After an entertaining Week 1 in the RBS six Nations 2014, the top teams of the Northern hemisphere went head to head in round two this weekend as they battled to take the top spot in Europe.
Week 1 Round up-
Week one kicked off with England going down in the last minute to a revived French side with a score of 26-24 in Paris. Later the in the day the defending champions Wales edged out a feisty Italian side with an adequate 23-15 win at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The following day the Irish dominated at home against a lackluster Scotland team 28-06.
Round 2
England vs Scotland (Murray field, Edinburgh)
One week after losing to France in agonising circumstances, Stuart Lancaster’s England side re-established their title credentials with an easy rout of potentially awkward but ultimately feeble opposition.
Danny Care opened the scoring for the visitors with an immaculate drop goal just five minutes into the game showing that England were ready to play. Ten minutes later Luther Burrell celebrated his second cap with his second international try, once again looking at home in the Test arena. Burrell went over in style after England patiently drove the ball forward after collecting from their own ruck. Owen Farrell’s conversion made it 10-00 to England.
The underdogs’ hopes of producing an unexpected victory were not helped by Greig Laidlaw, who sent two penalties wide. Farrell was on target with his third attempt, however, and by the half-hour mark England, playing smart and effective rugby, had powered 13-0 ahead.
A scrum had to be moved to a less damaged area of the pitch, which was covered in large patches of mud, and the statistic of the 13 penalties being awarded by referee Jerome Garces told the story of a dour first half.
Half time score 13-00 (England)
In the second half inside winger Jonny May made two eye-catching breaks, the second of which came after a terrific offload from Billy Vunipola who had committed three defenders before slipping the ball out of the tackle.
A brief Scottish surge was ended by a dropped pass and England remained in full control as Mike Brown showed trademark tenacity and strength to burst into space, before crossing in the 59th minute. Farrell added the two points making a simple 20-00 lead that England held onto through to final whistle.
Mike Brown was awarded man of the match for his spectacular try and enormous work rate.
Ireland vs Wales (Lansdowne Rd, Dublin)
Ireland made a huge statement about their Six Nations credentials as they romped to a famous 26-3 victory over reigning champions Wales in Dublin. This is Ireland’s second back to back win over Wales having beaten the champions in week one last year.
Two Jonny Sexton penalty goals in the first quarter saw Ireland off to solid 06-00 lead. Ireland enjoyed the better of the close-quarter exchanges, with O’Mahony prominent, and wing Andrew Trimble almost broke the try deadlock 12 minutes before half-time through a weaving run that Wales frantically, but successfully, defended.
The action was fast and furious, yet Wales’ set-piece struggles had to have an impact at some stage, and Ireland duly punished them through a 32nd-minute try. Lock Devin Toner won a close-range lineout, and an irresistible drive ended with Henry claiming his first Test try. Sexton added the conversion, and Wales found themselves in a considerable state of strife.
Sexton got the second half scoreboard moving through an angled penalty, leaving Wales 16 points adrift. Halfpenny opened Wales’ account with his first shot at goal after 56 minutes, yet that was quickly cancelled out through another Sexton strike which ensured Ireland maintained a comfortable advantage entering the final quarter.
Ireland then spent closing the stages in Wales’ half, their job done as they confirmed outstanding Six Nations title credentials with replacement five eight Paddy Jackson’s converting a 79th-minute touchdown.
Peter O’Mahony was superb for Ireland and outgunned the entire Welsh back-row winning him the man of the match award.
France vs Italy (Stade de France, Paris)
France came to life in the second-half to secure a convincing 30-10 win over Italy in Paris on Sunday.
Despite going into the contest as underdogs, Italy kept France scoreless during an error-strewn opening quarter notable only for a high penalty count on both sides, with Jean-Marc Doussain and centre Gonzalo Garcia each missing two shots at goal. It took France 27 minutes to break the deadlock when Doussain finally found his range, but Allan quickly cancelled that out before he missed an easy chance as Italy established some momentum through the powerful running of prop Alberto Di Marchi.
Two more Doussain penalties saw France take slim 09-03 lead at half time.
Whatever Philippe Saint-Andre said at half-time seemed to have worked. The French get a maul going in the Italian 22 and Louis Picamoles did well to go over, bulldozing 15 metres forward to touch down. Doussain’s conversion put France well clear.
The deadly Wesley may well have put the game to bed as he took quick ball from a ruck and burst clear down the right flank, shaking off a tackle to touch down five minutes into the second half. Doussain knocks over the two points to make it 25-03.
In the 51st minute, Wesley Fofana gobbled up a loose pass, ran the length of the field and offloaded for debutant Hugo Bonneval to go over. The conversion pretty much sealed the game for the hosts with half an hour left in the game.
Tempers frayed during the closing minutes, and after replacement French lock Sebastien Vahaamahina was sin-binned for kicking the ball away, referee Jaco Peyper opted to send off Rabah Slimani and Michel Rizzo following a dust-up between the packs.
Italy made the most of the numerical advantage. Patiently building up in the 22 and spreading it wide, with Tommaso Iannone going over in the corner. Too little, too late for Italy but reward for their efforts. Orquera with the kick of the day – split the posts from the touchline – to bring Italy into double figures.
Wesley Fofana was the catalyst behind France’s second-half performance and was a worthy choice as Man of the Match.
In two weeks France will travel to Cardiff to face Wales whilst Scotland and Ireland will travel to Rome and London to face Italy and England.
