Highlights Six Nations Rugby

Sunday tea-time, and that piece of music, the nation is going yes.

Going mad later, that will be in your head for the next few hours. It

is Rugby Special for the first time in an eternity, with Jeremy, Martyn

and Matthew. So much to say after the opening round and without

further ado, the Aviva Stadium, Ireland against Wales in pursuit of

a third consecutive championship. COMMENTATOR: Ireland and Wales

taking to the Aviva Stadium. Both teams have been asked in various

quarters to open up but this is the first weekend of the Six Nations and

the weather may have a say. The old scrap that is Ireland against Wales

may come first. Very much a new look Irish pack after the retirement of

Paul O'Connell. Mike McCarthy comes in but there are injuries, Sean

O'Brien is out, Qian Healy is out, Nathan White topping on the tight

end and behind the scrum, so much responsibility and pressure on the

shoulders of Murray and Sexton. Simon Zebo starts at full-back. Why

way of contrast, Wales looking very settled, Rob Evans comes into the

front row in the place of Gethin Jenkins who sits on the bench to

begin with. Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies resuming their partnership.

George North on the right wing and Liam Williams is a late replacement

for Gareth Anscombe at full-back. Gethin Jenkins, the most capped

player of all time for Wales, were will win 120 late in the day. --

later. Jack McGrath, the prop. Best, tackled by his opposite

number, Scott Baldwin. And away comes CJ Stander in his first game.

He's lip, the number eight. Seven metres from the Welsh line. -- he's

lip -- Heaslip. McGrath, slightly in Conor Murray's

wave. Heaslip as it now. -- in his way.

Sexton. The centres in combination. But Wales disrupted the move,

although they are offside. Fantastic start by Ireland. Three or four line

breaks. Great scramble defence by Wales in the end. Ireland looking

very dangerous from the get go. 3-0, Ireland lead. It has been all

Ireland in the opening five minutes. Penalty against Jamie Roberts. Rory

Best, to O'Donnell. Luke Charteris holding him up. No advantage,

penalty could do Ireland. Great from Ireland to maintain the ball and

make the Welsh defence in French. On the opposite side the Welsh were a

bit impatient but Ireland showed magnificent patients -- infringe. --

patients eight metres out. O'Donnell with the

line-out. Heaslip for the line. O'Donnell couldn't quite get there.

It is all Ireland. Trying again. Over the line, is it down?

Advantage, red. The ball has disappeared, from that angle. Conor

Murray feeding the scrum, five metres out and here comes the drive

from the Irish. Use it, says Jerome Garces. Roberts with the tackle.

Conor Murray on his own, it's over! He scores. Once again, very patient

from Ireland. Cycling the ball three or four times. Great strength from

Connemara to get over. The first drive for the line. Murray setting

up another one. -- Conor Murray. And now the scrum-half goes on his own.

Alun Wyn Jones, off the top. Jonathan Davies in midfield.

I think they are going to check the tackle. Ireland have turned it over.

And away they come. Jared Payne. Alun Wyn Jones, second row. Jerome

Garces seems to be content that it is just a penalty. I think a little

bit lucky to get away with that without further sanction. Important

three points for Wales to get back in the game. Rhys Priestland.

Sending a try, and straight between the posts and Wales are on the

board. Dan Biggar are applauding. His day is over. 13-3.

Wales are going to keep it tight. Staying at the feet of Faletau.

Penalty for Wales. Gareth Davies, five tries in the World Cup. Sam

Warburton going for the line. Alun Wyn Jones lets it go for Rhys

Priestland. Oh, so close, so close, for Liam Williams. Penalty

advantage. That's what they go back to. It's going to be the scrum.

Great kick to the corner, Zebo does just enough to prevent Liam Williams

getting over for the try. Probably will be disappointed that he didn't

take it but great work from the Irish full-back. Wales going again,

Faletau comes away with it and he reaches over and scores! Fantastic

work by the Welsh number eight off the back of the scrum. Controlling

it really well and before you knew it he was over the line. I don't

think it was the original plan, but he improvised well, Faletau. Wales

were going for the huge shove again but it came out the side, it gives

Faletau a run against Johnny Sexton and a fine stretch for the try.

Safely through the middle by Rhys Priestland. Wales, ten points.

Against Ireland's 13. The ever willing Alun Wyn Jones.

Davies is on his own. Ever alert. Penalty against Tommy O'Donnell. The

ball was off the ground, but Tommy O'Donnell was off his feet. Yeah,

when the referee is talking to you you have to listen to him, whether

you think he is wrong or right. Jerome Garces was clear to the

players but they failed to heed his advice and now there is a chance for

Wales to level things up early on. Rhys Priestland to level the scores.

13-13 at the Aviva solid Welsh scrum as Faletau comes

away and takes on Conor Murray and makes a yard or two to ease the

pressure on the clearing operation. Gareth Davies. Andrew Trimble. Simon

Zebo. Passing Jamie Roberts. To Conor Murray. Jamie Heaslip to the

new player, Rhys Ruddock. Son of Mike, who used to coach Wales.

The tallest man in the Irish team, Devin Toner.

Wales claiming the turnover. And it is going to be there. Penalty

advantage for Wales. Advantage over. That's a great clearance from Rhys

Priestland. Loose kick from Davies, putting it in field to Zebo uses his

pace and invention. Ireland B cycling again. A good pick up. --

recycling. Sexton, the break, can they finish it? Tom James with a

covering tackle. Fantastic interplay from Ireland. Great work from

Sexton. Doing that very well, fantastic defence from James on the

wing, stopping the Irish attack. Around 22 metre line, will they look

for the drop goal at some stage? Not yet. Gareth Davies had to scrape the

ball away then. Ireland is turning the ball over at

last. Huge cheers going up at the Aviva Stadium. Wales disrupted and

start the counterattack. Wales are back in possession. It is the

penalty at last. The sudden change of red, the disruption and the

penalty. Massive effort from both sides, Wales going through over 20

phrases. You see Faletau, the ball is poached. Four, five Welsh players

come through and Alun Wyn Jones earns the penalty. This is for the

lead, Rhys Priestland. It's a marvellous kick. Given the

circumstances, given the pressure and the fatigue. Wales going through

20 odd phases. Jamie Roberts, what a game he's having in attack and

defence. New scrum-half, Lloyd Williams. The man whose left boot

delivered the kick that beat England not so -- although not so good on

that occasion. Disappointing kick from Lloyd Williams there. His

introduction. We have all been there. The chance for Sexton to

level things up. What a kick from Sexton. We are all square. Joe

Schmidt looks on, the crowd raising the roof. 16-16. Will there be a

mistake to decide this game? Priestland is back for the drop

goal. Perhaps a bit rushed by Wales again. Good pressure by Conor Murray

in fairness, forcing Priestland to Mr kick. -- Miss the kick. Is there

one more play in this game that will settle it? Madigan, twisting and

turning, nowhere to go. Zebo, in field. At come Ireland, one

last chance, perhaps. The ball is loose. Liam Williams debts. Now

Wales, do they have one more chance? They too have to come from deep. And

deeper and deeper. Tom James spots a mismatch. Finding Dan Lydiate.

Jonathan Davies, a chance here. Tipuric. Cutting inside, Liam

Williams on his shoulder. The ball is loose and it goes out. That's the

end of it. It is a draw in Dublin. It wasn't the result we wanted, it

takes away a lot. Ireland are looking at the Grand Slam and so are

we and it takes away the Triple Crown as well. From that point of

view it is disappointing, but we have come to a tough place and we

got something out of it. You know when you play Wales, nearly every

Six Nations game is the same, it is tough. Wales come and they are

physical and you have two front up and for the most part we did that. A

lot of Saul bodies in there. -- sore. When you have the ball you

know who you have to go at them. If you look at our form over the last

few years, away from home we have been pretty positive. Not afraid to

play away from home, some good results but we have a couple of

games at home now, the six-day turnaround. And which will be tough.

We have to make sure we physically prepare correctly for that and

mentally as much as anything. The first half, after starting so well,

I'm sure they came in on a real high, and we were a bit deflated. We

started the second half really well, we put some pressure on and we

didn't get the points and then they built their way into the lead. In

the end, we are probably reasonably believed to escape with the draw.

The first law between those two teams in 42 years and when you look

at the statistics, the proverbial cigarette paper between them -- the

first draw. The obvious question for Keith and Martyn, who is the more

satisfied and dissatisfied? I'm dissatisfied, I think for Wales it

is the fourth year in a row where they haven't won the opening game.

Ireland were there for the taking. I think Wales will be disappointed

because that is more or less a fully fit Welsh team. And I'm thrilled to

bits! We had a lot of injuries going into the game, I didn't see Ireland

winning it. You don't want to see a player injured, but Dan Biggar went

down and you think, there is another chink. A cracking conformance, great

result for Ireland. Dan Biggar has an ankle injury that he sustained

before kick-off and he will have a test to see if he is fit for the

weekend. Really good game. It was, last year was one of the best of the

championship so there was a lot of expectations. Credit to the fitness,

conditioning and planning. Wales are normally around the corner but they

went wide and attacked the channels and Ireland, with their injuries,

put in that performance. Keith is happy but they could have won. 13-0

up after the try. They started well, this is after a sustained period of

time. They got a scrum in a good position and they did well in the

scrum and I think Tipuric hung Evans out to dry. Great run from Henschel.

Eight group for what's coming in, Jamie Heaslip getting the extra

yards. -- a group. Jack McGrath, looking at the line. No panic, and

patient. Not enough front row forwards for Wales getting around

the other side and Conor Murray, he is a big guy. That was sustained

pressure for the first few minutes leading to that. Important for Wales

to school before half-time and the try came at the important time.

Tommy O'Donnell, Johnny Sexton is to far-off the scrum, especially when

you are under the scrum, you need your number ten close. The third

scrum of the series, the ball popped out and it is a great finish from

Faletau. The referee Camra, you can see Tommy O'Donnell, the opposite of

Tipuric. -- camera. You need to have more protection in the openside, you

are dammed if you do and banned if you don't, whether you hang on, but

a good finish. As a balletic centre yourself, Jamie Roberts today, he

was just massive. Extraordinary performance. He had a wonderful

season last year, he played pretty much every single game and every

minute. Six foot four, 17 stone, you start throwing that around in the

right areas, you are going to start hurting people and you give yourself

the momentum in defence and attack. He is Wales' most capped centre,

making 21 tackles and at 29, no spring chicken but he is coming into

his own which is good to see. For Ireland, perhaps a new hero, who is

CJ Stander? Former Springbok under 20 captain. The earmarked for high

things down in South African but he joined Munster as a project player,

qualifying for Ireland the day after the World Cup final and we can't

wait to have him. Man of the match in aid all of his games for Munster.

His ball carrying is phenomenal. He went everywhere. Very smart, very

powerful, running onto the ball when he gets a chance, holding very well.

Great centre of gravity. His collisions, all the time. They don't

seem to take anything out of him, he will play on and on. He will be

there at the end making sure something can happen. For somebody

on his first cap to carry 23 times, they say it takes 20 minutes to get

into a game but he had ten of them in the first few minutes. It takes a

lot of pressure off the Irish back row. What about these project

players coming into the game, and in Scotland as well, where you

earmarked someone who could be playing anywhere in the world and

say that if you play here in a few years, you can play international

rugby for us? Is it good? Look, we have him and I'm delighted because

he has done well, selfishly, but I think the period of time should be

longer. It is three years, every country is going to be doing that

but it should be five or six years. From the Welsh point of view against

Scotland, at half-time we said to each other that Wales were going to

win it. Why do Wales not convert so many chances that they seem to

create? Traditionally they have got better as the tournament goes on.

Slow starters. I know they work hard on it. I think they need to be a bit

more clinical, losing Dan Biggar, although Rhys Priestland had a good

game when he came on. A lot of pressure on him. I think they will

be confident, disappointed, but confident going back. They have

three home games but ultimately disappointed with the draw. That was

a game that was stored your faith in the Six Nations after a somewhat

tepid opening in Paris and Edinburgh. Starting at Murrayfield

with the Scotland and England game. For England it was a new captain and

coach, but would it be a New England? The match with the most

history of all, 145 years since the first Scotland-England encounter but

it turned out the way of many others of recent times.

There's Farrell, going right to know all. Chipping and chasing it

himself. -- Nowell. Park was under pressure. -- Hogg. Five metre scrum.

You could see him praying it goes over the line before he has to touch

it. Five metres out, what a position it is.

No quarter given by either team here, Vunipola is watching at the

back. Vunipola himself! Four metres short. England still have it.

Launchbury is there, Kruis going over for the try, scoring for

England. The breakthrough is made. Forward pressure and power from

England brings them the first score, and George Kruis is the man to get

it down. Kruis gets download, driving his legs towards the line.

That came from a quality centrepiece and a clear understanding of the

role that after the set piece commute get around the corner. This

is what I think England have in the first few minutes, they know what

they want to do. It may not always work, but what they did not do in

many World Cup games was to play with an air of certainty. They are

doing that at the moment. Stuart Hogg, full flight. Halted by Watson.

Advantage to Scotland, penalty coming and it is there. It is

clickable, some distance out. -- kickable. Robshaw has to get out of

the way. He knows where he is. Has it cost England? It has, eight

suite strike curling its way through from Laidlaw. Scotland with their

first points on the board -- a sweet strike. Taken by Jonny Gray, given

to Hardie. Maitland, within five metres.

Feeding Jonny Gray. The crowd roaring at Murrayfield. England have

it. And the noise dies away, and England have the penalty.

Back it goes. Denton takes it now. We haven't seen many driving rolling

mauls in this game. Seymour coming in off his run. Spinning it at the

end and England have it. It was a good initial drive from Scotland.

The Indus players conceding yards -- English players. Big part of the

game, if you are tackling high, target the ball and try and free it

from his grasp. You can see the frustration.

Big squeeze coming in from Scotland. Trying to do something. But Vunipola

grabbing and going. Launchbury doing well. Scotland have the penalty,

right in front of the posts. Launchbury, crawling back towards

his own try line. So, Laidlaw draws his team to within

one point as we near half-time at Murrayfield. Nel told to get out by

Laidlaw. The Indus defence setting itself again. -- English. A big hit

from Haskell. Nobody is there for the drop goal yet. Not yet thinking

of it, giving it to the forwards again. Drifting back now for the

drop goal. It is wide, it is an ugly one. England with a real

opportunity. Either side can go now. Flat ball to Vunipola. Deep into the

Scotland 22. Two men taking Haskell. Richie Gray grabbing Robshaw but

England are making ground. Going for the corner, what a try for England!

And England have their second try! Several good carries there. Several

carries but there was a wonderful piece of handling for Vanipula.

Drops it back to ford. Before that, four or five yards, ten yard carry,

and that's the sort of thing they are coming for now. Youngs. Back to

the drop goal. Mike Brown straight through the middle. England looking

to really turn the screw here. Seven metres or so out. Youngs. The chase

is on now for the kick. It looks as if Scotland might be away. Hogg is

barking away. I don't think he realised Hogg was there.

Trouble in that far side for Scotland. England have the penalty.

They have a chance and it's kickable. In come the back-slappers

and the cheers again. That's a turning point in the match because

the scrum at least has been very equal in the game. Yes, England

going forward there. They had the options and that's why it came. To

move beyond converted try clear. Beautiful strike from Owen Farrell

and England lead nine points and it's stretching and moving away from

Scotland. Some fans heading for the exits. And a cruel sign for Scottish

fans. Only England fans singing. -- cruel sound. And the captain waits

for his first victory in the Six Nations. England still have it. Out

it will go now from ford. England have won, they have scored their

tries, won the Kutayami Cup once again. Scotland 9, England 15 --

Calcutta Cup. The result is what mattered for us today. We were

hoping to get that one out of the way. We were causing England

problems, we were right in the game and it's disappointing for us

because we have been working on our concentration for 80 minutes.

Whether it was that I don't know, but we certainly made it easy for

England in the second half. We knew it would be a difficult game. We

have had two weeks together, we are virtually a new team doing new

things, but I was really pleased with our application the second

half. There was some really good individual performances. We can do

better than that, we know we can. We cut down a few basic errors, we

become more accurate, we start believing again, that game was there

to be won. And that's the hard, cold fact of the situation. If we get

ourselves in a similar situation, we'd be able to nail it. Even though

Scotland made more carries and more metres, fundamentally England

carried more punch in the back line than Scotland did. We are going to

talk about that now with Jeremy Gus cot. I'm sure to say that touch

screens were not invented last time rugby special was on. In fact I

don't know if he had mobiles. Jerry, before the game a lot was made of

the fact of the coach. Much was made of the fact that he'd be hands on at

the back line. What evidence did we see? He took control. He's waiting

for a new coach and in the meantime he's having the ambition and taking

risks. He would have set some patterns, but he'd be really happy

with what happened for Jack Nowells' try. We talked about heads up rugby,

we don't always get that. Farrell missed a penalty, Scotland drop out

the goal. Ball comes to Brown. Eddie took the boys out for a few pints

because they got to know each other, it's all inexudetive. Brown goes in,

looking for the support. -- it's all instinctive. Robshaw made seven

tackles, made himself available and was as industrious as ever. This is

a precool. Ford made his options and you can see the English back line

read write to go. Joseph knew what ford was going to do. He's got his

eye on the ball. Kept it all the way -- Forde. Again, this is all

off-the-cuff heads-up rugby which we were moaning about England, not

being able to do. They can do this. You are looking for some shape now.

You are looking to get set into a pattern where you can be

comfortable. The back row, Billy gets isolated and I thought this

would be a turnover that the Scottish are in. There's a few

shouts to the referee, come on, he's holding on, but they managed to get

away with it. Haskell again, I would like to see him running a bit more

rather than being stood still. He blows over there, the back row was

pretty good in combinations and this is magical play. The Scottish

defence looks really good and this is the moment

of magic from Vanipulo. That was a terrific game. Most think

it was a functional pragmatic game. There was a job to be done, as Eddie

Jones said, and they did it. England in cruise control was another way of

looking at it. There is two sides to every story and reading the paper,

the Scottish journalists were all just frustrated, been here so many

times before, so many opportunities, a lot of possession, a lot of

territory, no tries. I just think unfortunately the Scottish fans,

same old Scotland, brave, committed but ultimately they lacked real

composure at Key Stages of the game. We had some clips, they battered

away at England, the England defensive line. Finn Russell here.

Scotland made it so easy for them. Scrum-half straight to the forwards

and it's too easy for England. They outmuscled the forwards again. Finn

Russell again. So easy for the English defence. Flip side, England

had Vanipulo. Vanipolu Dumoulin. You expect a

conversation to take place. Laidlaw slows down too many rooks. Hogg

called for that ball. Two against five, daft as you like. Russell can

never call for that ball because there are two forwards in his way.

Between Maitland and Hogg, they do unbelievably well. They clean the

ball up, get it back in, gone over the game line, you need your ten

immediately. Take control of the game, but there is the hooker there,

slows it down in this case, Frode. You want a guy to put a stamp on it

and take control. Instead, you end up with Hogg standing where he is,

Laidlaw maybe doesn't trust him after his last one, but the

decision-making process and the stamp of the first receiver is

what's happening for Scotland, it's putting them under pressure and too

often it ends in something like this. Flop in over the ground, huge

work, spending a large period of time inside the 22 and getting

nothing for it. England were never going to put in a Barbarian

performance and score 20-odd points. A lot of the comments in the papers

today expressing reservations about England's overall performance. Do

you think that's unfair? Very unfair. This is an experienced team

getting used to a new captain and coach. The questions were, is

heartily the right captain, how is the back field and mid row

combinations and for me, the captain no doubt, he was good, he enhanced

the scrum, he was accurate in the line and got around the field. The

midfield didn't get much opportunity and the back row were industrious

and they got around, made their carries and tackles, but they are

not the ideal combination. There needs to be some growth and

development. I thought the forwards did very

well, abrasive, direct, aggressive. Accurate. They looked vague at times

in the back line and that uncertainty will filter away I

should think. I got a text from a Kiwi friend on the way home,

Scotland poor, England dull, not bothered. I don't think you will

lose too much sleep if you are a Kiwi fan. If you lose the first

game, you are more or less out of the competition, so I'm with the

guys here, I think that's a great win for England. Home games to come.

They are in a really strong place. We'll show you the best moments from

France against Italy in a second after we have seen a cup bit of the

action from the first round of the women's Six Nations that's been

taking place this weekend. This is Scotland v gland with Harriet

Miller-Mill who is is a flanker. Anyone would be proud of a

barn-storming run like that. Took England to an emphatic victory. In

the match that took place between Ireland and Wales, we have got a

centre now playing like a flanker. This woman's husband plays for

Connaught. Fantastic try. In the other match, that finished 39-0 to

France. So England, France and Ireland were victorious in the first

weekend of the women's Championship. So to the match that kicked off the

men's Championship at Stade de France yesterday. A hugely symbolic

game, the first to be played at the Stade since the atrocities in

autumn. This was watched for us by Eddie Butler.

Jedrasiak. Danty who began it all. Variety dangerous. Long pass. Great

tackle. France's account is open. The first

try! They got so many men over. That's a desperate tackle and that's

the clever offloud. A three on two. Such an easy, classy finish.

Left-footstep, close to the money ball. That's a great, great finish.

France have men on the floor. And this could be set up for a very

sweet try. Italy power their way over, try for Italy. The one and

only Parisse. Wins the ball in the line out. The first three players

take the pressure initially from France and then they shift the point

of contact from the outside. The ball's at the back, under control

and it's moving forward. Clear decision for JP Doyle to make.

A very well constructed try. Vakatawa scrum-half. Half a yard.

There he is. Into the Italian 22. Plisson. Danty. Deliberate knock on.

Scored by the player for Laurente. Away come France. Vakatawa. He's

off. He's away again. Off he comes, the giant winger. He's had a most

entertaining first half. Plisson. Tries the fine touch. Lovely

off-load again. Parisse for the line. So close. It

is a tries for the man of the moment. Tell you what, he's been

brilliant. He's up there, Parisse. The captain embraces him. The

Italians dictating where the game's being played and the pace of it.

French scrum. Vakatawa. Tough to bring down. Looks for the one

off-load. Huge strength by the winger. Plisson. Bezy. Maestri. Real

chance now for France. Crank it up inside the 22. Danty. Bernabo. He's

in. Try for the French winger. Will it go to review? Graham Hughes, the

television match official. It's exactly what we said, when they play

at pace, they are dangerous. Coming up now. Poor communication

there. Now then, Plisson. Danty. Medard.

Medard into the ruck. Trying to get to ground. Penalty to France.

Plisson's got to have a go for this, hasn't he? Beautifully struck.

Distance not a problem at all. Went sailing through. The new coach happy

enough. France are in the lead. It's one of the workhorse

performers. Step up, Canna. Canna has a chance to put Italy back in

the lead. Not Canna, but Haimona is taking it.

Worse kicking rate than Canna. I don't know...

It's over. It's good. And Haimona looked as cool as anything. He's

just put his team into the lead. France 20, Italy 21.

Parisse. Tackled by Parisse. Back on his feet. Tackled. Another very

close decision. Was he tackled? It was a high

tackle. Penalty should have gone to the Italians. A big, big kick. That

is a monster of a kick. Huge. Huge kick by Plisson and France are in

the lead, 23-21 and Parisse still doesn't believe it was a penalty.

This is an absolute belter of a kick.

Still, they are making ground. It's Parisse. He's missed. A heroic

performance by the whole Italian side, but France have come through,

they have squeaked their way to a win. It's France 23, Italy 21. I am

happy with the performance of the team. The youngsters were

outstanding today. A lot of young players playing their first cup and

I think we put France under pressure and we had chance to win. Still a

defeat so we are not happy about that, but it's good to continue to

build this team for the next match against England. I not played rugby

for almost two years. It's not easy for me, but we got the win and I

think the boys, especially the coaches, I thank them for giving me

the chance to play and also the supporters who come out in numbers

to support us today. What did you make of the penalty against you that

let Plisson have the big kick? I don't want to comment about the

referee. At the moment, it was a high tackle on me I think, but I

think the referee make his decision and I don't want to comment about

that. I don't want to polemic about that. His effort was Himalayan and

Herculean. Yet that happened. Fair or not? Unfair. His performance was

great. Parisse was extraordinary. At first view, I said there's no way

that's a penalty, it's a high tackle and no way it's a penalty for

holding on, but yenth when you lack at it to the letter of the law,

especially for the second part, his knee touches the ground.

The reaction from the Italian players when the supposed high

tackle happened was nothing. There was no protestations which there

normally is. It's a high tackle. He dips in, hits his head and it's

almost like a caress. Italy rarely have a better chance to win in

Paris? They were brilliant. Played very well. An unusual atmosphere in

the ground, magnificent for ten minutes then went quiet for 70 which

is very unusual. There would often be booing or hissing or whatever

when things aren't going well for France. I thought they played very

well, unearthed a new star in Canna. He needs to be able to kick his

points but they played some fantastic rugby. Canna you could say

lost Italy the game with the missed points. Plisson, is he the man who

might galvanise the French back division? The back division played

very well and because of Plisson, he ran well, he kicked well,

very well and because of Plisson, he brave. Some of his kicks from behind

his own goalline at times were truly extraordinary. Her you can see one

goes out on the half way in. The last few years France's backs

haven't played well at all. Yesterday it was the forwards.

Plisson banged them over, Bezy missed thee or four at the start. He

needs a run of games. France chop and change the half backs all the

time. They've got to stick with Plisson and give him a run.

Canna missed a few at the start and then immediately after half time.

Yet it didn't affect his composure to play. He played incredibly well.

We have seen these from Italy time and time again. As an out half, he

dominated. We can talk about wonderful off-loads and jinking feet

from the extraordinary Fijian on the wing for France who could be one of

the eccentric figures of this Championship. When push comes to

shove, if you don't kick your points or slot drop kicks, it's no good?

The kicks are essential. The games are getting tighter, there are less

opportunities because the defences are tight and the players are

getting fitter. We have seen what the sides are capable of and if they

willed be a bit more brave, you will see tries and we won't have to rely

on the kicking so much. I don't know if that's right that they are

getting fitter. The French forwards spent a lot of time walking around

the field. France's forwards didn't. Can we start a campaign to get

scrums moving quicker. Where do you sign? Are you in on this? Yes.

France wasted the last four minutes with resetting scrums and whether

they can stop the clock, something needs to be looked at because if

there's a scrum in the last few minutes, if that happens, it's time

up. You have to tink, a little bit, but too long, a minute and a half

for two minutes there for that scrum in particular. I don't know that the

guys need a breather at that stage. A final point about this weekend

because everybody was euphoric after the World Cup saying the game moved

on so much, pace and tempo were the buzz words. Was this the Six Nations

reverting to type a bit or did you see signs that people learnt from

the autumn? I thought there was a bit more on show. Especially today.

Ireland and Wales, they had a bit of a cut, their defensive lines were

fantastic. I think it was nervous in some of the other games and I also

this we with a new coach and new style of play, it won't change

within one week. Getting used to it. A really positive first hit up. I'm

pleased Italy got close, their tails will be up, they'll look forward to

England next week, Ireland are consixn the, Wales attacking a bit

wider, England get off to a start, Scotland, metacognition. Solving

problems, metacognition. Get that right, they'll win games. How about

your session on the touch screen, did you enjoy that? Can't wait for

next time. For what it's worth, here is the table at the opening weekend:

Coverage with France and Ireland, that is next week.

If you want even more rugby, you can have that tomorrow!

Gonna score. Or is he... Murrayfield erupts...

So, off and running, like getting back on a bike isn't it, so Rugby

Special back with you Sunday evening next week, before that next

weekend's two matches to savour. Bye-bye.

Finds the line. What a try. He's going to score for Ireland. They've

won it again. Great try for Ireland. Can he score, it would be a miracle

if he could. And he has! What a try for Wales. Great try here...

Touchdown. Evans. Scotland celebrate.

POUNDING BEAT, CHATTER

Get ready, because BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is heading to Bristol.