14/02/2016 Scrum V

On this special Valentines six Nations weekend, Paris may be the

city of love. And he scores! France will take the lead.

Rome may well be eternally romantic... Is it going to be a

hattrick? Three tries for Jonathan Joseph. And Cardiff... Well, we love

it! It is Gareth Davies, all the way to

the corner. The scrum-half scores. Wales... All the way, what a try!

What a game we are seeing. The turnaround...

A very good evening to Scrum V: Six Nations Special. Happy Valentine's

Day. If you are a rugby romantic you are going to love the show tonight.

We have three of the smoothest operators in world be. Ali Williams

is here, Martyn Williams... And we needed a happy Scott on the panel,

so we invited Mr Andy Nicol! The star at the bar, is Gareth

Jenkins... And we will hear how the Welsh women are doing and the Welsh

under 20s. A very good evening. Welcome to a very noisy clubhouse. A

warm welcome, ladies and gentlemen, his first appearance... Ali

Williams! During macro good to have you. Martin, you were there

yesterday, George North said after the game you have to win ugly. It

was a strange one. I enjoyed the game, but Wales played very badly in

the first half. They are a resilient side, said side, they overpowered

Scotland for a 20 minute period. At the end of the day, undefeated in

the six Nations, if they win the next three games, they win the

championship. What is the view from New Zealand, the coach said they

have to dig deep to win matches and that is what they did. We are not

that natural, Head Coach is, being Kiwis? I thought it was a great

match. At the start, it was a bit messy, they started getting into the

rhythm, both sides. I thought the Scots picked up from where they were

last week. But, they still have that attacking player, it doesn't seem to

be there really, from bull's-eyes. Go for it, back yourself a bit more.

What is the Scottish view? Do you feel Wales got lucky yesterday? No,

I think we were the better side, no doubt about it, Scotland were better

than they were before. It feels there were more positives from that,

I know it's picking the bones out of the carcass but there was a lot more

attacking flair, it was actually back to what we saw in the World Cup

and that is what was disappointing about last week against England.

Scotland seemed to regress back into having a lot of ball and not knowing

what to do. They had attacking intent yesterday and was good, they

needed to play the full 80 minutes, they dropped for 20 minutes in the

second half, Wales were able to get their power game and that is

ultimately what one then the game. If they can play 80 minutes, they

will be OK. We get stuck into the talking point shortly but first, the

best of the action, Wales against Scotland from

This was a tournament meeting between the sides and Wales had won

the last eight. Warren Gatland kept faith in an unchanged team. With Dan

Biggar making an rack plus return from his Dublin injury. Scotland

arrived on the losing streak with two changes. Duncan Taylor in at

centre and Sean Lamont, called up on the wing. Stuart Hogg made more

metres and he was red carded. Trying to find his man. Clutching

it, despite the attentions of Denton. The number eight is coming

together. Davis, gives a dawn. Rob Evans... It comes to Biggar. Bid

goes, delicate chip, how does it work? Here comes Davis. And it is

Gareth Davies! Over the corner, the scrum-half scores. What a try for

Wales, what a try for Gareth Davies. It came from nothing, it came from

chaos. 17 phrases for Scotland, great continuity, handling, Richie

Gray... Laidlaw flips it to Ross Ford.

Heading towards 20 phases. Up to within five metres, Johnny

Gray... His brother lends a hand. Russell... And it is a try for

Scotland! Tommy Seymour! Into the final minutes. The cries

from Wales... It is a penalty to Scotland and again, very similar

position to the last one. That is even closer. A chance to lead at the

break. Laidlaw... Into the red, the last kick of the first half. The

kick, the Scotland captain, gives the visitors the lead at half-time.

He delayed and delayed, and was touched on flights, Wales... George

North, takes the opportunity, he has support. Swerving and weaving. Big

Art racing up... -- Dan Biggar. Carried on...

Charteris goes to ground... Tries to get the pass away.

Wales with the first points of this second half. We are level again,

inside the principality stadium. And away comes John Hardy. Sneaking

down the blindside, loses the ball. James... Into the open. Kicking back

his heels, he is being hunted down. Covering defence... Still but

Wales... The ball is out. Bradley Davies hazard. Got to go wide. They

are crying for it out wide. Gareth Davis moves it. A crossfield kick...

George North... And he can't quite get his hands on a dime out of goes.

What a chance for a break. What a chase and covering tackle by Duncan

Taylor. Scotland with a big shove on. Clancy

having a long look. Wales still have it. Wales still worth a wonderful

opportunity. Bradley Davies... Crashing through... Wales looking to

open a gap... And it is Jamie Roberts who gets down. Wales have

the lead. Wales with the attack again, George

North... All the way... For the try. Wales surely have it now?

Tired figures on both sides, trying to find something. Jackson... A

chance here. Duncan Taylor... He will score for Scotland. They have

not won the match but they finished with a flourish.

CHEERING Well Dunwells, we are off the mark.

Let's get the verdict. -- well done Wales. A good game, I think Scotland

take credit, they defended very well. Quite a few loose kick chases

and they put us under pressure. We would keep the ball, I thought Tom

James running the length... It would have been nice to score that. A win

is a win, fair play to Scotland. Sometime in Test match rugby you

have to grind out a win. I said to the boys, you did that. We have

weathered the storm. The breakdown was a fight. But you know... We got

a win. It is great, the guys like George and Jamie have in key

players. Playing great games, the big backs doing well. Massive for us

going forward, it is good that the top layers are stepping up at this

level. Overall, we rate Scotland high, it is a great home win. We

have played a lot of rugby together and we see things. They are patient,

they waited and when they got their opportunity, they grabbed it. Things

to be taken from that. You have scored plenty of tries in your

career but I imagine that felt pretty sweet. A little bit of a

wait. Yes. It has been a while, so to speak. Nice to get back in, the

game itself was quick. The first half, it was early turnover

dominated. The second half, we needed to come out strong, we had 15

minutes of pressure. We got the points we needed, at the end of the

day, you have to win ugly. You focus one game at a time but the

championship is almost back in our hands. We don't have to rely on

other results, if we win three out of three, it is ours. A little

chuckle here in the studio. Maybe he thought the question was a little

bit catty but good to see him on the scoresheet, but Martin, fantastic to

see Jamie Roberts showing why he is world class. He was immense against

Ireland. Yesterday, his physicality, he runs his weight, he has six feet

four and 17 stone and he runs every pound. With the ball, you know the

damage she does. He is the defensive captain. He sits down every Monday

with Shaun Edwards and discusses tactics, when you are doing that, he

lifts the entire team. He has stepped up. In the last year, Jamie

has become one of the leaders. A lovely touch, the BBC cameras...

Jamie Roberts at the end of the game went over to Blair Cowan to make

sure he was OK. He was feeling it. Once a doctor, always a Doctor?

Maybe he was trying to get some here? What is your view on the Welsh

backline in general? Look, they have definitely got the skill and talent.

From an attacking point of view, I don't think George North is 100%, I

still think his head is playing with him but it's a step in the right

direction. How do you mean, following his concussion? It takes a

long time to get over that, subconsciously, it is at the back of

your mind, last night was a great game for him to step up at

international level. Defensively, they are taking it at line speed. He

is the one that is creating the line speed, that is what he is doing,

leading it, easier for the rest of the team. They are trying to evolve,

trying to go wide. Against Ireland, they created lots of opportunities.

They went back to type in the second half, very direct, scoring two

tries. A little bit confused, with the World Cup in the southern

hemisphere teams... They are trying to evolve but it will not happen

overnight. Andy, one of the frustrating things Welsh rugby fans,

Shane Williams on our side, we had someone who could score a try when

we needed it, a little of magic. One of the stations is in Welsh rugby,

where is Shane Williams, the matchwinner. When you saw George

North yesterday did you think... He is back on form and that is what

Wales need? You were very lucky to have Shane Williams, they be once in

a generation player but this break... In the second half, it gave

George North confidence. He has not had a lot of ball for Northampton.

Last week in Dublin... He took the try very well. When he gets full

pace, he is so balanced, he sidesteps, very subtle but I have to

say, bad defensive structure. As a second row, a back row, you come out

of the scrum and you have to take the channel. He was expecting to be

hit by someone and no one laid a finger on him, he too have in stock.

Tom James, should have scored? It will be disappointed. He had the

angle. I thought he was in, in the box, at the other end, I thought he

was in, but he didn't tighten up in the last ten metres. That was a big

turning point, Scotland were attacking deep in the 22, knocked it

on, the field possession that led to Jamie Roberts tried but Duncan

Taylor against Jamie Roberts, Man of the Match, Taylor had a great game.

The one big change that Scotland made, brilliant for Saracens all

season and he translated that. With Shane Williams, you had a winger who

came up wherever he was needed. George North... They are staying on

the wing, not coming in and looking for work. That is probably...

Whether it is for Warren Gatland is saying, the coach saying I want you

to stay out there... Giving them more... You think it might be a

coaching thing rather than intuition? Potentially or he is

thinking I will stay out of bed and start coming back in. That is for

you see the difference, between a world-class... Once in a generation.

When a bag is not there, those type of players create space. When he is

not feeling the best, perhaps I will pick on him... LAUGHTER let's get on

to the Gareth Davies try. I know you boys were in the studio yesterday

and you watch this a number of times. Different angles. We show you

an angle that we had, but talk us through it. You were adamant this

should... A lot of friends... I might not get out here alive but

this is not a try for me, Gareth Davies is offside, irrelevant what

happens after. Gareth Davies, C is in front of the kicker, he has two

stand still... His movement is forward, straightaway, the rest of

who goes up first... That is irrelevant, he should have been

penalised. As a foreword, how many times have you watched the game, a

guy... It goes back to the tent... Doesn't Jamie played on? He may do,

but it's irrelevant, the penalty should have been given for Scotland

because... It was a brilliant finish. Interesting, you often hear

referees... Seven, eight... Stay... He did not do that, great finish,

Gareth Davies, the pace he showed to get around Tommy Seymour. Martyn

Williams said this... I am getting slaughtered on social media for...

And you want him to get slaughtered? Yes! We have got the PM over for a

reason, George Clancy, it went upstairs. -- the television match

official. The answer to the first question, no, it wasn't a knock-on.

We have the official to make the tough decisions and it was tough...

And there are certain people, we have looked at the world rugby read

website... Bear with me, the offside player runs behind the team-mate who

last kicked, touch to carry the ball, the player is put to the

side... There are lots of people debating this. Is that in English? I

did say, bear with me. APPLAUSE

I read the rule book for the first time in 15 years after I retired!

It's the most cobbler kidnapping in the world and it's ridiculous, and

they ask us, let's crunch under us, support the game, if the players

don't understand it, how the hell is anyone else supposed to? What I

would like to see, but as real confusing but what is wrong with a

coach challenge? That the onus back on the team that is affected and let

the coach say, I disagree. Otherwise we are putting it in the hands of

the referee and we are all just saying, referee, it's your fault. It

doesn't work. We move on, we accept the fact that Wales won it and we

move on... Sorry, Scotland. We are going to send Andy home! Let's get

the view from Sian hurry. Wales had just a little bit too much for a

Scotland team that played well for large parts of the game. The stepped

up when it mattered, of the wood was the required result, there is more

to come from Wales. There was a great deal of pressure in the

Scottish line-out. He got in front of the jumper in the air, Luke

Charteris did the damage on the floor, not the greatest technique

from Alun-Wyn Jones, Charteris and his long limbs and back, through the

Scottish malt and catches hold of the ball, making it difficult for

possession. An improved player, the driving maul is a huge threat, he's

invaluable in the middle, looks how he wraps up the ball with the aid of

Sam Warburton. He stays in there, putting his body on the line. The

pressure told on Scotland, this resulted in a set of important

scrums, they have the opportunity in the wider travel. We need to take

these a little bit better. But we got a penalty, credit to Sam

Warburton for going for the scrum. The decision paid off, the doctor

brought his slide rule to work. The awesome angle picked by the Man of

the Match gave Wales their second try but there is still homework for

Wales. Do we need fly half Dan Biggar catching these at the risk of

injury? We have lost a kicker and there is a lot of bodies on the

floor and out of the chase line. Gareth Davies needs wider blockers

for protection. Johnny Gray has a clear run for a charge down here.

When we come to play England, Steve Borthwick, knowing him as I do, they

will target this area for a charge down and who could forget after the

Lloyd Williams kick, what happened in Ireland. Enter George North, the

movement of the Welsh backs causing a heavy drift from Scotland, he

comes on a different angle. Greig Laidlaw has to cover the inside if

the channel is left, John Hardy is flanker, gets on the outside of

George North and makes a weakened side tackle. The overcook it,

instead of filling the inside, where Cameron on the blindside, taking

full advantage of this. The master blaster was back to his best.

According to Sean Holley, but more work on the finer detail. Martin,

over the past two years, one thing we learned from Wales, they are

quick to defend the ball well at the break down. Why are we conceding too

many turnovers? It's an attacking issue, we are not attacking well,

Scotland are very hard and Hardy was brilliant at spoiling the ball. An

area we haven't been as good in the first two games, in turnovers and

stealing the ball, it used to be our strongest point. What is happening?

Probably not quite working. There are two guys not in the starting 15.

The number six, Dan Elliott... Other guys, they have the ability to get

the ball and then there is Gethin Jenkins, the last decade, how many

crucial turnovers has he won? We had taken two guys who are crucial out

of the starting team. He needs to keep playing the starting line-up,

but definitely, we need to sharpen up, especially against France, the

French guys, we are looking ahead, they are lazy and there will be

opportunities. I expect them to go back. You make a great point about

Gethin Jenkins, many times do we see him trying to win the ball? So many.

The interesting thing, other countries who play with two

sevens... It is working for them so why not Wales? It has to suit what

you are trying to do, the tactics you adopt. In the northern

hemisphere we follow what they do in the south so often, Australia have

Pocock and Hooper. It has to be suited to what you are doing. That

game yesterday, it was right, that there were four sevens in the pit in

Hardy and Berkeley for Scotland. And with Warburton and to be, that is

what they are trying to do but against France, that might be

difficult. It is all about the balance. Too much sometimes, it is

made about the shirt number, 1-15 you have to be strong over the ball

and how many terminals come out in the centre? -- how many turnovers.

It is not just the domain of seven, it used to be but it's no

across-the-board. Ali, what would you do? I would go further back and

the style you are playing and defending... If you notice, Southern

Hemisphere, we will chop tackle, goal, that gives you opportunity to

turn over. If you are riding high in taking the fiscal contact pie, you

are eliminating the turnover opportunities, when you talk about

picking the team and things like that, pick your style in terms of

how you defend. Watch Australia, they chop tackle, they don't take

you on physically up top, they take you on so they can get Hooper and

Pocock. To me, it doesn't matter what your players is, the make-up of

your players, it's how you want to tackle, do you want to be a turnover

team are a team that confronts them and forces them back? Look... To

number sevens, number six is, I dump it makes a difference. Half the

front row was probably the best at turning it over. There's been a

really positive move to get Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton in the

team in an attacking sense but I don't think it's working. And it has

worked in the past, 30-3 against England, the front five were

dominant in that game. When it is an arm wrestle like it was yesterday,

perhaps they don't stand out as much as we would hope. Andy, can I ask

you about Scotland, Vern Cotter pooed on a brave face in the post

match interview, said I don't like losing but what I see is a lot of

bravery but we need to stop conceding points. No championship

wins for him, he must be frustrated? Very much so. Nine on the bounce. --

Vern Cotter put on a brave face. You have to back your process and the

tactics that you have and that's why it said earlier, yesterday was much

better. There's a lot to build on for two weeks against deadly, if

Scotland played like they play yesterday, consistent throughout the

entire team and game, not have a drop-off, I think the next two games

are winnable against Italy and France but not only to keep it at

this level and get better, go back to what they did last week, it could

be a while until they get their first win. I will take a little walk

to the bar... I am not having a beer. I want to introduce you to

this man, Garin Jenkins. What have you got? Good to see you.

CHEERING I would say happy Valentine's Day

but people will start talking. Have you had a good day? Pretty good,

yes. It's never quiet. Let's talk about yesterday. So important that

Wales got the win. Immensely important, as the boy said, a great

game and I enjoyed being part of it, watching it, it was a great win. And

one that we deserved to get in the end. Fantastic newspaper article

last week about Scott Baldwin, how impressed have you been? He's played

well. The World Cup, he was fantastic. I think... But is if you

little things we need to tweak, the boys talking about the contact. I

feel that... You know, it's an area, maybe, that the front five can

contribute a little bit more. I know a lot of the debate is about the

combination on the back row but as Martin said, I think it's a big onus

on one, two and three, in that area, especially that France are

especially strong, we need to get boys up to do the primary role, and

outside the primary role. Very often we talk about strength in depth, and

it cost us in the World Cup, let's be honest when we lost players, we

found ourselves out of the World Cup so how fantastic is it that we have

someone like ones? I'm a believer, it may be simplistic, but it's

horses for courses. Ali talks about the chop tackle, it's about

processes not personalities. Martin mentioned Gethin Jenkins, you might

think I've had a lot of bombs on the head, Rob Evans... He nearly hit me

down into Caernarfon from clinically. Condolences another one.

He may come in to start. It is a 23 man squad. Gethin Jenkins he will

make it messy. He did immensely well to come back. But we have been on

the back foot for the first 30 minutes, Conor Murray had an

armchair ride at the Aviva Stadium. Laidlaw yesterday... We cannot

afford to get that far behind against good teams that will put us

to the sword. Maybe there is a train of thought from myself, start with

Gethin Jenkins... He is world class. A fantastic surname as well extra

mission mark LAUGHTER but what I am saying, look at Rob Evans, Kendall

once, when he came on, the Scottish back five yesterday, carried very

well. You had Berkeley, hardy... And they carried and they caused us

problems. I am not a statistical man. You can get wrapped up in

statistics but I think people like Ken Owens... They get us going

forward. Horses for courses. England got off to a winning start at

Murrayfield last week, could they match that in Italy? England rocked

up in Rome having never lost a Six Nations match to Italy. Eddie Jones

made three changes, Mako Vunipola coming into the starting line-up.

This man caught the eye in the first round, becoming the first Italian to

score a try, conversion, penalty, and drop goal in the single match.

COMMENTATOR: Again England go high. Mike Brown got a hand in. Italy are

under real pressure in front of their posts. England have the

advantage, they have a turnover opportunity as well. Billy Vunipola.

Owen Farrell on the switch, George Ford. Jackson text with the touch

judge, try awarded. Parisse controls it and picks up and charges at Ben

Youngs. Penalty advantage Italy. Robshaw with a strong tackle. He

goes on his own. Do not show me that or I will

penalised you for a high tackle. Delicately puts over the penalty.

The gap narrows. That is a good kick by Jack Nowell.

Bellini gets the pass away and it's a simple gift. He won't score an

easier try than that for anybody. Good control in the maul. An arty

advantage for England. Care comes away with it. Jonathan Joseph with

try number two. Overthrown. Parisse comes away with

it. Instantly involved. Leave it! Knock-on. Excellent work by Joe

Launchbury. Paul Hill comes away with it. And now the backs. Joseph.

Will it be a hat-trick? Three tries for Jonathan Joseph.

Advantage, offside. That is a penalty advantage for England.

Getting over the advantage line. Beautiful off-load. This is more

like it. We got the result and it was satisfying. We knew we would

open them up in the last 20. No doubt it was always going to be

difficult at the start, we let them back into the game with a few silly

errors and discipline is a huge thing to work on. We have been with

the BBC out in Rome many times, Italy against England, Scotland,

Wales, Ireland, they start well but then they fall apart. That was a

competent performance by England which got better as the game went

on. Italy had the chance to take the lead and they missed it and that has

been symptomatic of their play. His kicking leaves a lot to be desired.

Two minutes later they threw a horrendous pass for Joseph's first

try. Then England got confidence, Danny Care had a good influence and

so did the bench. Ultimately they finished it off. That's a great win

away from home and the confidence that will give them, scoring those

tries and the impact of the bench, two games without conceding a try.

That is worrying when they have that strength in depth. Unfortunately

they did look good. They seem to have signed a shrewd coach in Eddie

Jones. The bench looked really strong, similar to Wales yesterday,

the bench makes a massive difference. They tried to play open

and expansive rugby. I think we will get a lot of joy out of that. I

think they looked dangerous. Watson was phenomenal on the wing. There is

a balance issue in the back row. You played against Eddie Jones and his

sides, was that an astute appointment? What have you made of

the opening couple of weeks? It's a decision that they went within terms

of going out of the national pool and they have good coaches in

England. You can see what he has done, both of the victories were

defence orientated. Not by the back row, as much, more by the props.

That's where their points are coming from. That is the easiest thing for

a coach to implement straightaway. He has got a huge part to play, the

defensive coach. They looked good. They can only get better. He is

bringing some depth. Like any southern hemisphere coach, they want

time, they are used to having time to build and develop the culture,

structure, and mindsets within their players. Vern has had it for a few

years and they are used to having chance to develop things and that is

what he is looking for. The English press won't give him that time,

trust me. Our reporter has had a busy weekend rounding up the under

20s and the women. The under-20s had a storming win

last weekend, scoring four tries in Dublin was Marco Donadel Stadium.

Here in Colwyn Bay this week, the Welsh coach has made three changes

to the team who went out in Ireland. The driving line-out has proved a

potent weapon for Scotland and it is proving so again. Rumbling towards

the touchline. A try is surely inevitable. They get over the line

and Matt Smith urges down for the men in blue. Wales are going to

Scotland what Scotland have done to them, pushing closer to the Scottish

line. They sprint over, and it is Shaun Evans, the Welsh openside. The

Scots powered over again just before the break, McCullen was the scorer.

Wales hit back just after half-time. COMMENTATOR: Jones, out to Millard.

Lovely pass. The youngster cuts back inside. Joe Thomas, inches away from

the try line as Scotland's defence desperately. Who wants it? Surely

the try is inevitable. There it is, Tom Phillips bundles over from close

range, the captain. Showing a clean pair of heels to the defence, Wales

are back on level terms. A penalty two minutes from time by

the replacement Billy McBride was the clincher. He had been on the

pitch for less than a minute. The courage and the character that the

players showed, particularly in the second half in difficult

circumstances, lots of inexperienced players tonight did themselves

proud. For Billy to do that with a minute to go is testament to him,

you know. That win puts Wales second in the table behind the leaders

France. The only sides with a 100% record in the championship so far.

Les Bleus Will be the visitors to Wales in a few weeks' time.

The Welsh women were looking to bounce back from their defeat in

Ireland last weekend, the Wales coach Rhys Edwards has made four

changes to the starting 15 and Phillips was the captain for the

first time in the absence of the injured Rachael Taylor. Scotland

took the early lead, and Wales hit back with a converted try. The Welsh

pack showing their strength with a driving maul. Harris crossed for the

opening try. Wilkins added the extras. The centre Wilkins put the

home side further ahead with a penalty and despite Scotland

crossing for a try just after half an hour, the conversion would prove

to be their last points of the game with Wales going into the break with

a 15-10 lead after Hannah Jones making a great run on the wing to

cross-border second. Wilkins increased the Welsh advantage to

eight points before they celebrated their third try of the day. -- to

cross for their second. A much-needed win for the Welsh team.

Very pleased and obviously disappointed about last week 's

score. Do come back and bounce back with a win is massive. No change in

the table as Wales remain fourth. Their next opponents in a fortnight

France stay at the top. APPLAUSE A clean sweep for Wales, the under

20 team, and the men and women winning. Good evening. Is it true

you have come out of the ice Bath? We had four minutes. Just four? It

was so cold this week. You have won today, has there been much

contemplation in the week in the camp about the defeat and getting

off to a winning start? We absolutely had to win and we are

chuffed with the result, 23-10. Just really happy, we could improve our

performance in places and we have to improve going to France in a few

weeks' time. What sort of improvements off the top of your

head from today? We gave away too many turnovers, and we made a few

handling mistakes. We still played some really nice rugby out wide. We

got a few tries as well. Wonderful. We wish you the best. Jason Strange

was on that report and he is back here. A fantastic end to the team?

Fantastic for the team and for Billy, I'm pleased with the wins

against Scotland and Ireland, and it sets it up nicely for the French

game. Players deserve a lot of credit for performing really well in

the first two games, and we need to take that forward for the rest of

the tournament. Great that Robbie was there as well. Yes, Billy,

making his debut was a fantastic moment and that is something he will

remember for a long time. Did you invite the BBC cameras into the

dressing room? You might regret it. Amazing scenes. You do have a

remarkable team spirit? It's important that the players enjoy

those moments and we encourage that, we want the team spirit to be very

good. It was epitomised on Friday evening. You are worried about what

we have got! Yes. You are wondering what on earth the cameras picked up.

Thank you for joining us. Let's round up the Pro12 action. The lead

changed hands six times at Rodney Parade on Thursday. They temporarily

went to the top of the table. The Dragons went into the break with a

1-point lead thanks in part to this try from Ashton Hewitt. The Connacht

's foreword power told in the end. They came away with a narrow win.

The Scarlets kept their hopes alive on Friday and they looked in control

Eoin Morgan Alain Prost after five minutes. -- crossed. That will be so

disappointing. Very welcome. They came from 19-6 down to take the lead

and they needed a late penalty in another close finish. He succeeded

with three so far. That is the most important of the lot. It puts the

Scarlets ahead. Another tight finish this weekend as Treviso celebrated

their first win of the season which came at the expense of the Blues.

There is a man over now. Scully in the corner. It's a try for the

Blues, finally. The Blues failed to take several chances in the second

half and the referee finally lost patience with their scrum. That's

enough to win them another penalty. The referee is gone beneath the

posts. That is a penalty try. Sam Davies scored 16 points for the

Ospreys as they celebrated a fine win in Cork this afternoon. This try

gave them the lead for the first time. There is something on here.

Sam Davies plays it to Watkin and he stretches into the corner. Rhys Webb

made an appearance off the bench but his return was cut short after an

accidental clash of heads. The Ospreys now close the gap on

sixth-place Munster but the top is still incredibly tight with a point

separating the top four. The Blues and Dragons remain ninth and 10th

respectively. Great to see Rhys Webb back and we hope his head injury

isn't too bad. Let's get back to the Six Nations, Paul O'Connell retired

from international rugby this week and Ireland went to Paris looking

for their first win of the tournament. Ireland arrived in the

City of love in rude health with fit again Sean O'Brien and Rob Carney

returning to the starting 15. And the talismanic number ten Jonny

Sexton recovered from his knock against Wales. Four changes upfront

and two behind. Still advantage Ireland. O'Brien.

Murray looks out towards Sexton. That is a safe catch. No advantage.

We will go back for the penalty. They drop the ball, so we will go

back to the penalty. That is a completely late cheap shot. Yes, and

right in front of the referee. Straight by Sexton. Sexton, coming

Dave Carney's way. Here he is again. He has been stripped and has lost it

forward. It's advantage being played. Henshaw sets it up.

Sexton, very safely... He slid delivers it and Tommy O'Donnell

heads for the French midfield. There is the switch. O'Donnell has worked

well. A Wacom France. Here is Fekitoa. Did that go forward? It

did. But at last France break loose on turnover ball. Nearly up to the

70 minute mark and France have their best opportunity. It comes out

quickly. Maxime has scored and the conversion is easy and France will

take the lead. Is that the championship defence over for

Ireland? It leaves it very hard, obviously. No wins in the first two

games. We may have to reassess but I think if we look at the second half,

we just did not quite get the dominance that we had in the first,

and we could not turn the dominance of the first half in two more

points. It's hard to know the answer to that question but we look at it

as a massive missed opportunity. Yes, that's exactly what Joe Smit

said after the game, they had chances and they should have taken

them. This is how the Six Nations table looks. Scotland and Italy are

still looking for their first wins. England are unbeaten and looking

formidable. Decimated by injuries, Ireland, and Joe Smit said in the

second half they were isolated far too often. And the French, that was

pretty physical? They targeted Sexton illegally on some occasions,

pretty old school. That is just a cheap shot. Hopefully he will be

banned for that. That is dangerous. It is physical and that's what you

get from the French. The Top 14 is attritional. Ireland have lost many

players before the tournament and key players as well. Its last man

standing for them going forward. They are in a tough place. The

French are an emotional side and that's what we love about them. The

physicality purely comes from emotion. They know Jonny Sexton and

they have seen him and played against him and they targeted that.

But I think they just really lifted themselves physically. They are

excited and they want to do something under their new coach.

Whether he is the right option, I don't know, but they want to do

something. He has been around for a long time and he had success while

back, probably not much current success. But it's a beautiful place.

LAUGHTER You are happier talking about the

geography and the landscape and the red wine rather than the rugby.

APPLAUSE Given what we have seen there, that

bit of tape where you see the French brutality, will they be lining up a

few of the Welsh boys? You always get that physicality but there is

legal and illegal physicality. That was obviously illegal. They were

very abrasive and you are going to get that, but so are Wales. It will

be a big physical encounter week on Friday. Going back to Ireland, a bit

like Wales and Scotland, Ireland don't have the same pool of players

of England and France. As soon as you get a few injuries you are

digging deep into your resources and they are finding it difficult. They

had huge success, winning the Championship the last few years.

They are not going to win from this stage. They just need to get people

back onto the field of play, Sean O'Brien should have given them a

lift. The provinces are not playing great at the moment, so none of them

have got into the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup. There are a few

questions about Ireland and they have not had these questions for the

past few years. It will be interesting to see how they react.

You have some battles with the French over the years? Just a

couple. Will they try to rough them up? They are very physical but I

really believe that if we get messy and the contact area they are good

on the front foot. Was that really you?! APPLAUSE

You didn't see the changing room after. I think if we make it messy

and test the temperament, on the front foot at the set piece, they

can be effective, but if our front five carry in the first 25 minutes,

get the French on the back foot and step outside the threats from the

defenders, we can get them on the back foot and test their

temperament. Did you edit that? Was that really you? I have my own

production firm! Very good. Now, here on the Six

Nations special we like to look at the off the wall moments. This is

Did You See That? There are still fire breathing Dragons in North

Wales. Wales is still the land of Song, but only just. Before

attempting a solo, make sure you know the words. He has just ruined

Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline. We know that Edwards had a Chinese last

night, there he is, putting his order in. Anyone spot Gavin Henson

running the line? Nice legs. Jake Ball takes a penalty for Italy

today. And love was in the air at the stadium is this young man

proposed, we don't have your names, but get in touch and we will offer

your congratulations. APPLAUSE How cameras are watching you and it

could be you next time. We are here after Wales versus France.

Interesting talk about discipline, that is the thing that Shaun Edwards

has drilled into the side. It's a big thing, when he first came in, I

can remember a few guys like Alun Wyn Jones and Lee Byrne getting

yellow cards and they were hung out to dry. You can give the odd

technical penalty away but they won't put up with ill discipline.

Jonathan Davies and Luke Charteris are currently heading back to France

where there will be matches. Do you think they will play them, the

French clubs? They'd every care that Wales have a match. No, that is the

structure. -- they don't really care. The French word really care. I

have alliances with Racing. You have to look at who governs and owns the

players and the control you have over them. The French Top 14 and the

French league is a runaway train at the moment. Somebody has to do

something. We will see what happens. This is the week that Gatland wants

his players in Wales so that they don't go off to play for the French

plebs. That is what the national coaches want but only certain ones

can get it. -- the French clubs. We will have the same in Scotland,

players will go to England and France and have to play. These have

been two really physical weekends. The rugby has not been fantastic but

really physical. Have you seen Luke Charteris, has he improved since

going to France? I think so. In the past two years he has got a bad

book. He now has confidence when running with the ball which is

always a sign of when a player feels his body, so to speak, in terms of

his body. He is running with the brawl which is an amazing sight,

like a drunken giraffe! -- with the ball. It's also the set piece that

has really developed, in the line-outs he is probably one of the

most destructive in the defensive line. Especially in the French

league. In the all on the scrum, the line-out, those arms are getting

into places that should not really be there. He causes havoc. I think

Gatland is concerned that the guys are playing away, to be honest. He

will vouch for this, they don't train as well as they should in

France. He can vouch for this! They are not as professional off the

field and that is where they fall down and he is concerned about the

Welsh players because it's a big part of the well set up. I think

Luke Charteris is the one player whose game has definitely developed.

-- the Welsh setup. We have just seen that head injury, if he is fit

would Gatland bring him back in? Fairly soon, he had 20 minutes today

and he will probably get a game next week. Probably on the bench. Davies

has been in a good period since Rhys Webb has been out. Rhys Webb needs

longer. We will reassess after the French game. It is like a David

Beckham metatarsal worry for the Welsh public about Dan Biggar, are

the Welsh too reliant on him? We saw in Dublin that Rhys Priestland can

still do a good job. He has been much maligned over here for some

reason. I always rated him highly. Dan Biggar was quiet yesterday. What

you saw yesterday was great, while Britain and Alun Wyn Jones and Dan

Biggar were quiet but Robbins stepped up. He is a class player. I

need three country titles, who will win? Just pick one! The Welsh. One

country to win the title. England. BOOING

What?! Can sell his BBC contract! I said before the Six Nations that it

would be Wales and I will keep saying Wales. CHEERING

Thank you very much indeed. Thank you for joining us. That's it from

us, we will see you after France. Happy Valentine's Day. Love is in

the air!