Highlights Six Nations Rugby

Wales as a nation wait expectantly for what they hope will be a third

grand slam in eight seasons. They are playing France on the final day

of this Six Nations championship after winning their first four

matches and that is the meat in an appetising sandwich on this final's

with the game in the Olympic Stadium in Rome where Italy and

Scotland were playing for the wooden spoon and culminating in

England v Ireland at Twickenham. Obviously if Wales were to win here,

they would be the champions, but if they were to lose to France and

England were to beat Ireland and the points differential was 38

points, then the title would be going to Twickenham. We will start

here at the Millennium Stadium. Commentary on a magnificent

stadium... ANNOUNCER: Showdown day at Cardiff. Wales have been

preparing for a physical onslaught all week. We talk about a young

Welsh team but Wales have experience, too. Vast experience

from Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rhys and Adam Jones. A 50th cap for

Matthew Rhys and 80th cap for Adam Jones. The reef is Craig Joubert.

The showdown is under way at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Mike

Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Mike Philips... It is his trademark. The

drop goal cuts only the grass. not sure it is his trademark any

more because he's had a couple of very low ones now. Rhys Priestland.

The ball is airborne. He watches it skip over the wet surface. Alex

Cuthbert chasing for Wales. They have won that first kick. Here

is the drop call. He's tried a few -- the drop ball. He as tried a few

in the last games, unsuccessful. Tackled by Adam Jones. Destiny and

from only one of their Welsh halves, a strike on the score board. 3-Nil.

It goes long. Lydiate. He did well, didn't he, there?

tackled by Dan Lydiate. He goes in again. Priestland. Long to Cuthbert.

Cuthbert is clear. He scores. CHEERING

Wales score against France. That is what you have to do. You have to

put the ball into the hands and get it over. But what a magnificent

finish. Here is Leigh Halfpenny with the conversion.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 146 seconds

many options there. Rhys Priestland will have struck the ball clean out.

Leigh Halfpenny waits. France are breaking out. This is -

he is in hot pursuit. Was Gethin Jenkins off-side? Yes, he was.

was. That is the danger of leading by 7points, a breakaway by France

and the scores are level. There he is, holding the ball. Here is

Lionel Beauxis. It is a 4-point Oh, tackle. It is Dan Lydiate. Yes,

again. Lydiate's work is rewarded. A big kick to settle the nerves.

is long enough. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

He is a magnificent kicker. Wales 13, France 6.

You don't want him to get a run up. No. The head count is lying on the

ground. Beauxis. There we are. goes up and it is loose. The prop -

- great scrambling defence by Wales. Jimmy Roberts with an important

interception. It's gone loose again. Ryan Jones. France will have the

knock-on. France, scrum. Here is a fresher look. Up and under, off the

Welsh player. It was a tackle only. Dan Lydiate was caught in the about.

8 minutes for Wales to hang on. 8 minutes for France to get the

converted try. When he fees the scrum, it turns. France with the

penalty, pulling at the scrum. they decided not to - the draw is

not good enough for them. They have come to spoil the party. A simple 3

points. Oh, my, 13-9, 4 points separates the team. France are

working the tram lines. It has gone loose. Lydiate picks it up and

Halfpenny. He is away. Halfpenny. CHEERING

The great tackle by Thierry Dusautoir. France is off-side.

Cuthbert. He bullies him into touch. It was off-side. Ohhh. I think he

threw the ball away. Just watch him. He goes away, throws the ball away.

There we are. Are you watching at CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Last 30 seconds. Wales inch their way second by second towards their

third grand slam in seven years. France come in, they are not off-

side. A turnover ball. It is all over.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Leigh Halfpenny will kick for goal.

(Laughs). He will blast it into touch. The Welsh players celebrate.

Wales have won the grand slam! They have beaten France by 16-9. It is a

second for Gethin Jenkins. This is what Cardiff thinks about it!

slam winner? It is killing me. I have an unbelievable team. You

think it will never happen to you but it makes the sacrifices

worthwhile. You've got to give credit to the French. Great attack.

They are quick off the line. It has been a successful week. The French

play a different game. We wanted them to play our way and that is

all that counts. People at half- time said if they could award the

Man of the Match Award at half-time it would have been you. How are you

feeling, you are a grand slam winner?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE (inaudible) A terrific performance.

You had to dig in today, Dan. the boys put their body on the line

and you have to do it to win a grand slam. Does it mean that

little bit more, Dan, given that France - what happened in New

Zealand in the grand final? We are a young team and a lot of us

haven't really done anything. really emotional day at the

Millennium stadium and an 11th grand slam for Wales which was a

great joy for the entire nation and Shane Williams, but maybe not the

best performance, but in terms of grit that was enough. Exactly. It

was the one try and the one opportunity, really. The scramble

defence typified France. It has been like that from the start.

Scotland and Italy games at home, still not the best performances.

The performance with England stopping Streatham in the last

minute. Darn's performance typified it and they deserved it. Did you

think France was ever going to spoil the party? Not in the first

half, but in the second half we were potentials. We had the

opportunity I think to score but the ball wasn't passed on the wing.

We didn't score and the Welsh came back into that game. Even though we

didn't play well, we have the confidence to beat the best team in

the world. What did you think about Wales? I think they have been solid.

They had a couple of wobbles, but their defence has been brilliant

and they have kicked when they needed to. They have been led

incredibly well. Thank you very much. That is it from us here.

Let's go to Twickenham where the final chapter was written. England

playing Ireland with Gabby. Thank you, John. A huge congratulations

to Wales. The wooden spoon decider is coming up later, but first to

matters at Twickenham where Ireland arrived on Saint-Andre. England

looking to make it four wins from game for itself. This England team

has Stuart Lancaster's mark upon it. Dynamic Ben Morgan is on the flank.

Once again a close match will be expected. The one change from

Ireland comes where Shaun O'Brian has recovered from his foot

infection and what will Dr Ryan bring in the second row? He set the

bar high last week filling in for Paul McDonald. One more try to

equal the six nations effort. On the bench there is a back-up. Rain

coming down rather heavily at Twickenham. Early juggling of the

ball taken by Shaun O'Brien and cleared.

England have it safely on the halfway line. A little knock-on

first of all from Ireland I think it was. We will come down for the

first scrum of the day. This will be an interesting area. Ben Healy

pitted against Dan Call who has got better and better.

England have a slight weight advantage. A penalty. Immediately

the point is made. I can tell you if you're in the front row you are

making a few parting comments as the opposition are marched

backwards to watch you kick at goal. It is very important for England to

kick this because it gives a reward. Two minutes on the clock and it

goes through. England has the lead at Twickenham. Healy dives on it to

secure it again for Ireland. England will turn this over. They

have. Here comes Carling for England. Ireland have a chance now.

To Ryan. Good support out wide for Ireland. Tearing away down the wing.

In for the 22 brought down. APPLAUSE

Ireland try to start that ball back, a turnover ball. England have it.

The ball is still alive and we go again, Rob Kearney. What a pace we

are starting at here at Twickenham in the wet. Ireland again. A big

collision there, but stood up well. Ireland are blind side again. A

little poke through of the boots of - Ohhh. Taken into touch. The die

on the ball, he was sitting down own 22. Barritt did well there. It

was crucial so they didn't have to go background. A huge pressure here.

He did well to get the kick away. A long drop. Ireland, Kearney. Oh, it

hit the post. It made the distance high for the chase. Kearney is

thrashing out there. London are still back and they are offside by

one of his team-mates. Penalty Ireland. That wasn't even one of

those instinctive ones. He had a bit of time here, had a think about

it, why not? CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Quickly stopped and Ireland are back on level terms, 3 points

the front row. Ben Morgan comes away once more. Barritt just dips

his head and charges on. A penalty to England... They are going to

have to sort out - even on their own ball they are winning the ball,

they are not managing to come up with it. The second scrum has been

turned over. Once more then Owen Farrell with relative ease moves

past 50 points and moves England to a 6-point lead with 5 minutes to go

in this first half. The clock ticks on. England are still looking to

keep it in, keep it tight, see the second out. We have got noise that

referees have been told when teams are trying to cut down here, they

are going to be hard on them. If there is any suggestion of defence,

they are going to get penalised. Ireland tried to stop them. A

penalty to Ireland. Sexton capitalises on Donnacha Ryan's good

work and they have levelled. Easily taken. Tom Croft got it clear.

Croft loses it. So close. He was so close offloading. What a charge

from Tom Croft. There is Hearty under pressure, does well, spinning

out of a tackle. England battering their way around the game line. No

way through at the moment. A little chip over the top. On the tenth

passage of play and leer leer carries it over.

CHEERING -- O'Leary carries it over. He had

no option but to carry that over. It really didn't run out the way

that he wanted it to. This is where the game could hang here. A try

could be theirs. Morgan up the back. Will they get a penalty? There is

the penalty. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The Twickenham crowd felt that Morgan was going to produce a try,

but the whistle had gone before that. You get back and do it again.

These are the times the forward - go forward against when you are in

it together in the trenches, so to speak. That was massive. Picked up

by Morgan. He rolls and tries to get it down, but it is a penalty

try. Nigel Owens says England have their try and they have their

rewards. CHEERING

They wanted that. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective. It is a way

of re-starting the game. You try telling that to the majority of the

English down here. This is where the real strength lies. England

wandering forward easily, casually. England have a penalty. This is a

march towards the Irish 22 so drop- goal attempt and nothing from

Farrell back to come for the penalty. That was utterly, utterly

comprehensive. You cannot win games under this pressure - not possible.

They are not even up to the level they were in the first half.

Psychologically the damage has been done and that is going through the

team at the moment. Once more, it goes through and Farrell moves

England beyond their 20-point mark and suddenly that score looks

comhenive for England. This camera here, you can see the angles that

the front row is going. Yep. What is the right-hand side there - you

see where he gets around. He starts to go. And again just held at the

back by the giant paws of Morgan. A penalty again to England. At some

point Nigel Owens will have to look at a yellow card. Oh, Youngs is

there for the try. Quick thinking, quick feet. What a scrum-half!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE It was good. Intelligence and sharp

work by Youngs, you have to say I think it is because they are so

demoral ised about the scrum that they simply got up and looked

around instead of looking where they should have been, which was

trying to tackle anyone and in particular Ben Youngs. Quick

thinking as all good scrum-halfs should do. A little step and then

he had the pace. England again within 10m. Off-side advantage to

England. The pain is being heaped upon Ireland. England, advantage. A

little switch and Tom Croft comes back in. Still the arm of Nigel

Owens was outstretched. The captain makes a yard. Back it comes across

field kick. A little bit too deep and taken by Kearney but that was a

long advantage played by Nigel Owens so back it will come and

England will have the penalty. it is a very, very simple 3 points

that might have yielded more if they had taken the scrum. A smile

from the new chief executive. The final passage of play may well be

England's, but it is a kick deep from Farrell. Kearney there.

Kearney is taken. For the first time he is not going to score in

the Six Nations since he began playing. It is over. England finish

with an utterly comprehensive win over Ireland.

You have put your faith throughout the championship in some young,

inexperienced players, the likes of Owen Farrell. Have they surprised

you the way they have risen to that challenge? I think at the jut set

there is a long-term plan and the long-term plan revolves around

giving a lot of young players some experience and a lot has been made

about the lack of experience, but a lot should be made of team belief

and self-belief. I think the players have got that and they

believe in the direction we are going and the coaches. It showed

today. You have been thinking about it already because you are a canny

coach and when you see people talking about the number of Ireland

players that would make a lion's team right now - and there are

plenty - can you not begin the analyse why it might have gone

wrong in this championship? I know where it has again wrong but there

are things I am going to say on TV and things I am not going to say on

TV. We are 10 minutes after a game today. We made a lot of turnovers,

that is part and part of why we lost. We lost the scrum heavily and

I know why that has happened. Some things we need to solve internally.

How much do you want to stay here and continue this good work? If you

had said to me a few years ago I would be walking in Twickenham and

applauding 82,000 people with a group of lads that I respect I

would have taken it. So England has made it four wins from five.

Scotland started their match at the Stade de France with four defeats.

Could they avoid the wooden spoon against Italy. Your commentary team

Connor McNamara and Andy Nicol. One late change for the Scottish

team. John Welsh has come in in replacement of Jacobson who has

been injured in the warm-up. He is alongside the forward in the front

row. Italy also have to make a late

change bringing in Fabio Ongaro. Now that means there are seven

changes since Cardiff last weekend. That adds strength. It is the most

experienced pack ever in the history of rugby with eight

forwards who have played 488 games for them. The Italians are choosing

to keep the song on their backs for the first time here in Rome. We are

on our way, not for the first time, it has come down to these two

nations to battle it out for bottom place on the championship and one

of these sides are going to feel that sharp lick of a wooden spoon

by the end of this game. The most unenviable title perhaps in world

rugby and if there is anything worse than a wooden spoon it is a

whitewash wooden spoon. Whoever looses it will be five defeats out

of five. This is Max Evans for the first touch of the ball for

Scotland. Kicked by Laidlaw and the experienced Andrea Masi was in the

combination for the Italians. Scotland desperately trying to get

hands on that ball and at the moment there has been an advantage

for Italy. That line is the 22 and it has got to come back and the

penalty is activated. A good hit by De Luca. Jim Hamilton comes around

the side for a country geographically shaped like a boot,

Italy have struggled to find someone who can score points with a

boot ever since Domingo retired. CHEERING

Scotland are behind in Rome. They tried to notch that ball on to the

Scottish side. He did very well to find that. 5m from the Scottish

line. No margin of error for Scotland. Burton. This is

Bergamasco. Italy very fortunate to hold on to possession there. Quick

hands from Burton, but sloppy there. John Bartlett has done very well.

There we go. He's played very well so far in the Six Nations. Scotland

flew into Rome on Thursday, 15th March. The eyes of March, the day

that in this city Julius ease sar found out the knives were out for

him. Beware the knives. If Scotland loses this there could be a few

knives out for Mr Robinson the coach. That was a very, very good

scrum. The timing of Dan Parks retirement from international rugby

took a lot of people by surprise. It has fast-tracked the

international career of this young man, Greg Laidlaw. Does he have the

distance? It is a fantastic kick and now we are all level at the

Stade de France in Rome. Quick hands. He would have dropped it. He

nearly charged the ball down. De Luca will get a yellow card for

this. He is trying to compete. He can't get away with that. You can't

kick the ball out of scrum-half. Burton. Scotland doing well to get

there in numbers. That must have been close to being a forward pass.

Now Burton. CHEERING

On his fourth international appearance and finally the opening

try in Rome. We have got a lot of quick balls.

He was stuck in no-man's land. They couldn't stop him. They got what

they deserved. Keeping extra pressure now on Scotland. Burton is

successful with the extra two points. Italy move into double

figures after Giovanbattista Venditti scores at Stade de France.

-- at Stadio Olympico. Jim Hamilton heads to the sin-bin.

Scotland are down a man again. Scotland just about managed to win

this line-out. Alain Rolland does not reach for his pocket. Very

dangerous. If there is any consistency, why is that not a

yellow card? He gives Scotland a chance to move within four points

of the lead. A better angle this time for Laidlaw. And it is, Italy

10, Scotland 6 in Rome. CHEERING

The offload to Venditti. A long kick from Hogg. Where will it

bounce? Not close enough to the touch line. Just outside the 22 ra

he struck that kick. Well fielded. This is what the Scotland fans want

to Seymour of. Maybe putting the Italians ever so slightly on the

back foot, but just how Morrison is engulfed there. That might well

have been turned over. You can Seymour risson absolutely exposed

and then the Italians go over. He lost his footing, yellow card and

you can see Andy Robinson celebrated that like it was a try.

This is what the Italians are very good at. Burton had a go with the

drop goal unsuccessfulfully, but this one has gone between the posts.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE The clock has gone red. Italy can

finish this now whenever they choose. They might just want to try

one last attack. Let's see. The whistle from Alain Rolland.

CHEERING The penalty is Italy and that will

be that. Celebrations here in Rome - Italy have avoided the wooden

spoon for the first time in five years. It is the first win in the

job for the new Italian coach Jacques Brunel and it is very much

back to the drawing board for Scotland and for Andy Robinson.

Obviously your job is going to come under closer scrutiny after a

whitewash in the Six Nations. Do you still feel you can take these

players somewhere? Yeah, I have got a contract until 2015 so that is

what my focus will be on. We will debrief and then I will come back

and talk with the CEO. You are man who doesn't like losing matches? Do

you still have the appetite, desire to take this group forward? This is

not the time we-to-be discussing that. It is just after a loss and

everyone is pretty emotional about it. I think the right thing is to

take a bit of time and think it through.

So the 2012RBS Six Nations table finishes like that - Wales with the

grand slam. Scotland with the wooden spoon. Andy Robinson's track

record for Scott two wins in 15 matches. England an impressive

performance overall. Ireland and France both finished on 5. The

first win for Italy with brown Brunel.

What are your thoughts on the tournament as a whole? A fantastic

tournament this year. Always had that element of surprise. Wales

obviously outstanding again, picking up where they left off from

the World Cup. A tonne around for England from the World Cup to pick

up so many victories and the way they have played really.

Disappointment for Scotland. Ireland, a little bit worried,

disappointed overall, with that performance? Disappointed. There is

a lot of injuries of the big names, but they suffered for it. I don't

want to finish on a negative for the tournament. I thought it was

fantastic. I thought a lot of young players for England and Wales and

Ireland and Scotland and suddenly there was a big boost. These

players are going to mature and on the back of that it was fantastic.

It is often said that the Six Nations after a World Cup can be a

weak one in the 4-year cycle because of that, because of the

changes, but it didn't seem like that, did it? Not at all. I loved

watching the Six Nations this year as a now retired player. I thought

it was phenomenal. Seeing Wales and England, the strikes they had made

and as Keith said the young guys coming through now is exiting for

the Lions because the young guys have put up their hands and said,

"We are ready for this. We can do it." You didn't miss it at all?

missed it a lot. We are glad you enjoyed the tournament with us.

Thank you for your company throughout the Six Nations campaign.

So it started with Stuart Lancaster, how would he do as an interim

England coach? He got four wins out of five which impressed a lot of

people. Whether he will be the full-time employment from the RFU

remains to be seen. They came in off the back of truss stpraigs from

Wales with the World Cup and they manage to rewrite that with the

grand slam victory on the final day. From all of us, a very goodnight.

(SONG): # We are the champions, my friends