:01:04. > :01:22.Sunday tea-time, and that piece of music, the nation is going yes.
:01:23. > :01:27.Going mad later, that will be in your head for the next few hours. It
:01:28. > :01:33.is Rugby Special for the first time in an eternity, with Jeremy, Martyn
:01:34. > :01:36.and Matthew. So much to say after the opening round and without
:01:37. > :01:39.further ado, the Aviva Stadium, Ireland against Wales in pursuit of
:01:40. > :01:53.a third consecutive championship. COMMENTATOR: Ireland and Wales
:01:54. > :01:57.taking to the Aviva Stadium. Both teams have been asked in various
:01:58. > :02:02.quarters to open up but this is the first weekend of the Six Nations and
:02:03. > :02:09.the weather may have a say. The old scrap that is Ireland against Wales
:02:10. > :02:14.may come first. Very much a new look Irish pack after the retirement of
:02:15. > :02:18.Paul O'Connell. Mike McCarthy comes in but there are injuries, Sean
:02:19. > :02:24.O'Brien is out, Qian Healy is out, Nathan White topping on the tight
:02:25. > :02:29.end and behind the scrum, so much responsibility and pressure on the
:02:30. > :02:35.shoulders of Murray and Sexton. Simon Zebo starts at full-back. Why
:02:36. > :02:38.way of contrast, Wales looking very settled, Rob Evans comes into the
:02:39. > :02:44.front row in the place of Gethin Jenkins who sits on the bench to
:02:45. > :02:47.begin with. Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies resuming their partnership.
:02:48. > :02:52.George North on the right wing and Liam Williams is a late replacement
:02:53. > :02:57.for Gareth Anscombe at full-back. Gethin Jenkins, the most capped
:02:58. > :03:01.player of all time for Wales, were will win 120 late in the day. --
:03:02. > :03:17.later. Jack McGrath, the prop. Best, tackled by his opposite
:03:18. > :03:22.number, Scott Baldwin. And away comes CJ Stander in his first game.
:03:23. > :03:33.He's lip, the number eight. Seven metres from the Welsh line. -- he's
:03:34. > :03:54.lip -- Heaslip. McGrath, slightly in Conor Murray's
:03:55. > :04:03.wave. Heaslip as it now. -- in his way.
:04:04. > :04:16.Sexton. The centres in combination. But Wales disrupted the move,
:04:17. > :04:21.although they are offside. Fantastic start by Ireland. Three or four line
:04:22. > :04:22.breaks. Great scramble defence by Wales in the end. Ireland looking
:04:23. > :04:32.very dangerous from the get go. 3-0, Ireland lead. It has been all
:04:33. > :05:05.Ireland in the opening five minutes. Penalty against Jamie Roberts. Rory
:05:06. > :05:10.Best, to O'Donnell. Luke Charteris holding him up. No advantage,
:05:11. > :05:15.penalty could do Ireland. Great from Ireland to maintain the ball and
:05:16. > :05:22.make the Welsh defence in French. On the opposite side the Welsh were a
:05:23. > :05:30.bit impatient but Ireland showed magnificent patients -- infringe. --
:05:31. > :05:43.patients eight metres out. O'Donnell with the
:05:44. > :05:49.line-out. Heaslip for the line. O'Donnell couldn't quite get there.
:05:50. > :06:00.It is all Ireland. Trying again. Over the line, is it down?
:06:01. > :06:08.Advantage, red. The ball has disappeared, from that angle. Conor
:06:09. > :06:13.Murray feeding the scrum, five metres out and here comes the drive
:06:14. > :06:29.from the Irish. Use it, says Jerome Garces. Roberts with the tackle.
:06:30. > :06:44.Conor Murray on his own, it's over! He scores. Once again, very patient
:06:45. > :06:51.from Ireland. Cycling the ball three or four times. Great strength from
:06:52. > :06:58.Connemara to get over. The first drive for the line. Murray setting
:06:59. > :07:06.up another one. -- Conor Murray. And now the scrum-half goes on his own.
:07:07. > :07:17.Alun Wyn Jones, off the top. Jonathan Davies in midfield.
:07:18. > :07:27.I think they are going to check the tackle. Ireland have turned it over.
:07:28. > :07:33.And away they come. Jared Payne. Alun Wyn Jones, second row. Jerome
:07:34. > :07:38.Garces seems to be content that it is just a penalty. I think a little
:07:39. > :07:43.bit lucky to get away with that without further sanction. Important
:07:44. > :07:51.three points for Wales to get back in the game. Rhys Priestland.
:07:52. > :07:55.Sending a try, and straight between the posts and Wales are on the
:07:56. > :08:05.board. Dan Biggar are applauding. His day is over. 13-3.
:08:06. > :08:15.Wales are going to keep it tight. Staying at the feet of Faletau.
:08:16. > :08:23.Penalty for Wales. Gareth Davies, five tries in the World Cup. Sam
:08:24. > :08:30.Warburton going for the line. Alun Wyn Jones lets it go for Rhys
:08:31. > :08:38.Priestland. Oh, so close, so close, for Liam Williams. Penalty
:08:39. > :08:45.advantage. That's what they go back to. It's going to be the scrum.
:08:46. > :08:49.Great kick to the corner, Zebo does just enough to prevent Liam Williams
:08:50. > :08:53.getting over for the try. Probably will be disappointed that he didn't
:08:54. > :09:03.take it but great work from the Irish full-back. Wales going again,
:09:04. > :09:10.Faletau comes away with it and he reaches over and scores! Fantastic
:09:11. > :09:15.work by the Welsh number eight off the back of the scrum. Controlling
:09:16. > :09:22.it really well and before you knew it he was over the line. I don't
:09:23. > :09:27.think it was the original plan, but he improvised well, Faletau. Wales
:09:28. > :09:35.were going for the huge shove again but it came out the side, it gives
:09:36. > :09:41.Faletau a run against Johnny Sexton and a fine stretch for the try.
:09:42. > :09:45.Safely through the middle by Rhys Priestland. Wales, ten points.
:09:46. > :09:50.Against Ireland's 13. The ever willing Alun Wyn Jones.
:09:51. > :10:26.Davies is on his own. Ever alert. Penalty against Tommy O'Donnell. The
:10:27. > :10:34.ball was off the ground, but Tommy O'Donnell was off his feet. Yeah,
:10:35. > :10:38.when the referee is talking to you you have to listen to him, whether
:10:39. > :10:45.you think he is wrong or right. Jerome Garces was clear to the
:10:46. > :10:49.players but they failed to heed his advice and now there is a chance for
:10:50. > :10:54.Wales to level things up early on. Rhys Priestland to level the scores.
:10:55. > :11:13.13-13 at the Aviva solid Welsh scrum as Faletau comes
:11:14. > :11:19.away and takes on Conor Murray and makes a yard or two to ease the
:11:20. > :11:30.pressure on the clearing operation. Gareth Davies. Andrew Trimble. Simon
:11:31. > :11:41.Zebo. Passing Jamie Roberts. To Conor Murray. Jamie Heaslip to the
:11:42. > :12:10.new player, Rhys Ruddock. Son of Mike, who used to coach Wales.
:12:11. > :12:18.The tallest man in the Irish team, Devin Toner.
:12:19. > :12:32.Wales claiming the turnover. And it is going to be there. Penalty
:12:33. > :12:38.advantage for Wales. Advantage over. That's a great clearance from Rhys
:12:39. > :12:43.Priestland. Loose kick from Davies, putting it in field to Zebo uses his
:12:44. > :12:56.pace and invention. Ireland B cycling again. A good pick up. --
:12:57. > :13:04.recycling. Sexton, the break, can they finish it? Tom James with a
:13:05. > :13:09.covering tackle. Fantastic interplay from Ireland. Great work from
:13:10. > :13:16.Sexton. Doing that very well, fantastic defence from James on the
:13:17. > :13:20.wing, stopping the Irish attack. Around 22 metre line, will they look
:13:21. > :13:25.for the drop goal at some stage? Not yet. Gareth Davies had to scrape the
:13:26. > :13:38.ball away then. Ireland is turning the ball over at
:13:39. > :13:47.last. Huge cheers going up at the Aviva Stadium. Wales disrupted and
:13:48. > :13:52.start the counterattack. Wales are back in possession. It is the
:13:53. > :13:59.penalty at last. The sudden change of red, the disruption and the
:14:00. > :14:02.penalty. Massive effort from both sides, Wales going through over 20
:14:03. > :14:09.phrases. You see Faletau, the ball is poached. Four, five Welsh players
:14:10. > :14:16.come through and Alun Wyn Jones earns the penalty. This is for the
:14:17. > :14:21.lead, Rhys Priestland. It's a marvellous kick. Given the
:14:22. > :14:29.circumstances, given the pressure and the fatigue. Wales going through
:14:30. > :14:35.20 odd phases. Jamie Roberts, what a game he's having in attack and
:14:36. > :14:42.defence. New scrum-half, Lloyd Williams. The man whose left boot
:14:43. > :14:50.delivered the kick that beat England not so -- although not so good on
:14:51. > :14:54.that occasion. Disappointing kick from Lloyd Williams there. His
:14:55. > :15:07.introduction. We have all been there. The chance for Sexton to
:15:08. > :15:15.level things up. What a kick from Sexton. We are all square. Joe
:15:16. > :15:21.Schmidt looks on, the crowd raising the roof. 16-16. Will there be a
:15:22. > :15:37.mistake to decide this game? Priestland is back for the drop
:15:38. > :15:41.goal. Perhaps a bit rushed by Wales again. Good pressure by Conor Murray
:15:42. > :15:50.in fairness, forcing Priestland to Mr kick. -- Miss the kick. Is there
:15:51. > :15:53.one more play in this game that will settle it? Madigan, twisting and
:15:54. > :16:14.turning, nowhere to go. Zebo, in field. At come Ireland, one
:16:15. > :16:23.last chance, perhaps. The ball is loose. Liam Williams debts. Now
:16:24. > :16:31.Wales, do they have one more chance? They too have to come from deep. And
:16:32. > :16:41.deeper and deeper. Tom James spots a mismatch. Finding Dan Lydiate.
:16:42. > :16:50.Jonathan Davies, a chance here. Tipuric. Cutting inside, Liam
:16:51. > :16:58.Williams on his shoulder. The ball is loose and it goes out. That's the
:16:59. > :17:03.end of it. It is a draw in Dublin. It wasn't the result we wanted, it
:17:04. > :17:07.takes away a lot. Ireland are looking at the Grand Slam and so are
:17:08. > :17:10.we and it takes away the Triple Crown as well. From that point of
:17:11. > :17:14.view it is disappointing, but we have come to a tough place and we
:17:15. > :17:17.got something out of it. You know when you play Wales, nearly every
:17:18. > :17:21.Six Nations game is the same, it is tough. Wales come and they are
:17:22. > :17:31.physical and you have two front up and for the most part we did that. A
:17:32. > :17:35.lot of Saul bodies in there. -- sore. When you have the ball you
:17:36. > :17:38.know who you have to go at them. If you look at our form over the last
:17:39. > :17:43.few years, away from home we have been pretty positive. Not afraid to
:17:44. > :17:46.play away from home, some good results but we have a couple of
:17:47. > :17:51.games at home now, the six-day turnaround. And which will be tough.
:17:52. > :17:56.We have to make sure we physically prepare correctly for that and
:17:57. > :18:00.mentally as much as anything. The first half, after starting so well,
:18:01. > :18:06.I'm sure they came in on a real high, and we were a bit deflated. We
:18:07. > :18:09.started the second half really well, we put some pressure on and we
:18:10. > :18:14.didn't get the points and then they built their way into the lead. In
:18:15. > :18:20.the end, we are probably reasonably believed to escape with the draw.
:18:21. > :18:23.The first law between those two teams in 42 years and when you look
:18:24. > :18:30.at the statistics, the proverbial cigarette paper between them -- the
:18:31. > :18:36.first draw. The obvious question for Keith and Martyn, who is the more
:18:37. > :18:39.satisfied and dissatisfied? I'm dissatisfied, I think for Wales it
:18:40. > :18:45.is the fourth year in a row where they haven't won the opening game.
:18:46. > :18:47.Ireland were there for the taking. I think Wales will be disappointed
:18:48. > :18:53.because that is more or less a fully fit Welsh team. And I'm thrilled to
:18:54. > :18:56.bits! We had a lot of injuries going into the game, I didn't see Ireland
:18:57. > :19:00.winning it. You don't want to see a player injured, but Dan Biggar went
:19:01. > :19:07.down and you think, there is another chink. A cracking conformance, great
:19:08. > :19:14.result for Ireland. Dan Biggar has an ankle injury that he sustained
:19:15. > :19:18.before kick-off and he will have a test to see if he is fit for the
:19:19. > :19:22.weekend. Really good game. It was, last year was one of the best of the
:19:23. > :19:27.championship so there was a lot of expectations. Credit to the fitness,
:19:28. > :19:31.conditioning and planning. Wales are normally around the corner but they
:19:32. > :19:35.went wide and attacked the channels and Ireland, with their injuries,
:19:36. > :19:44.put in that performance. Keith is happy but they could have won. 13-0
:19:45. > :19:48.up after the try. They started well, this is after a sustained period of
:19:49. > :19:52.time. They got a scrum in a good position and they did well in the
:19:53. > :19:59.scrum and I think Tipuric hung Evans out to dry. Great run from Henschel.
:20:00. > :20:04.Eight group for what's coming in, Jamie Heaslip getting the extra
:20:05. > :20:10.yards. -- a group. Jack McGrath, looking at the line. No panic, and
:20:11. > :20:13.patient. Not enough front row forwards for Wales getting around
:20:14. > :20:17.the other side and Conor Murray, he is a big guy. That was sustained
:20:18. > :20:23.pressure for the first few minutes leading to that. Important for Wales
:20:24. > :20:28.to school before half-time and the try came at the important time.
:20:29. > :20:33.Tommy O'Donnell, Johnny Sexton is to far-off the scrum, especially when
:20:34. > :20:37.you are under the scrum, you need your number ten close. The third
:20:38. > :20:43.scrum of the series, the ball popped out and it is a great finish from
:20:44. > :20:50.Faletau. The referee Camra, you can see Tommy O'Donnell, the opposite of
:20:51. > :20:56.Tipuric. -- camera. You need to have more protection in the openside, you
:20:57. > :21:02.are dammed if you do and banned if you don't, whether you hang on, but
:21:03. > :21:06.a good finish. As a balletic centre yourself, Jamie Roberts today, he
:21:07. > :21:12.was just massive. Extraordinary performance. He had a wonderful
:21:13. > :21:17.season last year, he played pretty much every single game and every
:21:18. > :21:23.minute. Six foot four, 17 stone, you start throwing that around in the
:21:24. > :21:29.right areas, you are going to start hurting people and you give yourself
:21:30. > :21:35.the momentum in defence and attack. He is Wales' most capped centre,
:21:36. > :21:39.making 21 tackles and at 29, no spring chicken but he is coming into
:21:40. > :21:47.his own which is good to see. For Ireland, perhaps a new hero, who is
:21:48. > :21:51.CJ Stander? Former Springbok under 20 captain. The earmarked for high
:21:52. > :21:55.things down in South African but he joined Munster as a project player,
:21:56. > :21:59.qualifying for Ireland the day after the World Cup final and we can't
:22:00. > :22:03.wait to have him. Man of the match in aid all of his games for Munster.
:22:04. > :22:09.His ball carrying is phenomenal. He went everywhere. Very smart, very
:22:10. > :22:16.powerful, running onto the ball when he gets a chance, holding very well.
:22:17. > :22:19.Great centre of gravity. His collisions, all the time. They don't
:22:20. > :22:23.seem to take anything out of him, he will play on and on. He will be
:22:24. > :22:30.there at the end making sure something can happen. For somebody
:22:31. > :22:34.on his first cap to carry 23 times, they say it takes 20 minutes to get
:22:35. > :22:39.into a game but he had ten of them in the first few minutes. It takes a
:22:40. > :22:44.lot of pressure off the Irish back row. What about these project
:22:45. > :22:46.players coming into the game, and in Scotland as well, where you
:22:47. > :22:50.earmarked someone who could be playing anywhere in the world and
:22:51. > :22:56.say that if you play here in a few years, you can play international
:22:57. > :23:00.rugby for us? Is it good? Look, we have him and I'm delighted because
:23:01. > :23:03.he has done well, selfishly, but I think the period of time should be
:23:04. > :23:09.longer. It is three years, every country is going to be doing that
:23:10. > :23:13.but it should be five or six years. From the Welsh point of view against
:23:14. > :23:17.Scotland, at half-time we said to each other that Wales were going to
:23:18. > :23:23.win it. Why do Wales not convert so many chances that they seem to
:23:24. > :23:28.create? Traditionally they have got better as the tournament goes on.
:23:29. > :23:32.Slow starters. I know they work hard on it. I think they need to be a bit
:23:33. > :23:36.more clinical, losing Dan Biggar, although Rhys Priestland had a good
:23:37. > :23:41.game when he came on. A lot of pressure on him. I think they will
:23:42. > :23:44.be confident, disappointed, but confident going back. They have
:23:45. > :23:50.three home games but ultimately disappointed with the draw. That was
:23:51. > :23:54.a game that was stored your faith in the Six Nations after a somewhat
:23:55. > :23:57.tepid opening in Paris and Edinburgh. Starting at Murrayfield
:23:58. > :24:02.with the Scotland and England game. For England it was a new captain and
:24:03. > :24:12.coach, but would it be a New England? The match with the most
:24:13. > :24:16.history of all, 145 years since the first Scotland-England encounter but
:24:17. > :24:38.it turned out the way of many others of recent times.
:24:39. > :24:49.There's Farrell, going right to know all. Chipping and chasing it
:24:50. > :24:58.himself. -- Nowell. Park was under pressure. -- Hogg. Five metre scrum.
:24:59. > :25:03.You could see him praying it goes over the line before he has to touch
:25:04. > :25:13.it. Five metres out, what a position it is.
:25:14. > :25:22.No quarter given by either team here, Vunipola is watching at the
:25:23. > :25:33.back. Vunipola himself! Four metres short. England still have it.
:25:34. > :25:38.Launchbury is there, Kruis going over for the try, scoring for
:25:39. > :25:42.England. The breakthrough is made. Forward pressure and power from
:25:43. > :25:48.England brings them the first score, and George Kruis is the man to get
:25:49. > :25:55.it down. Kruis gets download, driving his legs towards the line.
:25:56. > :25:57.That came from a quality centrepiece and a clear understanding of the
:25:58. > :26:03.role that after the set piece commute get around the corner. This
:26:04. > :26:08.is what I think England have in the first few minutes, they know what
:26:09. > :26:13.they want to do. It may not always work, but what they did not do in
:26:14. > :26:21.many World Cup games was to play with an air of certainty. They are
:26:22. > :26:33.doing that at the moment. Stuart Hogg, full flight. Halted by Watson.
:26:34. > :26:44.Advantage to Scotland, penalty coming and it is there. It is
:26:45. > :26:46.clickable, some distance out. -- kickable. Robshaw has to get out of
:26:47. > :27:04.the way. He knows where he is. Has it cost England? It has, eight
:27:05. > :27:07.suite strike curling its way through from Laidlaw. Scotland with their
:27:08. > :27:15.first points on the board -- a sweet strike. Taken by Jonny Gray, given
:27:16. > :27:25.to Hardie. Maitland, within five metres.
:27:26. > :27:35.Feeding Jonny Gray. The crowd roaring at Murrayfield. England have
:27:36. > :27:45.it. And the noise dies away, and England have the penalty.
:27:46. > :28:02.Back it goes. Denton takes it now. We haven't seen many driving rolling
:28:03. > :28:11.mauls in this game. Seymour coming in off his run. Spinning it at the
:28:12. > :28:16.end and England have it. It was a good initial drive from Scotland.
:28:17. > :28:22.The Indus players conceding yards -- English players. Big part of the
:28:23. > :28:26.game, if you are tackling high, target the ball and try and free it
:28:27. > :28:35.from his grasp. You can see the frustration.
:28:36. > :28:47.Big squeeze coming in from Scotland. Trying to do something. But Vunipola
:28:48. > :28:56.grabbing and going. Launchbury doing well. Scotland have the penalty,
:28:57. > :28:57.right in front of the posts. Launchbury, crawling back towards
:28:58. > :29:16.his own try line. So, Laidlaw draws his team to within
:29:17. > :29:26.one point as we near half-time at Murrayfield. Nel told to get out by
:29:27. > :29:45.Laidlaw. The Indus defence setting itself again. -- English. A big hit
:29:46. > :29:50.from Haskell. Nobody is there for the drop goal yet. Not yet thinking
:29:51. > :30:01.of it, giving it to the forwards again. Drifting back now for the
:30:02. > :30:18.drop goal. It is wide, it is an ugly one. England with a real
:30:19. > :30:31.opportunity. Either side can go now. Flat ball to Vunipola. Deep into the
:30:32. > :30:40.Scotland 22. Two men taking Haskell. Richie Gray grabbing Robshaw but
:30:41. > :30:50.England are making ground. Going for the corner, what a try for England!
:30:51. > :31:01.And England have their second try! Several good carries there. Several
:31:02. > :31:13.carries but there was a wonderful piece of handling for Vanipula.
:31:14. > :31:20.Drops it back to ford. Before that, four or five yards, ten yard carry,
:31:21. > :31:26.and that's the sort of thing they are coming for now. Youngs. Back to
:31:27. > :31:38.the drop goal. Mike Brown straight through the middle. England looking
:31:39. > :31:47.to really turn the screw here. Seven metres or so out. Youngs. The chase
:31:48. > :31:55.is on now for the kick. It looks as if Scotland might be away. Hogg is
:31:56. > :32:08.barking away. I don't think he realised Hogg was there.
:32:09. > :32:15.Trouble in that far side for Scotland. England have the penalty.
:32:16. > :32:20.They have a chance and it's kickable. In come the back-slappers
:32:21. > :32:24.and the cheers again. That's a turning point in the match because
:32:25. > :32:29.the scrum at least has been very equal in the game. Yes, England
:32:30. > :32:44.going forward there. They had the options and that's why it came. To
:32:45. > :32:48.move beyond converted try clear. Beautiful strike from Owen Farrell
:32:49. > :32:54.and England lead nine points and it's stretching and moving away from
:32:55. > :33:03.Scotland. Some fans heading for the exits. And a cruel sign for Scottish
:33:04. > :33:11.fans. Only England fans singing. -- cruel sound. And the captain waits
:33:12. > :33:18.for his first victory in the Six Nations. England still have it. Out
:33:19. > :33:22.it will go now from ford. England have won, they have scored their
:33:23. > :33:32.tries, won the Kutayami Cup once again. Scotland 9, England 15 --
:33:33. > :33:35.Calcutta Cup. The result is what mattered for us today. We were
:33:36. > :33:39.hoping to get that one out of the way. We were causing England
:33:40. > :33:43.problems, we were right in the game and it's disappointing for us
:33:44. > :33:46.because we have been working on our concentration for 80 minutes.
:33:47. > :33:49.Whether it was that I don't know, but we certainly made it easy for
:33:50. > :33:53.England in the second half. We knew it would be a difficult game. We
:33:54. > :33:57.have had two weeks together, we are virtually a new team doing new
:33:58. > :34:00.things, but I was really pleased with our application the second
:34:01. > :34:04.half. There was some really good individual performances. We can do
:34:05. > :34:10.better than that, we know we can. We cut down a few basic errors, we
:34:11. > :34:17.become more accurate, we start believing again, that game was there
:34:18. > :34:23.to be won. And that's the hard, cold fact of the situation. If we get
:34:24. > :34:29.ourselves in a similar situation, we'd be able to nail it. Even though
:34:30. > :34:32.Scotland made more carries and more metres, fundamentally England
:34:33. > :34:35.carried more punch in the back line than Scotland did. We are going to
:34:36. > :34:41.talk about that now with Jeremy Gus cot. I'm sure to say that touch
:34:42. > :34:45.screens were not invented last time rugby special was on. In fact I
:34:46. > :34:52.don't know if he had mobiles. Jerry, before the game a lot was made of
:34:53. > :34:58.the fact of the coach. Much was made of the fact that he'd be hands on at
:34:59. > :35:03.the back line. What evidence did we see? He took control. He's waiting
:35:04. > :35:08.for a new coach and in the meantime he's having the ambition and taking
:35:09. > :35:16.risks. He would have set some patterns, but he'd be really happy
:35:17. > :35:21.with what happened for Jack Nowells' try. We talked about heads up rugby,
:35:22. > :35:28.we don't always get that. Farrell missed a penalty, Scotland drop out
:35:29. > :35:33.the goal. Ball comes to Brown. Eddie took the boys out for a few pints
:35:34. > :35:47.because they got to know each other, it's all inexudetive. Brown goes in,
:35:48. > :35:53.looking for the support. -- it's all instinctive. Robshaw made seven
:35:54. > :35:59.tackles, made himself available and was as industrious as ever. This is
:36:00. > :36:04.a precool. Ford made his options and you can see the English back line
:36:05. > :36:09.read write to go. Joseph knew what ford was going to do. He's got his
:36:10. > :36:17.eye on the ball. Kept it all the way -- Forde. Again, this is all
:36:18. > :36:21.off-the-cuff heads-up rugby which we were moaning about England, not
:36:22. > :36:25.being able to do. They can do this. You are looking for some shape now.
:36:26. > :36:30.You are looking to get set into a pattern where you can be
:36:31. > :36:33.comfortable. The back row, Billy gets isolated and I thought this
:36:34. > :36:37.would be a turnover that the Scottish are in. There's a few
:36:38. > :36:41.shouts to the referee, come on, he's holding on, but they managed to get
:36:42. > :36:48.away with it. Haskell again, I would like to see him running a bit more
:36:49. > :36:52.rather than being stood still. He blows over there, the back row was
:36:53. > :36:55.pretty good in combinations and this is magical play. The Scottish
:36:56. > :37:22.defence looks really good and this is the moment
:37:23. > :37:37.of magic from Vanipulo. That was a terrific game. Most think
:37:38. > :37:42.it was a functional pragmatic game. There was a job to be done, as Eddie
:37:43. > :37:47.Jones said, and they did it. England in cruise control was another way of
:37:48. > :37:52.looking at it. There is two sides to every story and reading the paper,
:37:53. > :37:55.the Scottish journalists were all just frustrated, been here so many
:37:56. > :38:00.times before, so many opportunities, a lot of possession, a lot of
:38:01. > :38:05.territory, no tries. I just think unfortunately the Scottish fans,
:38:06. > :38:10.same old Scotland, brave, committed but ultimately they lacked real
:38:11. > :38:15.composure at Key Stages of the game. We had some clips, they battered
:38:16. > :38:25.away at England, the England defensive line. Finn Russell here.
:38:26. > :38:30.Scotland made it so easy for them. Scrum-half straight to the forwards
:38:31. > :38:35.and it's too easy for England. They outmuscled the forwards again. Finn
:38:36. > :38:41.Russell again. So easy for the English defence. Flip side, England
:38:42. > :39:03.had Vanipulo. Vanipolu Dumoulin. You expect a
:39:04. > :39:07.conversation to take place. Laidlaw slows down too many rooks. Hogg
:39:08. > :39:11.called for that ball. Two against five, daft as you like. Russell can
:39:12. > :39:14.never call for that ball because there are two forwards in his way.
:39:15. > :39:19.Between Maitland and Hogg, they do unbelievably well. They clean the
:39:20. > :39:23.ball up, get it back in, gone over the game line, you need your ten
:39:24. > :39:32.immediately. Take control of the game, but there is the hooker there,
:39:33. > :39:38.slows it down in this case, Frode. You want a guy to put a stamp on it
:39:39. > :39:42.and take control. Instead, you end up with Hogg standing where he is,
:39:43. > :39:46.Laidlaw maybe doesn't trust him after his last one, but the
:39:47. > :39:50.decision-making process and the stamp of the first receiver is
:39:51. > :39:54.what's happening for Scotland, it's putting them under pressure and too
:39:55. > :39:58.often it ends in something like this. Flop in over the ground, huge
:39:59. > :40:02.work, spending a large period of time inside the 22 and getting
:40:03. > :40:08.nothing for it. England were never going to put in a Barbarian
:40:09. > :40:12.performance and score 20-odd points. A lot of the comments in the papers
:40:13. > :40:15.today expressing reservations about England's overall performance. Do
:40:16. > :40:21.you think that's unfair? Very unfair. This is an experienced team
:40:22. > :40:27.getting used to a new captain and coach. The questions were, is
:40:28. > :40:31.heartily the right captain, how is the back field and mid row
:40:32. > :40:35.combinations and for me, the captain no doubt, he was good, he enhanced
:40:36. > :40:38.the scrum, he was accurate in the line and got around the field. The
:40:39. > :40:43.midfield didn't get much opportunity and the back row were industrious
:40:44. > :40:46.and they got around, made their carries and tackles, but they are
:40:47. > :40:49.not the ideal combination. There needs to be some growth and
:40:50. > :40:54.development. I thought the forwards did very
:40:55. > :41:00.well, abrasive, direct, aggressive. Accurate. They looked vague at times
:41:01. > :41:04.in the back line and that uncertainty will filter away I
:41:05. > :41:08.should think. I got a text from a Kiwi friend on the way home,
:41:09. > :41:15.Scotland poor, England dull, not bothered. I don't think you will
:41:16. > :41:18.lose too much sleep if you are a Kiwi fan. If you lose the first
:41:19. > :41:21.game, you are more or less out of the competition, so I'm with the
:41:22. > :41:25.guys here, I think that's a great win for England. Home games to come.
:41:26. > :41:29.They are in a really strong place. We'll show you the best moments from
:41:30. > :41:34.France against Italy in a second after we have seen a cup bit of the
:41:35. > :41:37.action from the first round of the women's Six Nations that's been
:41:38. > :41:43.taking place this weekend. This is Scotland v gland with Harriet
:41:44. > :41:48.Miller-Mill who is is a flanker. Anyone would be proud of a
:41:49. > :41:53.barn-storming run like that. Took England to an emphatic victory. In
:41:54. > :42:00.the match that took place between Ireland and Wales, we have got a
:42:01. > :42:07.centre now playing like a flanker. This woman's husband plays for
:42:08. > :42:13.Connaught. Fantastic try. In the other match, that finished 39-0 to
:42:14. > :42:15.France. So England, France and Ireland were victorious in the first
:42:16. > :42:19.weekend of the women's Championship. So to the match that kicked off the
:42:20. > :42:27.men's Championship at Stade de France yesterday. A hugely symbolic
:42:28. > :42:35.game, the first to be played at the Stade since the atrocities in
:42:36. > :42:51.autumn. This was watched for us by Eddie Butler.
:42:52. > :43:23.Jedrasiak. Danty who began it all. Variety dangerous. Long pass. Great
:43:24. > :43:41.tackle. France's account is open. The first
:43:42. > :43:47.try! They got so many men over. That's a desperate tackle and that's
:43:48. > :43:54.the clever offloud. A three on two. Such an easy, classy finish.
:43:55. > :44:10.Left-footstep, close to the money ball. That's a great, great finish.
:44:11. > :44:20.France have men on the floor. And this could be set up for a very
:44:21. > :44:26.sweet try. Italy power their way over, try for Italy. The one and
:44:27. > :44:29.only Parisse. Wins the ball in the line out. The first three players
:44:30. > :44:33.take the pressure initially from France and then they shift the point
:44:34. > :44:37.of contact from the outside. The ball's at the back, under control
:44:38. > :44:48.and it's moving forward. Clear decision for JP Doyle to make.
:44:49. > :44:57.A very well constructed try. Vakatawa scrum-half. Half a yard.
:44:58. > :45:18.There he is. Into the Italian 22. Plisson. Danty. Deliberate knock on.
:45:19. > :45:53.Scored by the player for Laurente. Away come France. Vakatawa. He's
:45:54. > :45:59.off. He's away again. Off he comes, the giant winger. He's had a most
:46:00. > :46:01.entertaining first half. Plisson. Tries the fine touch. Lovely
:46:02. > :46:41.off-load again. Parisse for the line. So close. It
:46:42. > :46:55.is a tries for the man of the moment. Tell you what, he's been
:46:56. > :47:06.brilliant. He's up there, Parisse. The captain embraces him. The
:47:07. > :47:23.Italians dictating where the game's being played and the pace of it.
:47:24. > :47:27.French scrum. Vakatawa. Tough to bring down. Looks for the one
:47:28. > :47:41.off-load. Huge strength by the winger. Plisson. Bezy. Maestri. Real
:47:42. > :47:53.chance now for France. Crank it up inside the 22. Danty. Bernabo. He's
:47:54. > :47:59.in. Try for the French winger. Will it go to review? Graham Hughes, the
:48:00. > :48:03.television match official. It's exactly what we said, when they play
:48:04. > :48:06.at pace, they are dangerous. Coming up now. Poor communication
:48:07. > :48:40.there. Now then, Plisson. Danty. Medard.
:48:41. > :48:52.Medard into the ruck. Trying to get to ground. Penalty to France.
:48:53. > :48:57.Plisson's got to have a go for this, hasn't he? Beautifully struck.
:48:58. > :49:01.Distance not a problem at all. Went sailing through. The new coach happy
:49:02. > :49:20.enough. France are in the lead. It's one of the workhorse
:49:21. > :49:22.performers. Step up, Canna. Canna has a chance to put Italy back in
:49:23. > :49:40.the lead. Not Canna, but Haimona is taking it.
:49:41. > :49:46.Worse kicking rate than Canna. I don't know...
:49:47. > :49:51.It's over. It's good. And Haimona looked as cool as anything. He's
:49:52. > :49:56.just put his team into the lead. France 20, Italy 21.
:49:57. > :50:05.Parisse. Tackled by Parisse. Back on his feet. Tackled. Another very
:50:06. > :50:12.close decision. Was he tackled? It was a high
:50:13. > :50:20.tackle. Penalty should have gone to the Italians. A big, big kick. That
:50:21. > :50:26.is a monster of a kick. Huge. Huge kick by Plisson and France are in
:50:27. > :50:30.the lead, 23-21 and Parisse still doesn't believe it was a penalty.
:50:31. > :50:36.This is an absolute belter of a kick.
:50:37. > :50:47.Still, they are making ground. It's Parisse. He's missed. A heroic
:50:48. > :50:53.performance by the whole Italian side, but France have come through,
:50:54. > :51:00.they have squeaked their way to a win. It's France 23, Italy 21. I am
:51:01. > :51:04.happy with the performance of the team. The youngsters were
:51:05. > :51:11.outstanding today. A lot of young players playing their first cup and
:51:12. > :51:16.I think we put France under pressure and we had chance to win. Still a
:51:17. > :51:19.defeat so we are not happy about that, but it's good to continue to
:51:20. > :51:28.build this team for the next match against England. I not played rugby
:51:29. > :51:35.for almost two years. It's not easy for me, but we got the win and I
:51:36. > :51:38.think the boys, especially the coaches, I thank them for giving me
:51:39. > :51:41.the chance to play and also the supporters who come out in numbers
:51:42. > :51:47.to support us today. What did you make of the penalty against you that
:51:48. > :51:52.let Plisson have the big kick? I don't want to comment about the
:51:53. > :51:56.referee. At the moment, it was a high tackle on me I think, but I
:51:57. > :52:05.think the referee make his decision and I don't want to comment about
:52:06. > :52:15.that. I don't want to polemic about that. His effort was Himalayan and
:52:16. > :52:26.Herculean. Yet that happened. Fair or not? Unfair. His performance was
:52:27. > :52:30.great. Parisse was extraordinary. At first view, I said there's no way
:52:31. > :52:34.that's a penalty, it's a high tackle and no way it's a penalty for
:52:35. > :52:40.holding on, but yenth when you lack at it to the letter of the law,
:52:41. > :52:49.especially for the second part, his knee touches the ground.
:52:50. > :52:55.The reaction from the Italian players when the supposed high
:52:56. > :53:00.tackle happened was nothing. There was no protestations which there
:53:01. > :53:07.normally is. It's a high tackle. He dips in, hits his head and it's
:53:08. > :53:10.almost like a caress. Italy rarely have a better chance to win in
:53:11. > :53:15.Paris? They were brilliant. Played very well. An unusual atmosphere in
:53:16. > :53:18.the ground, magnificent for ten minutes then went quiet for 70 which
:53:19. > :53:22.is very unusual. There would often be booing or hissing or whatever
:53:23. > :53:27.when things aren't going well for France. I thought they played very
:53:28. > :53:31.well, unearthed a new star in Canna. He needs to be able to kick his
:53:32. > :53:35.points but they played some fantastic rugby. Canna you could say
:53:36. > :53:40.lost Italy the game with the missed points. Plisson, is he the man who
:53:41. > :53:46.might galvanise the French back division? The back division played
:53:47. > :53:47.very well and because of Plisson, he ran well, he kicked well,
:53:48. > :53:53.very well and because of Plisson, he brave. Some of his kicks from behind
:53:54. > :53:58.his own goalline at times were truly extraordinary. Her you can see one
:53:59. > :54:01.goes out on the half way in. The last few years France's backs
:54:02. > :54:05.haven't played well at all. Yesterday it was the forwards.
:54:06. > :54:10.Plisson banged them over, Bezy missed thee or four at the start. He
:54:11. > :54:13.needs a run of games. France chop and change the half backs all the
:54:14. > :54:18.time. They've got to stick with Plisson and give him a run.
:54:19. > :54:22.Canna missed a few at the start and then immediately after half time.
:54:23. > :54:30.Yet it didn't affect his composure to play. He played incredibly well.
:54:31. > :54:38.We have seen these from Italy time and time again. As an out half, he
:54:39. > :54:42.dominated. We can talk about wonderful off-loads and jinking feet
:54:43. > :54:46.from the extraordinary Fijian on the wing for France who could be one of
:54:47. > :54:54.the eccentric figures of this Championship. When push comes to
:54:55. > :55:00.shove, if you don't kick your points or slot drop kicks, it's no good?
:55:01. > :55:02.The kicks are essential. The games are getting tighter, there are less
:55:03. > :55:07.opportunities because the defences are tight and the players are
:55:08. > :55:11.getting fitter. We have seen what the sides are capable of and if they
:55:12. > :55:15.willed be a bit more brave, you will see tries and we won't have to rely
:55:16. > :55:19.on the kicking so much. I don't know if that's right that they are
:55:20. > :55:24.getting fitter. The French forwards spent a lot of time walking around
:55:25. > :55:30.the field. France's forwards didn't. Can we start a campaign to get
:55:31. > :55:36.scrums moving quicker. Where do you sign? Are you in on this? Yes.
:55:37. > :55:40.France wasted the last four minutes with resetting scrums and whether
:55:41. > :55:46.they can stop the clock, something needs to be looked at because if
:55:47. > :55:52.there's a scrum in the last few minutes, if that happens, it's time
:55:53. > :55:56.up. You have to tink, a little bit, but too long, a minute and a half
:55:57. > :56:00.for two minutes there for that scrum in particular. I don't know that the
:56:01. > :56:04.guys need a breather at that stage. A final point about this weekend
:56:05. > :56:08.because everybody was euphoric after the World Cup saying the game moved
:56:09. > :56:12.on so much, pace and tempo were the buzz words. Was this the Six Nations
:56:13. > :56:16.reverting to type a bit or did you see signs that people learnt from
:56:17. > :56:21.the autumn? I thought there was a bit more on show. Especially today.
:56:22. > :56:26.Ireland and Wales, they had a bit of a cut, their defensive lines were
:56:27. > :56:33.fantastic. I think it was nervous in some of the other games and I also
:56:34. > :56:41.this we with a new coach and new style of play, it won't change
:56:42. > :56:46.within one week. Getting used to it. A really positive first hit up. I'm
:56:47. > :56:50.pleased Italy got close, their tails will be up, they'll look forward to
:56:51. > :57:00.England next week, Ireland are consixn the, Wales attacking a bit
:57:01. > :57:07.wider, England get off to a start, Scotland, metacognition. Solving
:57:08. > :57:12.problems, metacognition. Get that right, they'll win games. How about
:57:13. > :57:16.your session on the touch screen, did you enjoy that? Can't wait for
:57:17. > :57:28.next time. For what it's worth, here is the table at the opening weekend:
:57:29. > :57:41.Coverage with France and Ireland, that is next week.
:57:42. > :57:54.If you want even more rugby, you can have that tomorrow!
:57:55. > :58:07.Gonna score. Or is he... Murrayfield erupts...
:58:08. > :58:15.So, off and running, like getting back on a bike isn't it, so Rugby
:58:16. > :58:18.Special back with you Sunday evening next week, before that next
:58:19. > :58:23.weekend's two matches to savour. Bye-bye.
:58:24. > :58:41.Finds the line. What a try. He's going to score for Ireland. They've
:58:42. > :58:46.won it again. Great try for Ireland. Can he score, it would be a miracle
:58:47. > :58:57.if he could. And he has! What a try for Wales. Great try here...
:58:58. > :59:04.Touchdown. Evans. Scotland celebrate.
:59:05. > :59:06.POUNDING BEAT, CHATTER
:59:07. > :59:11.Get ready, because BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is heading to Bristol.