

all the time is about the Warren Gatland game plan, what is plan B?

Being a fan of the Six Nations, it is a great com petition, every team

has a trade-off, if you are drifting scummy and get caught on the inside,

the one thing with Wales is when it works and has been proven

year-on-year in the Six Nations, it is a winning game plan. The problem

you have got is when it is not quite happen, it is beatable. Warren

Gatland said in his interview, the teams have negated their strengths.

That is what coaches do. To go back to the England game last

year, I was sat here after that tremendous was three, -- Welsh

victory, I have not been allowed forget it, but...

Well said. But in terms of England and Ireland,

I do not think Wales have gone backwards, they have plateaued. The

one thing that has impressed me about England and not so much

Ireland, they are possessed with scrummage. -- obsessed. I think it

actually choke them. The English scrum has not functioned

brilliantly. It has been able to compete. The line-out has been

pretty good. But this England team are playing. Before, if the scrum

collapsed, the team collapsed. If we go back to the autumn series, what

is going on? How they did not eat New Zealand, we shall never know.

But they have moved on. I think there is a lot more to come

from this website. Yesterday, the skills and confidence that they

showed will hopefully now given the confidence to do a little bit more

because they will become a far more dangerous side-effect of step upon

change a little bit. When you are winning those collisions, you can do

that. That is the difference. I was struck by what Warren Gatland said.

He said about the media ramping up the pressure on Wales as well. But

maybe that is a point. The reaction to the defeat at Twickenham has been

slightly hysterical. They have only to the defeat at Twickenham has been

Ross 36 Nations matches in the last three seasons. Yes, as a Welsh

spectator, I want Wales to do well. Losing three games in three

championships is not a bad start. They are not a bad side overnight.

In and have improved, Ireland have improved -- England. I am quite

impressed with the manner in which England are playing at the moment.

It is the first time in a long time I have enjoyed watching them

playing. But they look more comfortable with ball in hand. They

just look competent. Wales looked out of sorts. It is not quite panic

stations yet developed there a time to learn from your mistakes, it is

now. Also, it is a fantastic record but it is the manner in which we

lost those games. Everyone was disappointed because we did not just

use them narrowly, we were totally outplayed. You were outplayed by

Ireland but at Twickenham, there were acre plot bad decisions made,

you created opportunities. Ten points? It is not 1 million miles.

It has not been catastrophic. It was a special day for Gethin

Jenkins yesterday. A remarkable career.

Gethin Jenkins, he is going to score.

That charge down is everybody's favourite Gethin Jenkins bowl went

-- moment. The meantime he smiles is when he has got wind. You cannot

give him enough credit. He is a phenomenal player. We have played

with him for a number of years. What sets him apart from any other player

is his game now signed intelligence. He knows what he's talking about.

From 4/ the have their heads down -- front row forwards usually

From 4/ the have their heads down -- their heads down. You have to

consider him as one of our all-time legends. There are not many players

that get 105 caps. He leads from the front, literally. You can check the

world legend tag around but he will go as long as he possibly can.

It is difficult to sum him up because he ticks so many boxes. He

truly is an all-round front row forward. He does all the work, plays

the ball, he understands the game well. I try and think back to things

I remember, guys that I have played with, he must have a six cylinder

engine. He keeps going and going. Phenomenal to have played with and

not some nice to have played against times. But use your world-class

legible the time, for me, he is in that bracket. -- world-class legend.

The work they put in the front row was phenomenal. His game

understanding and positional play, defensively, is amazing.

Many congratulations, Gethin Jenkins. Let's bring you up-to-date

with the women and the under 20s. The women are aiming

wooden spoon as both Wales and Scotland have yet to win in this

season 's campaign. On Friday, the under 20s welcomed the Scots to

North Wales. It was a good evening for Wales. It turned out to be an

exceedingly comfortable victory. It was due almost entirely to the

dominance of their pack. Jack Dixon straightens and the Dragons centre

crosses for Wales. The dominant Welsh pack once more destroyed the

Scots. James Benjamin fix it up to Tom

Williams. And as the match ended the closing

stages, Steffan Hughes rounded off another try. Byron Hayward 's men

finish off with a big win and with fourth position.

It was a semi-affair for Wales women earlier today. Wales got off to an

ideal start. Conditions were perfect for someone in rugby. A third try

came from good hands with the winner over in the corner. Confident

handling resulted in Wales 's fourth and final try. Despite a pointless

second half, Wales ended their six Nations campaign with their first

win. But it was France again taking the honours.

Congratulations. You may have seen Martyn Williams a few moments ago

having a go at the sport relief challenge. This is what happened.

What you are trying to do there was cycling mile as fast as you can.

That was my second goal because the lady did not start the clock on my

first one. I am getting that in early. She didn't start the clock.

OK. Is that the official excuse? Yeah. Wait for this. This is

brilliant. This is what happened when Shane Williams jumped on the

bike this afternoon. No sound. Apparently,

sound. Is that because No sound. Apparently,

easy? I was crying. That was horrendous, honest to God. So, the

official time: You are one minute and 47 seconds. I was quicker, yes.

You were quicker. Very good. If you want to join in the Sport Relief

challenge, go to this website: England went to Rome harbouring

hopes of clinching their first title since 2011. They needed to overturn

the huge deficit to prevail. Loads of space in front of Mike

Brown. The second try for Mike Brown.

Here they come. He gets over the line for his first England try.

An interception. He heads for the lying and England will not want that

to happen. Dixon comes jumping in. A lovely

little break. And the In Paris, it was Brian O'Driscoll,

an Ireland were determined to give him his fairy tale sendoff. Still

therefore Ireland. Sexton over the line. A great try for Ireland. They

opened their account. Brian O'Driscoll. There is a space

here for Conor Murray. Ireland's second try.

A try for France, beautifully played.

Andrew Trimble. Can it be the perfect finish for Brian

O'Driscoll? He is still going. Two metres short. O Connell picks up. It

has to be Johnny Sexton. Last chance for France. Paul

O'Connell holds up. Penalty... No, whatever it is, it doesn't matter.

The whistle has gone. Ireland are the six Nations champions.

Ireland are the RBS Six Nations champions.

What a story. Brian O'Driscoll, when more season, goes to Paris and wins

it. A great match, a great occasion and a fitting end to an amazing

career for a legendary player. There is no more you can say.

Disappointing, as a proud Englishman yesterday and the resultant England

performance but I can honestly say, I don't begrudge Brian O'Driscoll's

final appearance for Ireland, walking off the field with the

Championships. When you start out on your career, whatever it is you want

to do, that guy has inspired not just Irish France but the rugby

world. I think it is the greatest accolade that you can give somebody.

It has been exceptional. Doesn't it go deeper than that? Sports fans,

even if they are not rugby fans, they will recognise his talent and

what he has done for the sport. I think anything he does on the pitch,

off the pitch he is a great bloke. He does... He has been the most

complete rugby player of our generation, as in his

complete rugby player of our his tackling, and there is nothing

he cannot do. He will be sorely missed by Ireland. Last season, a

lot of people wrote him off and then he came back and wind - won the

title. That's the sign of a good player. He knew within himself that

he was good enough to play another year. He was successful with Ireland

and what a way to finish. The only thing he hasn't won the World Cup!

He is one of these players whose knowledge of the game is immense. He

truly is one of the players I've seen and worked with. He deserves

all the credit he gets. Well said. Let's turn our attention to Wales

once again in a moment. We will talk about the World Cup and the summer

tour to South Africa. There are some hidden messages in this jumping ship

for Warren Gatland to take to the summer tour. They failed to dominate

in the possession and territory stakes, even though they had three

home games. The game plan has been questioned. In the trice cakes,

Wales moved up the ladder but seven of those tries were in yesterday's

14 man game. Ireland and England lead the way. Wales have made the

most changes to the starting team. Ireland and England were pretty

consistent in their selections. Wales have made crucial poor

decisions and their turnover rate has been quite high.

Ireland were very strong over the ball on our attack and sometimes

Wales have lacked direction, lost their way. We can see Wiest

Priestland losing it in a crucial position there. - Rhys Priestland.

At times, Wales have had to resort to a kicking game which has been

poor at times. Out in Dublin against Ireland, the Welsh forwards got

knocked back time and time again. The men in green were right up for

it and not them back over the gain line. You can see here, on the third

phase, Alun Wyn Jones gets smashed. When we come to play South Africa

this summer, you can expect more of the same. These are the most

physical international athletes in our game and in the autumn, when

Wales tried to bash through on the line, they will turn them over on

the 22. Talking of South Africa, lust and Wales were there, they lost

both test matches but only six of the current squad played in those

games. Under Warren Gatland, Wales have not won against South Africa.

They've conceded 20 tries in that time.

With so many changes, and an ageing squad, is it time to bring in new

players? There are easier places to blood new players. The squad we've

got at the moment, that is where all the best players are. There are one

or two who will come through but if you look underneath the Welsh squad

in the regional game, there are not many players to put in there. As for

resting a few players, I would for South Africa. Key players like Alun

Wyn Jones, and others, they played every game for Wales, every game for

their region. I think with the World Cup in mind next Joe, I would give

them the summer off because it is a huge autumn series coming up with

the top three sides and Fiji. I think you've got to take every

player on an individual basis. Martin makes a good point. Those

boys have played a lot of rugby. Would you take them? I don't know.

It's a tough place to go not with your best team. I understand what he

is saying. I think that is only a two-week tour, three games... Two

games. With the World Cup coming up, if you're going to go and win, you

need those two players. Then have a rest afterwards. The challenge is

being competitive enough with your settled squad to be able to play

your game plan and pattern. You need to be of get used to it and get

something out of it. If you change too much and it doesn't go very

well, you come back from a summer tour and what do you know? What have

you learned? I think that South Africa will be dark horses to win

the World Cup. Everyone is going to say New Zealand. For me, whatever

the conditions in England when the World Cup is on, they are capable of

adapting to every condition. For me, the autumn becomes more prevalent

over the next World Cup. There is a lot of rugby. Every test match is

important but I'm not saying rest all players, cherry pick one or two.

Here is a question, I was surprised in the six Nations before Wales and

England, Wales were favourites going into that game. And I thought to

myself, Warren Gatland and the players... I wanted someone from

Wales to go up and say yes, we are, we are going to be favourites. I

didn't get that. I didn't get that feeling. Not that I wanted them to!

From a Welsh point of view, would you like to see a little bit more

from Wales as in, do you know what... Because you are the best

team in the north hemisphere for a number of years. Start backing

yourselves a bit more. Usually, that comes from the front and I don't

think that Sam Warburton's way of captaining the team is like that. He

is not as vocal as some captains. He does most of his talking on the

field. He's very little in what he does. That is why we didn't see

that. I'm not saying it's right or wrong but I just thought to

myself... It is not in our nature to go banging on how good we are. As a

nation, we don't. Sometimes, when you're going into a World Cup,

you... Are you feeling all right? I see the point you're trying to make.

Wales haven't gone into this tournament saying, we are the

champions, let's have it. It's not arrogant. Not in a fashion like

Lawrence Dallaglio used to employ. That used to make me cringe. You

should back yourselves little bit more. Wales like to do their talking

on the field. That has always been the case. There is nothing worse

than putting yourself up there, saying we are the champions and we

are going to take it and then, as with happened, it gets taken away.

The difficulty in the summer tour, with happened, it gets taken away.

is the lost two players yesterday. Liam Williams was... Those two can

step in because they've been here and done it before. The front row

will be a severe test going to South Africa. It's going to be... I assume

now that the preparations are in place to rest some of these

players, or have rest periods before the World Cup. They must have a

training programme in place. Until the World Cup, it is going to be

massive. It is always going to be about managing expectations. Going

to South Africa, if we win over there, we are doing exceptionally

well. Being realistic, we are going in as underdogs. We've got to start

ramping it up. As Phil says, we need to say we are playing Australia and

England, we are going to give it everything and we will come out on

top. Just a final word. I would be intrigued to find out what is the

one thing you learn from Wales this year. ?6 40 to get over the bridge!

I just think that they are capable. The Welsh team, on their a game, is

unbeatable. They are given - big-game players. Thank you to my

guests. Wales left it late but it was Ireland who stole the show. From

all of us here, nos da. How we dared to dream of troubles

and cheeky grins. It started with a steel. They know

there is a big test in Dublin next week. An epic journey had begun. And

clock crows were crowing. What a start to the six Nations. France are

going to steal it. Round two was all about grudges.

Brian O'Driscoll. Oh, dear. Out thought. Out muscled. Ouch. That is

one of the worst performances I have had since being involved.

Elsewhere, England's BBC were on fire. Mike Brown is in for the try.

Danny Care for the line. And the French were purring. Careers were on

the line. Players are under the pressure because for some of May

the line. Players are under the could their last game. Wales

demanded. Wales delivered. Sam Warburton for the line, he is

going to score. It was on. And then it was off.

Goodbye Brian O'Driscoll and thanks. Hello, try -fest finale.

End of the year and what an end. Brian O'Driscoll can celebrate.

Ireland are the six Nations champions.