Six Nations: Three moments that shaped the results in the first round of fixtures

It was an afternoon to forget for Scotland scrum half Ali Price. Having already been turned over under Wales’ posts and thrown an intercept pass for the first score of the afternoon, more errors were to come from the 24-year-old.

Facing a defensive scrum about eight metres from his own line, Price was pinged for a crooked feed – something that is being cracked down on in this year’s competition.

From the resulting attacking scrum Wales were able to run through a series of phases before Leigh Halfpenny crashed over for a superb try.

A resulting conversion made it 14-0 inside the first quarter and proved to be an insurmountable challenge for the Scots.

Jonny on the spot

In honesty it was a pretty dour affair in Paris. Neither France nor Ireland managed to conjour a great deal throughout the game – apart from a stunning Teddy Thomas try that had threatened to give France the spoils.

That was until Jonny Sexton stepped up.

A five-minute drive, and 40 phases is one thing – but Sexton’s contributions really were something else.

When they picked up possession on 77-minutes, Ireland were deep in their own half and were seemingly taking one step forward to go two back.

Knowing a little inspiration was needed, Sexton opted to kick cross-field to Keith Earls – the margin for error was zero. Earls gathered and managed to make some much-needed ground and push the Irish on the front foot again.

But that was by no means it.

Again the French defence remained resolute, holding Ireland a bay around the 10-metre line. A few more precious yards then gave Sexton an opportunity – and it was no more than that. 45-metres out in the cauldron of the Stade de France, the rest is history.

England off to a flier

Italy away, on the face of things, is about as good a start to the Six Nations as you can have. What should be little more than a canter in the Rome sunshine.

It doesn’t always play out like that however. The Italians are now a lot more resolute than previously, well drilled under Conor O’Shea, and have the ability to frustrate teams for long periods – while offering more of an attacking threat than they once did.

Key for opposing teams now is to try and break their resistance, and ultimately their will, early on.

England could not have wished for a better start in the form of Anthony Watson crossing inside the first four minutes.

It was the ideal start for the Red Rose, and one that showed their attacked intent right from the get-go.

Watson’s brace followed not long after and any thoughts of pre-match nerves and the debilitating injury list Eddie Jones had faced going into the tournament were forgotten.