RBS 6 Nations - Bird's Eye View with Jill

I have to admit that I left the room on the last minute of the Wales v Scotland game. Dan Parks playing out of his skin. 100 capped Mrs Patterson having to leave the field through injury. The lovely Thom (wouldn’t you like to be with me in an Evan’s sandwich?) Evans being stretchered off with what was thought to be a poorly leg but ended up with him having surgery on his neck. Word is that he has feeling in his arms and legs. We send you good vibes Thom! Scotland the brave came second against a Welsh team who knew how to turn it on when it really mattered (i.e. when Scotland are down to 14 and then 13 men – they learned that from England last week).

This was a match well worth watching. The low point was when the welsh crowd ‘booed’ the announcement that Dan Parks had won Man of the Match. The highs were the tries and the smiles. The rugby was rugged and at times sublime.. it was fumbling and then pure nectar. Real entertainment, especially for the neutrals amongst us.

So often we see boring old 6 Nations matches – same old, same old. Not this match. Thanks to both!

Under par Ireland took on the mighty ‘France’ in Paris. After the rather dull show against Italy last week, Ireland took on the biggest test of the tournament. The French swooned us with their panache and passion and the crowd enjoyed a French ‘whooping’ of an Irish side who never really looked as though they were in the match. Apart from some exciting breaks from the ever faithful O’Driscoll and Tommy Bowe, there was little for Irish fans to cling on to.

To put in very bluntly, in my lowly opinion, Ireland were out classed, outwitted and generally outplayed by an ‘on fire’ French side who are going to take some stopping on their way to the Grand Slam of 2010.

And then we come to Sunday! Woeful England, woeful. I am sorry to be so negative but there were a few occasions when I nodded off! Never a good sign. I know we English are brilliant at criticising our own team, but it was appalling. Steve Borthwick was quite positive at the end of the game in interview, but as Jerry Guscott said, was he watching a different match?

Poor old Jonny missed 3 kicks, or was it 4, but made up for it a bit with a much needed drop goal in the last 10 minutes. Cueto and Tait made a couple of good breaks between them (Tait scored the only try of the match) and Flutey would have been able to make a difference if he had actually got any ball.

My theory is that we always play better as the underdogs, which was exactly what Italy did this time. They played with purpose and flair, far beyond what was expected of them, and definitely played the better rugby.

England however made the most of their opportunities (apart from when Italy were down to 14 men with the hirsute Castrogiovanni being yellow carded) and scored the vital points. They won, and I would say that their slim 5 point lead was a fair reflection of a frustrating, lacklustre English performance. MJ will not be happy!

We look forward to the challenges (26th Feb).

Friday 8pm – Wales take on France at the Millennium Stadium

Saturday 1.30pm – Italy take on Scotland in Rome

Saturday 4pm – England try their hand with Ireland at Twickenham