Italy v England Highlights Six Nations Rugby

No team has ever won three

consecutive Six Nations titles.

EnglandMike bids to do just that

began in Rome this afternoon. Wales

have been champions four times in

the past 13 years. Scotland have

never been champions, but they went

to Cardiff yesterday in buoyant

mood. As did Ireland to Paris. Many

experts' favourites to win the

title, and a match that proved

beyond all doubt it really is never

over until it's over.

over until it's over. Hello, just

one rugby special in this run of Six

Nations because of the way the games

pan out, so make the most of it in

the company of Jeremy Guscott, Andy

Nichol and Jonathan Davies. To Rome

this afternoon, glorious and

springlike day in the Italian

capital. But how much spring would

there be in Eddie Jones' England and

how much fight in the perennial

contenders for the Wooden Spoon?

Commentary from Brian Moore and

Eddie Butler.

COMMENTATOR: The Italian backs

strictly divided into the old hands,

Sergio Parisse on a cap. Ghiraldini

up on 19. The others is just a

handful between them.

handful between them. Giammarioli

and the rest of the back row, just

three caps between them. Promise

elsewhere, like full-back Matteo

Minozzi, but no heavyweight at just

12 stone. England are anything but

lightweight. Courtney Lawes moving

into the back row looking for

action. Number eight is such an

important position for England. Sam

Simmonds of Exeter where is the

shirts today and makes his first

start in the Six Nations. Ben Te'o,

out of action since October, playing

outside Owen Farrell in the centre.

So much expected of England. They

have never lost to Italy. Can they

slip easily into top gear? The

finishes, rather than the

replacements, England here will hope

to have a clear-cut advantage, to

cut loose in the last quarter. Chris

Robshaw, back in the number seven

shirt for England. Courtney Lawes on

the far side of the scrum in the

back row. Sam Simmonds in the red

boots at number eight. Penalty to

England.

That is one of the areas which the

referees have been told to be hot

on. Make sure there is a credible

feed and a proper strike. That is

the difficulty, if you have a hooker

who can't hook at the scrum, it's

stuck there. The Italians can't get

any go forward, and that's the

result.

First throw for England

captain Dylan Hartley. Maro Itoje is

clearly up there. I wake up in

England. Ben Te'o. -- away, England.

Jonny May. Anthony Watson. It's some

start by England.

I hate to use the

phrase, it's too easy, but it was

Ben Te'o with the initial go

forward, and then a simple loop move

outflanking the Italians. It could

be a long afternoon if they concede

so easily.

Just three minutes on the

clock.

Danny Care's first task is to feed

the scrummage on the halfway line.

And set England off. Again, it's the

loop that allows Jonny May to come

away with it again. Anthony Watson,

his second? Did he get there? They

will check, but it looks like a

brace for Anthony Watson.

Any reason

why I can't award a try?

Be the

important question, any reason why I

can't award the try.

Glenn Newman of

New Zealand is the TMO.

New Zealand is the TMO.

Not in

touch. Try.

I can give you no reason, so you can

award the try.

Thanks.

Simple

enough. Anthony Watson with two

tries, England 10-0.

Ghiraldini under pressure to get a

strike on the ball. It's a good run

with Bellini getting the pass away.

Excellent

Excellent take from Tommaso Boni.

Cutting back against the traffic.

Free play for the team in blue. Dean

Budd.

Budd. Allan floats one out, and it

will be a try for Italy. Scored by

Tommaso Benvenuti.

Tommaso Benvenuti.

Here we are,

that's a difficult pass, and it's

beautifully done.

Well, it was all

heading one way, but Italy have

struck back. Benvenuti, the winger,

after good work on the other wing

from Bellini. Italy are comfortable

wide out on the touchlines, and they

are back in this game.

Dylan Hartley. Quick ball for Ford.

Vunipola, good hands from the prop.

Dan Cole with a run, the tight head.

Ford, very nearly went for the

interception. Clear advantage to

England. Vunipola. Could be on for

England. Owen Farrell is clean

through. England's third try.

This is beautiful hands by Vunipola.

That's what I mean by giving

defenders decisions to make, whether

or not you will take the ball in.

Owen Farrell hasn't landed the

conversion yet, but he has grabbed

himself a try, and now the

conversion. Seven points for England

and their centre.

Quick ball and the chance for Italy

through Tommaso Boni. Minozzi. Five

metres short. Still in Italian

possession, although... No.

possession, although... No. From an

offside position, quickly taken by

Parisse. Tommaso Castello ran into

Mako Vunipola.

Mako Vunipola. The hooker,

Ghiraldini, does well to keep the

ball away from the touchline. A good

end to the half from Italy. They

won't want to surrender possession

here. Have England snaffled it? No,

Italy have it back. Violi.

Italy have it back. Violi. Number

seven, Giammarioli. Ghiraldini

again.

again. They are that close, Italy,

big forwards ready.

big forwards ready. A penalty again

against England.

Allan. Italy are into double

figures. Italy 10-17 England.

They have held it well... No, they

haven't. Penalty against Italy! And

it's against Renato Giammarioli.

Handy in the scrum, only the number

eight is allowed to reach forward

and pick the ball up.

and pick the ball up. Ferrari, just

a hand there. He has to wait for

Parisse to get in, which Parisse is

allowed to do from number eight, but

not him from number seven. And

actually, the Italian tighthead,

Ferrari, had anchored the scrum

successfully, so there was no need

to do that.

England are up to 20.

Italy, ten.

Penalty, Maro Itoje was taken out in

the air.

England's focus at half-time should

have been on more accuracy, and have

a more clinical mindset. This is a

decent attacking position.

decent attacking position.

Dean Budd

just couldn't resist taking Maro

Itoje in the air. Dylan Hartley to

throw. Itoje pulls it long. Courtney

Lawes, shorter. Simmonds. The pace

of the number eight.

Must have been amazed there was no

one in front of him. Had the

wherewithal and presence of mind to

take advantage of that fully.

It's

the bonus point try for England. And

it's a straight burst away by Sam

Simmonds.

The problem for Italy, as

soon as he is sacked, the ball is

transferred and there are no

defenders behind. Simple running

from Symonds, but well done for

spotting the opportunity and taking

his chance.

Luca Bigi with the

throw. This could work. Luca Bigi in

control.

control. Ever closer, ever closer...

Luca Bigi seems to be buried there

somewhere. They have a penalty

advantage out of it. He only has to

go burrowing.

go burrowing. Finally, it comes out.

Parisse with the long hands. It's

even longer now, another long pass

that might just work for Bellini...

It's so close.

It's so close.

Jerome Garces has his

finger up, the assistant referee.

He's saying the pass and grounding

are both fine.

The reason I cannot

award the try, please? Can you check

whether the player put a foot on the

line, yes or no?

I will check.

Although you could say Jerome Garces

was in the best possible position,

he does have men in between him and

the grounding, so...

It's the knee,

isn't it.

isn't it. Oh!

That is so... Have you

got white or blue tinted glasses on?

It's absolutely marginal.

It's absolutely marginal. The divot

is not from outside the feed of the

play.

I can't give you a clear

reason.

So I can award the try.

Yes.

The try is awarded. Sam Underhill is

on for Chris Robshaw. Italy have

beaten Maro Itoje to the line-out.

Gori. They have managed that very

well, Italy. Because they faced a

major threat on the England throw.

Now they are outside their 22.

Good

work from Parisse in getting up.

We

are under way. England really wanted

to cut loose in the last quarter,

and bring on the finishers. Still

plenty of time for it to happen.

Tackle by Negri on Simmonds.

Beautiful angle from Owen Farrell.

George Ford is in support. And

George Ford scores.

George Ford scores.

They needed

England's to finish on a positive

note. The efforts of the senior

players, Farrell and Ford. And

there's the gap. Important that Ford

keeps the continued running line. It

would have been very easy for him to

drop off there.

Penalty advantage, England. Danny

Care gets its two George Ford. Jack

Nowell. Still penalty advantage

being played. The pace of Sam

Simmonds again. It's the second for

the Exeter number eight.

He may not carry like Billy

Vunipola, but he does have feet.

They get him out of situations. A

lovely step inside. And pace as

well.

Hurting Italy at the scrum Manoa.

Joseph. Jonny May. -- at the scrum

now.

Itoje.

England with a penalty advantage.

Hepburn.

Another advantage being played.

George Ford can take as much time as

he likes. Simmonds to Jack Nowell.

And England are finishing in style.

Ford has seen the opportunity out

wide. Nowell doing the work to make

the looping run.

No one knows what to do, but George

Ford does. Lovely pass.

Lovely

passes. Simmonds did well. England

have their bonus points and they

have made a successful start to the

Six Nations. Italy 15-46 England.

The first game is always difficult.

Italy are traditionally a very

difficult opponent. They are well

coached by Conor O'Shea and have

good young players coming through.

To have the bonus point at the 52

minute mark and to go on to win by a

substantial score was pretty

positive for us.

In terms of what we

put on a pitch and the young fellas

and their performances, because the

second-best team in the world some

serious problems by playing some

proper rugby. We are making massive

progress. But the challenge we face

is a statistic. People can trot it

out, but we have so much faith in

what we are doing. When I see those

young fellas play like they did

today, I'm proud and annoyed and we

face a massive challenge in six

days.

I thought they played well.

They keep the ball, I think they had

55, 60% possession. They will have

points against you, and we did well

not to concede the tries, but it's

part of the game.

STUDIO: Pretty

emphatic scoreline in the end and it

was quite a 50-50 game in terms of

possession and territory, but

ultimately England were so clinical

and in certain areas England let

themselves down. How would you

assess the England performance,

Jeremy?

We knew they would get the

win, and they required the bonus

points. We thought it would be a

riot after ten minutes but Italy

gathered themselves. England lost

momentum and then regathered it. I

was interested in the Ben Te'o

experiment. It wasn't conclusive for

me. Jonathan Joseph isn't able to

hold down that position yet. You

waiting for someone else to take it

and Ben Te'o had his opportunity.

Eight carries and not many metres.

Not many tackles, eight, and not

very destructive. He had something

to do with some of the tries, but he

wasn't the dominant figure in

midfield.

He has barely played.

He

is coming back and the team is

rusty. Seven tries, good points,

good start.

I think he's like a 12,

but because of the ten, 12 Farrell

and Ford axis, he will not play

there. They need somebody to carry

the ball. And he's the man. It will

take time for him to adjust.

We will

talk about the immense Ford and

Farrell in a second. Andy what was

your impression?

England had to dig

deep at times, it didn't look like

it would be the walkover it would be

after the two early Watson tries. It

was a contest, a real contest, which

will probably help England for what

they have coming up next week

against Wales.

Ford and Farrell have

known each other since they were

teenagers, even before. Today they

had this momentum from the word go.

Brilliant.

We have

had this momentum from the word go.

Brilliant.

We have seen it while

they have been together and that's

why they remain in the axis of ten

and 12. They synchronise incredibly

well together. Pretty

straightforward with Ben Te'o into

the middle. Straightaway you can see

how amateurish the Italians are,

altogether, 14 in one shot. Bellini

on the edge of the defence, that's

where they are trying to get to,

where Farrell and Ford really focus,

sitting on the edge defender to make

the choice. They have the overlap if

he stays where he is. It's similar

to rugby league, which I think it's

where it's coming from. They get the

space, get the edge, and Anthony

Watson still has to use his pace.

Great to see the winger go to the

outside and back himself. Looking

for the overlap this time. Doesn't

work out. But they get into the

right banks. Ford and Farrell

talking to each other, spotting the

space. Farrell is saying to George,

drag the defender and I will be

away. It's very simple, but simple

things always look easy, but there

is a lot of communication.

The

English forwards taking this in,

nothing much on. Ford goes to the

short side. It's brilliant, a

fantastic line. Support him and goes

over for the try. They have known

each other for a long time. They

have a rugby league background. And

they just play flat and pick the

right angles.

they just play flat and pick the

right angles.

Has the Ford or

Farrell debate been put to bed?

I

think so. They are so comfortable.

They have so much time on the ball.

They try to isolate the last but one

man in who has to make the decision.

When you have your attack deployed,

you just have to make defenders make

the decision. If they make the wrong

decision, then you score. They are

working very well together, and it's

a question of who they play in the

13.

It's so impressive what Owen

Farrell does, playing stand-off at

Saracens and George Ford is at ten

for Leicester. In a sense, he's

playing out of position. To be that

effective and have that

understanding shows their brilliant

rugby brains and that sets them

apart. I think it has been put to

bed.

I don't think it has been put

to bed. If somebody comes in and

plays well, if you look at Ben Te'o,

even though he was at 13...

And

Tuilagi might come back as well.

It

is a slight weakness. In attack they

are brilliant, but you need Te'o or

somebody bigger to make the run. If

you had the overlap more often then

it would be put to bed.

I think if

he gets the run, you need somebody

direct. That could be Ben Te'o at

the moment. But because they are so

good together and create a lot. If

you bring somebody like Elliot Daly,

or Watson at full-back, it's another

threat out wide. They have so many

options, which is why they are so

strong.

They are destructive at the

end of the game when people get

tired. When you have those two

passes and distributors, they see

the space and put guys in it.

Watson

finished well with his two tries.

And for an inexplicable reason he

got the man of the match award,

because Sam Simmonds was

extraordinary.

because Sam Simmonds was

extraordinary.

Everybody talked

about Billy Vunipola not being

there, a big loss, but Sam Simmonds

of Exeter, the defence here from the

Italian line-out fell apart, but

it's the place and speed off the

mark. They are going for the driving

maul and it opens up on this

different angle. He is the number

eight! Incredible. I think he might

end up at seven when Billy Vunipola

comes back. He's so comfortable. If

you were looking at is that without

the numbers on the back of the shirt

you would think he was a winger

coming from the blindside. It's the

speed off the mark. 23 tackles, 14

runs, 80 metres made, three clean

breaks, 18 defenders beaten, two

tries, and he's still not a man of

the match!

Look at that pass, you

would have been proud of that. But

you would much rather be in Jack

Nowell's position scoring a try.

You

try to get the quick men

Nowell's position scoring a try.

You

try to get the quick men running at

the forwards. When you have a big

forward who can run very fast

anyway... He was very impressive

today.

In today's game he will be

impressive near the end and on the

edges, but you miss Billy Vunipola's

bulk, and how destructive he is at

carrying the ball. Sam is a guy for

the edge and carrying in the space.

The Italian backs were better today,

posing more threat than we have seen

in the past. A perennial debate

hovering in the background about the

Italian place in the championship.

If we went through the archives and

found a rugby special 15 years ago

we would have been having the same

situation about wanton penalties

we would have been having the same

situation about wanton penalties and

lack of discipline putting them

under pressure when they don't need

to.

Conor O'Shea was right to say he

was happy and angry because it's the

same silly errors. A lack of

concentration, it's hard to say.

They put themselves under pressure

with a cumulative errors. Towards

the end of the game, England can run

in the tries. Those silly errors.

They have to cut it out. You are

right, John, they were definitely

better and more direct. Scored a

couple of lovely tries, but at this

level you have to cut out these

stupid errors.

These are the errors

that will infuriate, O'Shea because

these are the basics. Not kicking at

ten, they did it twice and it puts

these are the basics. Not kicking at

ten, they did it twice and it puts

more pressure on the defence. All

the penalties we have seen, they are

in the 22 and it gives England to be

clear and easy out and they are

defending again. They have Tommaso

Boni at 13, Minozzi at 15. They

still like game management at nine

and ten, and they have young players

coming through but they have to cut

out the mistakes because it's

killing them.

With 52% possession,

if they cut out the errors they

could have had more possession over

their 52%.

Ben Youngs went off

injured, we don't know how serious

it is but it looks certain he will

miss the Wales game next weekend. We

might have Danny Care starting at

nine, that'll be Eddie Jones' call.

If you were Warren Gatland watching

the match today, what would have

concerned you and what would have

encouraged to you?

I think the ten

and 12 axis and the pace they have,

whether they pick Jonathan Joseph

next week, who knows. They have that

strength in depth. I think

physically he will be happy with how

they played yesterday. They look at

the English pack and they didn't

absolutely kill the Italian pack.

With both performances

absolutely kill the Italian pack.

With both performances, I think

Wales...

England are vulnerable on

the edge. You can't go there

immediately, like Scotland tried to

play, you have to be direct, narrow

the defence and go out there. Wales

will see that as an advantage, but

whether they can get enough ball to

do that is the question.

It will be

adjusting to see what defensive

strategy they come up with to handle

be ten and 12. And Shaun Edwards is

a rugby league boy as well, so it

will be an interesting encounter.

Let's go back to Cardiff yesterday,

2:15pm, for the match that kicked

off the year's championship. The

first 20 minutes was riveting

mayhem. At the end, the match that

everybody said was too close to

call, was anything but.

COMMENTATOR: Russell, to Huw Jones.

With that exhilaration, trying to

make his way through. Jonny Gray

into play scrum-half. Russell uses

the referee as a decoy run. Price is

there at scrum-half. Interception!

Opportunity for Wales and Gareth

Davies. Can anybody catch the

scrum-half? Going to the corner,

Harris can't get there. Try for

Wales. A gift for Wales, but so well

taken by Gareth Davies.

The

interception from Gareth Davies.

They had to work so hard to get the

breakdown of the last three or four

minute phase. It became a foot race

between Davies and Harris and Davies

made it.

Space out wide for Wales,

if they can move to Halfpenny in the

line. Hadleigh Parkes. Back in the

field. Wales beginning to gather a

bit more momentum and confidence.

Through the gap again. Shingler

looks for support and finds it from

Cory Hill. Wales pouring forward.

Alun Wyn Jones charging on. They

can't quite get there.

Evans, the final touch.

Brilliant

break, good support from Cory Hill,

I thought Alun-Wyn Jones was there,

brilliant from Wales.

Scotland will

be frustrated with their defence,

very narrow and that has given the

Welsh some space. They have tried to

overload just with that space.

Lots

of the talk was about the first

scrum, great scrum for Wales to

attack Scotland.

In this position

Wales will try to put on the

squeeze. Free kick. They were

talking about Leeds. We wonder what

the decision is? The feed was not

straight. They talk about credible

feeding to the scrum.

That is one of

the pointers, it does not have to be

straight down the middle but it has

to be sort of in the middle. That is

such an obvious decision to make.

Mariachi holding that.

Mariachi holding that. Three meters.

Short of the line. Davies has a

look. Shingler is hurled back, two

men get to him. Wales punching

clobbered again. It goes to Cory

Hill and there is the gap. Leigh

Halfpenny! And he is in, two tries

in 12 minutes for Wales. We wondered

how they would play. What a start

for the home side!

Fantastic

patients from Wales, scrappy from

the back of the scrum, Patchell

carries and that was a great little

ball from behind from Cory Hill and

great composure and a great finish

from Afghanistan Leigh Halfpenny

ends up. That will do his confidence

a world of good, he has not played a

lot of rugby of late.

Wales go down

the blind side. Evans. An

opportunity for Gareth Davies. Into

that challenge from Hogg and Wales

have an opportunity. And the ball is

stripped by Berkeley, penalty to

Wales, illegally done by the

Scottish captain.

You have to gamble

and sometimes you get away with them

but that was great little play. He

cannot play that ball, John Barclay,

that is concede three instead of

seven but the build-up play,

fantastic kick from Steff Evans.

Putting his shoulder into Stuart

Hogg.

Straight through. And Wales had

their first points in this second

half.

Moriarty. Showing plenty of power,

and that as a penalty to Wales. The

tackle was made by Harris, both

players must release and there was

not a lot of releasing.

John Barclay

has his hands up.

It is straight...

Another chance to get Wales to 20.

His kicking today has been superb,

he has scored a try and has knocked

over the kicks. Wales 20-0 up in

this second half. Opportunity knocks

again. That was so smooth to Alun

Wyn Jones. They will try to get

their small going forward. Wilson

tries to disrupt this but here comes

the red tide. Driving on. Closer

still but not quite there, two

metres short. Shingler complains.

And Aaron Shingler will dig deep and

try to get the ball out. It is not

coming up. There it is for Gareth

Davies. That was a good tackle

coming in. Rhys Patchell has gone

himself. Not quite there. A couple

of metres, advantage to Wales. The

try is coming! Two tries, the

drought is well and truly over four

Leigh Halfpenny and Wales are

roaring towards victory.

Just that

physical dominance, fantastic

driving line-out from Wales. Again,

it is not patients, Rhys Patchell

took that in and brilliant hands

from Evans. Leigh Halfpenny is

running up the numbers.

Leigh

Halfpenny is the man who has scored

a couple of tries and knocked over

the kicks.

the kicks. Bye, wonderful pack up

and it is a try, surely, for Alun

Wyn Jones? If it is try number four,

it is brilliant.

Try, yes or no? Perhaps outright,

subject to terms and conditions but

what a pick-up from the replacement

prop.

I have no clear and obvious

granting of the ball. -- grinding.

REFEREE: No drive.

Interception

again and another ball given away.

Add another transfer Wales to go

hunting. Aaron Shingler, taken down

by Gilchrist body gets the ball

away. Hadleigh Parks steps in. Steff

Evans for the corner! They have

tried number four. Sailing past 30

points. And an opening victory is

there is in this Six Nations but the

final pass, was it forward? They are

not looking at the past, they finish

a stylish one, tried number four.

Still, they come but they go for a

good genre: further. Jonny Gray goes

to ground. And Ryan Wilson...

Through the middle was Peter Horne

and he is in for the try. Scotland

have something. One small thing from

this match. I don't think many tries

have been scored that have been

celebrated less than that. But that

is something for those who have

travelled.

Poor performance from

Wales, were you expecting that?

We

have trained really well in the last

two weeks. I said to the players

that we

Which is what we have been doing on

the training pitch and we went out

there and produced a really good

performance.

Hugely disappointed.

They played very poorly right from

the start. And we are trying to

abide by that was the case. It was

not a true reflection of what we're

of. Fair play to Wales, they played

very well. They got that intercept

at the beginning but they took a lot

of confidence from that whereas we

did not and we were very poor after

that.

The facts and figures, Warren

Gatland spoke to the Welsh hierarchy

on Friday and said Wales would win

by 20 points and it was more than

that! Jerry, I am sure you watch

that in the press area at Stade de

France, could you believe that?

Not

from Wales, I thought it would all

be from Scotland and it was

tremendous and credit to the Welsh

staff and the players. Pretty much

the way we have seen the Scarlets

play. Scotland? Clueless in a way,

they thought they could just go wide

and everything would open up and

Wales would capitulate. They did

not. You always rely on the brains

trust to say, we need to change it

and they stuck to something they

believed would work without thinking

about it and being smart and they

deserve everything they got.

It was

a reality check for Scotland, they

played so well in the autumn but

they were just friendlies, playing

the best in the world, that was

championship rugby yesterday and

Wales had their game face on in

every sense and that in particular,

the tactics and the physicality,

Scotland lost the physical battle,

you cannot give yourself such a

disadvantage in that space and is

Jerry said, they had just the one

game plan and it did not work and

they had no other.

That were

Scotland fell down by just having

one plan and they carried on

if you look at the defensive lines,

Ali Price is the receiver, Huw Jones

is going to hold the defence and

this happened the entire game,

trying to get the ball to Stuart

Hogg but Steff Evans comes out of

the line beautifully and in essence

that cuts off that out there, Finn

Russell again forcing the game to

Tommy Seymour so they went wide and

it did not work and they tried that

so often and another tactic was

interesting, Rhys Patchell kicked

the ball a lot which allowed Stuart

Hogg to have a lot of space and time

and that is perfect attacking play

for Scotland and look at all of the

space Stuart Hogg has got, in

devastating form and he chooses to

go to McGuigan and look at that

defensive line, they are together

and talking and even Josh Adams has

his hands up, pointing to who he is

going to defend. McGuigan takes that

and Scotland's try to get things

going from here, you could just see

the line speed from Schengen area,

Berkeley stopping that and Finn

Russell tries to force that. -- from

Shingler. This was symptomatic of

Scotland all day, look at the pace

injected by Wales and that was the

difference. They tried too hard but

the accuracy and execution was not

there.

Tell us where Wales... Two

selection in the back row indicated

Warren Gatland, outmuscle them and

take them on in the fringes. Four

tries against them in the autumn so

they said this is where they have

two attack, they have a soft

underbelly. The difference was

incredible, the Welsh forwards

sucked the Scottish defenders in.

Just one hit, isolated on the wing,

McGuigan, that is a narrow defence

and the overlap going wide and they

create the overlap and then Russell

makes the call, they both go in, he

maybe should have gone on but that

is an easy finish Leigh Halfpenny.

That was the early and this is from

behind, watch these players, second

row, winger and centre overlapping

to create the extra man outside and

were quick off the ground, wriggle

around, lovely pass from Cory Hill.

And Halfpenny scoring. And from the

second try... The forwards do their

job, look at the Scots, very narrow,

14 Mon the outside, very quick and

everybody overlaps, off the ground,

holders on his own, three men to

mark and that is a simple finish.

Is

it too sadistic to say that Warren

Gatland beat Gregor Townsend

yesterday?

I think you could see

them. Definitely they got it tactic

is spot on and Scotland did not have

another plan. Scotland had to be

better, it was their accuracy, they

will not see anything different,

they will try that again against

France. They have to carry. When

Peter Horne got the try in the end,

they just played with directness in

the last few minutes and if they get

the balance right they can be

effective but you cannot just have

one style and hope that works.

Don't

forget, there was a 20 minute period

where New Zealand only played with

14 men and the only played against

14 so the expectation had risen.

If

Jonny Gray scored in the first

minutes, the game could have been

different?

The intercept kill them,

Scotland started well and the

intercept, the place then went

crazy.

Sam Warburton said of all the

people who have criticised league

Halfpenny they don't do the game, he

is fantastic and if he did have

critics they were acquired

yesterday!

Sam is very close with

him, nobody has ever doubted his

professionalism, he does is very

well, the best penalty kick in the

world. If my opinion. You always has

had that, for the last seven or

eight seasons, and what we have

missed is when he first came in, on

the wing, scoring tries for Cardiff,

and all of a sudden he stopped

having that ability and you never

came in as a full-back. But the side

that has an attacking full-back,

that is an extra dimension so dizzy

and scoring two tries is brilliant

but it has taken 38 matches for that

to happen. That is poorer in

anybody's book.

Going to the

Scarlets, that did him a huge

favour, they play expansive rugby

with the great back three and if

Williams is fit for next three --

next week, that'll be interesting.

More rugby on the BBC tonight...

# Welcome to your life... # There is

no turning back...

# Even while we sleep... # Turn your

back on mother nature... # Everybody

wants to rule the world...

The weekly highlights start tonight

on BBC Two at 11:55pm and on iPlayer

when you choose. The weekly podcast

is tomorrow night with Chris Jones

and Danny Care. Look out for the Six

Nations shuffle on the website from

tomorrow morning and next Sunday,

live at Murrayfield for Scotland

against France. 2:30pm on BBC One.

The final match of the opening

weekend was the most dramatic. It

was in Paris, it was raining and the

game kind of reflected the weather.

Certainly in the first hour. Jonny

Sexton, his boat was effective and

he did miss one penalty that did

look like it was under Kyvat Ireland

kept the score ticking over. And

actually, the last ten minutes was

when the game came to life...

The new scrum-half, Dupont. Little

Stars Nursery. -- Little stab

through. Rob Kearney, into the night

sky. France taking that quickly.

Dupont, in the clear.

Dupont, in the clear. Toner is going

to score for France! The conversion

is good.

There has to be more

pressure than just one man. That is

an incredible finish. From 60 metres

out. Lovely recognition on the short

side after Conor Murray made a

mistake, you are better off in that

situation overextending. The back

three, with good footwork, to try to

defend in twos and threes. They have

taken full advantage and that was an

incredible finish.

To put France in

the lead. Byes. All change here in

Paris. France go into the lead

against Ireland. 13-12.

against Ireland. 13-12. Tauleigne

has turned the game around.

has turned the game around. Penalty

to France. The heavyweight

scrummaging. Did you take that

quickly?

Nigel Owens will bring them

back. Ireland lost concentration.

Sliding wide. Another penalty

missed.

We are into overtime. Iain

Henderson.

France's defending has been

excellent. Ireland still in

possession.

Sexton risking the kick, Keith Earls

rising high. He did not direct touch

him in the air. Ireland, deep into

the French have. John Ryan.

the French have. John Ryan. Probably

in drop goal range. Sexton is down,

the drop-kick expert is on the

ground. Back on his feet. Still a

long way out for the drop goal.

long way out for the drop goal. The

French captain looking on from afar.

As big Devin Toner, the ten metre

line... Peter O'Mahony... At what

point do Ireland risk the kick? It

is a very long way out. They have to

get closer than this. The French

defence excellent, Priso, 17.

Heavyweight tackling, Gomes Sa.

Heavyweight tackling, Gomes Sa. Aki.

France's defence still keeping

Ireland at the halfway line.

Fergus McFadden, 23, involved.

Another replacement, Dan Leavy.

Peter O'Mahony. Back up to the ten

metre. 36 phases. Sexton. Infield,

or inside to Henderson.

Henderson again. Creeping closer to

the point at which the drop goal

becomes possible. Sexton waiting,

here it comes. It looks good. He

likes it! Nigel Owens, his arm goes

up. And Ireland have stolen the game

right at the end! And their players

care back into their own 22. Look at

that face. Look at that body, France

put themselves in a winning position

only for Ireland to steal it with

the last kick of the game. Johnny

Sexton's drop goal. The final score,

France 13, Ireland 15.

Can you

believe you have done that? Happy to

get another chance, I had two score

is clear, I snatched up that at the

last moment, something caught my eye

and was happy to get victory for the

boys who have worked so hard for the

past two weeks. All of our goals

would have crumbled today every lost

and it is great to be in this

position after getting the away win.

I was looking around for the

defibrillator! That was tough! When

it gets as tight as that. A couple

of times we may be earned a penalty,

there was some slow ruck ball that

allowed them to get off the line and

It was character building for the

squad.

All of which means this is

how the table looks after the first

weekend. A bonus point from Wells,

might be crucial come the final. We

didn't have time to go into that but

there was a question over the fourth

try given against Scotland yesterday

because of a forward pass and

England have the bonus point today

and Ireland have a victory, what a

victory! Jonny Sexton! How brilliant

was he? In the moment when the

furnace was burning at its hottest,

to have the composure was

incredible.

Big players stand up. We

have a clip of him with cramp before

all of these days is started and you

think, how can he complete this? To

have the bottle to stick in that

kick pass at that stage of the game

when it has to be on the money, it

has to be accurate, Keith Earls has

to catch it, I applaud France in the

situation as well because they are

not giving away any penalties

whatsoever and when they are

renowned for doing that, their

discipline is not the greatest. They

are thinking, this is the 25th phase

and Sexton is on the deck. With

cramp. But Sexton and Murray are:

the chain, shall we keep this tight

or go wide? We get to the 41st phase

and the signal and a chat is coming

back from Sexton, from 40 metres in

those conditions, he strikes out

swiftly and it creates over and

there it is. They win the match. I

feel sorry for France because of the

situation but Ireland were beaten by

New Zealand in the dying moments are

few years ago at the end of the

game. Cronin knocked over the

conversion and they lost the game.

Quality play by Ireland.

Brilliant

looking at the best players in the

world when it is required pulling

that skill set that. 45 metres. As

soon as it came off the boot you

knew that was close but that was

right on the edge.

As soon as you

strike the ball you know if it is

concern that and I thought the

patience and the execution was

fantastic, remember, Sexton said

that he missed a penalty to put him

two scores but Belleau missed that

easy penalty for France on 77

minutes. That was game over but he

missed that and this is what

happens, the great kicker wins the

game.

The controversy we can look

at, the head injury assessment

situation which Brian O'Driscoll has

called nothing short of a disgrace

today. In the first French player to

go off for a head injury, the young

outside-half, Jalibert, it looked

like a knee injury but he went for

the head injury, but the replacement

scrum-half, Dupont, because

Machenaud had been taken off and

France had used all of their

replacements by this point so if he

did not go off for a head injury

assessment, France would have been

down to only 14 men with a few

minutes to go.

This is what

happened. The official watchdog is

telling me this is a head injury and

that is the way we will carry on.

that is the way we will carry on.

It

is the match Doctor's call. It came

from the touchline!

from the touchline!

Well, the

untoward incident review group,

which sounds like something out of W

18! They said there was no clear

evidence of any malpractice, that

was last time, but that will be

investigated? They have to look at

this and wonder what was going on?

There is honesty and integrity and

values in this game and I was there

last year when it happened in

France, it was Slimani coming on for

the French prop with the injury,

same as yesterday, it is the

independent match the doctor was

French, that does not help, whatever

it is, it has to be stopped, Brian

O'Driscoll is right, it was a

disgrace. If they had lost because

of that incident, it makes the whole

thing a complete shambles.

They are

worried about playing with 14 men so

let us work out a solution with

honesty, it does not get to that

scenario, get their straight rather

than the scripted way.

The clock has

beaten us, which coach sleeps easy

as tonight?

I think Warren Gatland.

Yes, he said in the conference that

he likes going to Twickenham, they

have a good record, he is looking

forward to that. Eddie Jones also?

All of the winners! Crystal ball,

next weekend at Twickenham that is

mouthwatering, even more so, who

wins?

I think England start as

favourites, tough place to go, Wales

will be happy going there. England?

Home is the key. It goes past very

quickly, fantastic first chapter in

this year's Six Nations story, we

will see you for the second next

weekend, goodbye!

# Feel the thunder...