Six Nations mid-term report: England and Ireland top of the class as Italy need improvement

Matt Jones - Editor 17:49 14/02/2018
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  • We’re two rounds into the 2018 Six Nations, which has already thrown up some epic encounters as well as a fair amount of controversy too.

    England and Ireland lead the way – with all eyes on a probable title decider on March 17 at Twickenham. The next round of fixtures feature two mouthwatering clashes as England visit Murrayfield to take on the Scots and Wales travel to Dublin to tussle with Ireland.

    The third round of games is two weeks away, so until then, it’s time to assess each countries performances so far.

    Who’s the teachers’ pet and who’s the class clown?

    IRELAND

    Put Italy to the sword last time out although it was their struggles in the opener against a young French team clinging desperately to the coattails of the Six Nations’s elite for the last few years that will have raised more eyebrows.

    Yes, Jonny Sexton’s drop goal was brilliant, but it also glossed over glaring cracks in Joe Schmidt’s side.

    Yet, in Sexton and Conor Murray Ireland have the best half-back pairing in the tournament and anything is possible with this duo dictating the play. Even in trying circumstances against the French, that Sexton had the audacity to try a cross-field kick to Keith Earls with the game on the line shows both his enduring quality and the flair that proves Ireland are capable of anything.

    Add in a fearsome pack and a smattering of emerging youthful exuberance in Jordan Larmour, the men in green will only grow.

    A tough test awaits against Wales at home, although it is a place where the Irish have not lost a championship game under Schmidt in five years.

    We all thought before the tournament it would come down to a Twickenham showdown, and there’s been little to deter us from that view early on.

    Grade: B+ 

    Jonny Sexton's last-gasp drop goal in Paris sealed what looked to be an unlikely win for Ireland.

    Jonny Sexton’s last-gasp drop goal in Paris sealed what looked to be an unlikely win for Ireland.

    ENGLAND

    Predictably at the top of the class early in the school term. England stormed into the tournament by blowing away Wooden Spoon favourites Italy and in the face of a determined, youthful and injury-ravaged Wales, Eddie Jones’ men still got the job done.

    They might be dealing with the fall-out of Trygate but even if Gareth Anscombe’s try had stood, there is no guarantee Wales would have gone on to win. In the first half 59 per cent of the play was spent in Wales’ half. That rose to 60 per cent in the second period. Wales defended doggedly and were always in with a shout, but England were clinical when they needed to be.

    Their potent back line looks in ominous form and the strength in depth and quality of their young players coming through is a frightening prospect.

    They were gritty and resolute against the Welsh and were entertaining without being explosive against Italy. We haven’t seen the best of them yet, which is a worry for their opponents.

    Grade: B+

    Owen Farrell was once again one of England's stand-out men v Wales.

    Owen Farrell was once again one of England’s stand-out men v Wales.

    WALES

    Utterly mesmeric as they beat Scotland in a pulsating opening game under the cavernous roof of the Millennium Stadium cauldron, Wales will rue the fact they did not take their chance to build on that display at Twickenham last weekend.

    Forget Trygate, Wales need to try a little more at getting the basics right, as even with an injury-plagued and inexperienced squad, they showed enough grit and guile against the Red Rose to suggest something special could be ready to blossom for Welsh rugby.

    Warren Gatland’s men made more passes (224-177), runs (163-162), offloads (11-6), metres (501-411), conceded less penalties (2-10), missed less tackles (18-23) and made less errors (36-44) – yet still ended up on the wrong end of the scoreline.

    It hardly gets easier as a trip to Dublin is next up, but they will be boosted by the likely return of star players Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Biggar and Taulupe Faletau who can guide the new wave of talent.

    Win at the Aviva Stadium and Wales might just still have a stake rather than merely a say in the destination of the championship.

    Grade: B+

    Trygate: Wales' Gareth Anscombe's score was ruled out.

    Trygate: Wales’ Gareth Anscombe’s score was ruled out.

    SCOTLAND

    They scampered into last year’s tournament with an air of expectation surrounding them following victory against Ireland in their opener before hopes were dampened after defeats to France and England.

    There is no doubt the Scots are much improved and expectations were raised further following the glorious autumn win over Australia. But they received a rude awakening when they were trounced 34-7 by Wales on opening weekend, in stark contrast to 12 months ago.

    However, they recovered well and just about did enough to beat a wounded France side, thanks to a second half revival and the boot of livewire scrum-half Greig Laidlaw.

    It hardly gets easier for Gregor Townsend’s men with England and Ireland up next, although you can be sure the Murrayfield crowd will create a deafening atmosphere for the visit of Eddie Jones and Co.

    If they’re looking for a defining moment to stand up and be counted, a stirring performance against the favourites would certainly make them teachers’ pet in Ireland and Wales’ eyes.

    Grade: C

    French ill-discipline allowed Scotland to take control at Murrayfield.

    French ill-discipline allowed Scotland to take control at Murrayfield.

    FRANCE

    Trying to figure out the French when it comes to the Six Nations has become about as easy to predict as playing a game of rock, paper, scissors.

    In fact, the only thing that does seem predictable is that wherever they go, controversy is never far away. This has subsequently been proved correct by Jacques Brunel’s decision to drop eight players following their conduct on a night out in Edinburgh after defeat to Scotland on Sunday.

    Perennial underachievers, it has been seven years since Les Bleus last lifted the Six Nations title, while Ireland and Wales have won two and England three in that period.

    They have been all over the place in the intervening years, finishing runners-up to England in 2011 – their best finish since that 2010 triumph. They’ve finished fourth three times, fifth once – they even became the first side other than Scotland or Italy to earn the Wooden Spoon in a decade in 2013 – before securing their highest spot in six years of third in 2017.

    Brunel’s new-look squad were warriors against Ireland, victory was cruelly robbed beyond the 80 minutes by Sexton’s sublime clutch play, but on course for victory against the Scots last weekend they capitulated in the second half.

    Grade: C+

    Teddy's in trouble: Teddy Thomas will not feature against Italy.

    Teddy’s in trouble: Teddy Thomas will not feature against Italy.

    ITALY

    In many ways, they have the simplest job when the Six Nations rolls around, try to avoid their annual beating with the Wooden Spoon. But after sizeable defeats to England and Ireland in their opening two games, confidence must already be at rock bottom with the Azzurri surely feeling blue facing a -68 points deficit, having shipped 102 points in those two defeats.

    Sure, they’ve put points on the board and Conor O’Shea’s men have actually scored more tries (five) than Wales, Scotland and France this year, so there is actually plenty to be positive about.

    The major concern, however, is that in their 19th year of competing in this tournament, they’ve failed to make any real progress as they count their collection of 12 Wooden Spoons – with two fourth-place finishes (2007 and 2013) the highlights.

    It leads many to wonder whether or not it is time to introduce a promotion and relegation play-off and give the likes of Georgia a shot to step up.

    Grade: E

    Spoonful of sorrow: Italy lost again against Ireland.

    Spoonful of sorrow: Italy lost again against Ireland.

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