Scotland 18 Ireland 21

A superb performance from veteran fly-half Ronan O'Gara inspired Ireland to a 21-18 win over Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Recalled to win his 106th cap, the 33 year-old Munster player scored 11 points with a try and three conversions to go alongside first half tries from Jamie Heaslip and Eoin Reddan.

Only Irish generosity on the penalty count kept Scotland in the game with Chris Paterson sending over 15 points with the boot and Dan Parks adding a drop goal.

The win keeps Ireland's championship hopes alive while Scotland are now staring down the barrell of a likely Wooden Spoon showdown with Italy having lost three in a row.

Both sides opted for new half-back pairings in a bid to revive flagging campaigns with a stark contrast at fly-half where Ireland's O'Gara returned for his 106th cap whilst Ruaridh Jackson started for Scotland for the first time.
Veteran Paterson returned at full-back for the Scots, one of seven changes to the side that lost to Wales. Fit-again winger Tommy Bowe was one of three Irish changes, all among the backs.
Ireland applied the early pressure following a fine O'Gara cross-field kick over the head of Paterson and into the corner.
The Irish pack was held up short of the line, before Heaslip darted over on an offload from Rory Best to put the visitors 7-0 ahead after six minutes.
Scotland were struggling to make much headway down the middle, but a break by Nikki Walker down the right wing after 16 minutes took them into the Irish 22m.
The Irish forwards then went offside at a ruck, and Paterson stepped forward to nail a perfect kick from near the touchline.
Two minutes later, Ireland offended again at a ruck as Scotland drove down the middle and again Paterson made no mistake from 40 yards out with the penalty.
O'Gara narrowly missed with a penalty attempt for Ireland, but he pinned Scotland back again with another inch-perfect kick deep into the Scottish 22m.
Scotland made a hash of the ensuing line-out and were forced into conceding a five-metre scrum from which Heaslip's drive found scrum-half Reddan at his shoulder to scamper in under the posts.
O'Gara's conversion made it 14-6 for Ireland after 29 minutes with the visitors enjoying most of the possession and territorial advantage.
More Irish indiscipline two minutes later, however, allowed Paterson to cut the lead to six points with a 38-metre penalty.
A superb, multi-phased Irish drive died four metres out from the Scottish line after O'Gara was penalised for holding onto the ball in the tackle, before Sean Lamont's try-saving tackle on Irish winger Keith Earls brought the first half to an end.
Ireland continued to look the more potent attacking force as the second half opened and when Scotland prop Allan Jacobsen was sin-binned after 44 minutes, the Scots were struggling to hold on.
Ireland were comfortably finding the gaps in the Scottish line, with two charging runs from flanker Sean O'Brien to the fore, but were failing to turn their domination into points.
All that changed after 52 minutes when after another bout of intense Irish pressure, O'Gara jinked his way through the last line of defence for a try under the posts which he then converted for a 21-9 lead to Ireland.
Two more penalties from Paterson after 58 and 66 minutes put the Scots back in the game and a Parks drop made it 21-18 with 10 minutes to go.
Scotland were enjoying their best spell of the match as the Irish flagged, but despite an all-out onslaught in the closing minutes they could not come up with the break they needed to steal the win at the death.

Daily Telegraph 27/02/2011

Italy 16 Wales 24

Another win for Wales , but nothing to write home about. As at Murrayfield a fortnight ago there were moments here when the real Wales threatened to reveal itself, but there were far too many errors and poor decisions for this to be considered thoroughly satisfying. They remain merely a mid-ranking team.

They conceded two soft tries, as well as soft penalties (15 in total) and could never claim to have been in complete control as they paid for some silly over-ambition. Had Italy kicked their goals – they missed four attempts – and had a try not been denied by scanty television evidence, then this contest could have been much tighter than it was.

As it turned out, Wales were indebted to a workmanlike effort from a pack that can now consider itself a match for most, with their scrummage memorably holding up when Italy opted for that sort of engagement at a late penalty, and an excellent performance from James Hook at outside centre, his contributions proving vital in both Wales tries as he exploited space wide out. It looks like his best position, but given the hoopla surrounding his performance at fly-half against Scotland, it was possible to feel a little sympathy for his replacement Stephen Jones. He was under enormous pressure, and at times it looked as if he was trying to be a little more expansive than he really desired.

Full-back Lee Byrne also cut some deliciously devastating angles in a pleasing return to something near his best form. Shane Williams was lively, as was Morgan Stoddart on the other wing, and the back row of Sam Warburton, Ryan Jones and Dan Lydiate just about had the edge over their Italian counterparts.

As a game this flattered to deceive. The first half was often pacy and thrilling, but the second was dull. Seemingly Wales were playing to protect a lead, just as they had done against Scotland.For they had led 21-11 at the break with two tries that were slick. But not before they had gifted Italy an early score.
At their worst Wales have a habit of becoming horribly lateral in attack and, because they insist on passing remorselessly one way until the touchline is reached, of sometimes exposing lumbering forwards in wide open spaces when eventually play is switched.
This was such an example. Lock Bradley Davies suddenly found himself masquerading as an outside centre and his intended pass to Stoddart was awful, threatening the wing’s bootlaces rather than his midriff. He duly knocked on and Gonzalo Canale gobbled up the resultant loose ball. He kicked ahead and chased and Davies, in his frustration, attempted to make amends with some illegal blocking. He was fortunate that Canale made the touchdown because had he not, Davies may have been seeing yellow as well as a penalty try for the hosts.
But Wales soon responded. Hook, cavorting in the wide channel, made the initial thrust and set Byrne free with a delightful one-handed pass. The full-back linked with Stoddart on his opposite wing, who did well to roll over in the tackle and score – after considered evaluation from technology, of course. Few tries are complete without it these days.
Four minutes later Wales scored again. This time Williams was the instigator, running across field from a stray box kick and then feeding Byrne cutting a sharp angle. The full-back then found Hook on his outside, who drew the last defender for Sam Warburton to canter through.
At 15-8 down Italy desperately needed a score, and they thought they had one when Alessandro Zanni dived over the top of the ruck close to the Wales line. Stoddart, though, made a brave tackle and again the television match official was consulted. Pictures were inconclusive, so it was concluded that Stoddart had an arm underneath Zanni. No try.
Wales also had a try disallowed when Williams’s pass to the galloping Byrne was ruled forward, but Stephen Jones kept kicking his goals to ensure that ten-point interval cushion.
It wasn’t to last. Wales became a little too ambitious in midfield in their own half and spilt valuable ball that Italy kicked ahead. Williams appeared to avert the danger, but from the ruck the ball appeared on Italy’s side and with Parisse in space on the left. He magisterially held off fly-half Jones’s tackle and rolled over to make the score.
But, sadly, that was it for Italy and Hook’s late dropped goal kept them at arm’s length. Job done, but no glory.

Steve James  Daily Telegraph 26/02/2011

England 17 France 9

A highly significant victory for England, one which sets them up nicely for the rest of the championship and one which may prove important at the World Cup towards the end of the year.

Why? Because England were forced to work hard for their win, to re-jig plans and personnel in the face of a determined French onslaught.

It was made more impressive because it was palpably obvious that several of England key individuals struggled.

Chris Ashton butchered a decent opportunity near the end and both half-backs failed to exert the influence they have managed in previous matches. To win in those circumstances was a major achievement.

But it was England who refused to buckle and that sheer cussedness was enough to see off France.
It has to be said also that England had the major players up front. Thierry Dusautoir was magnificent for France but at times he was fighting a lone battle against an England pack in which both locks, Tom Palmer and Louis Deacon, were outstanding, Nick Easter was his usual rumbustious self and Dan Cole and Dylan Hartley got to areas of the pitch which front row forwards had no right to inhabit.
The other major plus for fans tuning in on TV or watching live was that this was a grade one Test match. It was rough, intense and thoroughly absorbing. And France played.
Those fears that they would go all limp and wobbly as they have on previous Twickenham occasions failed to materialise. There was bite to their tackles and every scrummage and breakdown was contested with real venom.
It was by far the best contest of this Six Nations, two sides straining to hold it together as each sought to gain an advantage.
At moments like these players find out about themselves and sometimes those lessons are difficult to stomach. Toby Flood and Ben Youngs, the architects of previous England triumphs, had poor first halves.
Both tried to force plays and both were undone by the fact that France threw bodies at the breakdown, choking off the supply of ball which has come so easily and freely against Wales and Italy.
France came to cut England off at source. Dusautoir thundered into every collision and Lionel Nallet hit rucks with real menace but France, like England, were working off slim margins.
Yannick Jauzion, normally the most assured of midfield operators, was caught offside allowing Flood a shot at goal and there were further mistakes by Thomas Domingo and Sebastien Chabal which contributed to England’s nine-point haul by half time.
Chabal, brought in to provide oomph, was well controlled by Easter and his back row colleagues, and he never quite caused the destruction all France desired. Worse than that. He was so ineffective that he was dragged off the pitch after 50 minutes.
Other stellar names stalled. Chris Ashton, the stand-out individual of the tournament, hardly got his hands on the ball in the first half.
For a man whose instincts are to get involved at every opportunity, his difficulties showed just how tough it was for anyone to claw their way out of the morass of defensive tackles.
The moment Ashton did break free, early in the second half after a clever exchange of passes between Flood and Youngs, his trademark scoring swallow dive was in vain as the try was ruled out when Flood’s pass to Youngs was ruled marginally forward.
France also were out of sorts. A year ago they demolished England’s scrum so conclusively that two of England’s front row were substituted embarrassingly early in the contest.
At Twickenham, Dan Cole, one of those unable to cope, was handing out an early lesson to Domingo. The first two scrum penalties went England’s way and it was only when Alex Corbisiero came on to replace an injured Andrew Sherdian that England’s scrum lost its edge.
The game turned England’s way in the second half when Foden scored immediately after the interval. France had forced their way back into the contest with three penalties from Yachvili to three from Flood when England struck.
Cueto broke free off a scrum and, when the play was switched left, Foden squeezed past Francis Trinh-Duc on the outside and through the tackle of Rougerie to touch down. If the try was a touch scratchy in its conception with wayward passes, the finish was clinically professional.
It was a try which changed the shape and nature of the game. From a tight set piece affair, players from both sides found more room. The errors were still there but fatigue and injuries, which resulted in both benches being emptied after 50 minutes, created the space which was lacking at the start of the match.
Ashton flattered to deceive and then Jonny Wilkinson, on for Flood, had the poise and sang froid to bang over a longish penalty with his first touch of the game.
The fact that it nudged him ahead of Dan Carter as international rugby’s top points accumulator with 1,188 points probably won’t have registered with Wilkinson, but it certainly resonated with Martin Johnson up in the stands because it put his side in front 17-9.
Wilkinson’s penalty was the last scoring act of the game but the excitement never let up.
Rougerie went close after Trinh-Duc threaded a neat kick in behind a rushing England defence, and down the other end of the pitch Ashton decided to throw a wild pass when he might have trusted himself to burn Vincent Clerc who was France’s last defender.
No point chastising either man too harshly, though. It was a game which was in the balance for a long, long while. That was what made England’s victory all the sweeter.

Paul Ackford  Daily Telegraph 26/02/2011

Ireland 22 France 25

Ireland have slumped to an all-too familiar defeat to France on their Six Nations debut at Aviva Stadium after failing with an heroic late fightback.

Tries from winger Fergus McFadden and scrum-half Tomas O'Leary helped them to a 15-12 half-time lead and the Grand Slam champions appeared ripe for the taking.

Winger Maxime Medard crossed to help France back into the driving seat until No 8 Jamie Heaslip crashed over in the right corner to set up a grandstand finish.

Ireland launched a late do-or-die assault but the visitors' defence, criticised in the build up to this match, was magnificent.

It was an agonising outcome to a gripping showdown but Ireland's struggle against their nemesis continues with today's defeat their ninth in their last 10 meetings dating back to 2003.

The result puts a large dent in their hopes of winning the Six Nations title, but they will take comfort from a brave and ambitious performance.
Had they made fewer mistakes when dominating possession, France would have fallen further behind and this encounter will be viewed as yet another chance missed against their rivals.
Blessed with attacking options, both teams looked to move the ball wide whenever possible and the new Lansdowne Road was treated to a nail-biting spectacle that ebbed and flowed throughout.
The tone was set from kick off, Ireland making an explosive start with Luke Fitzgerald crossing after two minutes, only for Gordon D'Arcy's final pass to be adjudged forward.
Two minutes later they breached the whitewash, capitalising when full-back Clement Poitrenaud dropped the ball as France launched a kamikaze attack from their own 22.
McFadden, playing his second Test, pounced on the loose ball and then reappeared a few phases later to burrow over from close range.
Jonathan Sexton converted and France's disastrous opening continued when they sent the restart straight into touch, though a mistake from O'Leary eased the pressure.
It was the champions' turn to attack and Ireland defended until straying offside and Morgan Parra landed the penalty.
Back on the offensive, Declan Kidney's team almost released McFadden into space but Sexton's pass was too weighted.
An almighty cheer sounded in the 16th minute when France's scrum, fresh from pulverising Scotland last week, collapsed.
It was a moral victory for the much-maligned Irish front row and Sexton kicked the ensuing penalty to rub salt into the wound, though Parra replied in kind soon after.
Ireland looked sensational at times but, as in Rome, they were making unforced handling errors at key moments, preventing them from building momentum.
Adding to their problems was the pinpoint kicking of Parra, who rifled over a third penalty.
O'Leary continued to suffer with the Munster half-back, who has been struggling with a back injury this week, sending an inexplicable chip straight into touch.
There was no let up from referee Dave Pearson, either, with Donncha O'Callaghan conceding another penalty and Parra booting France ahead for the first time.
Ireland struck next, the rejuvenated O'Leary charging through France's defence to start the move before later finishing it by breaking a tackle and forcing the ball over the whitewash.
Francois Trinh-Duc had a drop-goal attempt charged down by ubiquitous blindside flanker Sean O'Brien moments after France centre Damien Traille almost broke free down the left.
Ireland's scrum continued in the ascendancy, winning a free kick and then shoving the French pack backwards, but a fifth Parra penalty levelled the score.
A 20-metre scrum offered a great attacking platform for Ireland but an over-complicated backs move was easy for Les Bleus to contain.
France showed their opponents how it should be done from a similar position in the 55th minute, though they were helped by a weak tackle from D'Arcy.
Aurelien Rougerie ran straight at D'Arcy, sent the Leinster centre cannoning backwards, and dashed forward before drawing Fitzgerald and supplying Medard with the scoring pass.
Substitute scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili landed the conversion and at 22-15 ahead, France were in a strong position.
Yachvili slotted a penalty but Ireland refused to give up hope and were rewarded with a 68th minute try from Heaslip.
It took 26 phases close to the whitewash before France cracked, a poorly executed kick from substitute Ronan O'Gara falling into the arms of David Wallace who sent Heaslip in at the corner.
O'Gara's conversion struck the left post on its way over, setting up a nerve-shredding climax.
Heart rates soared with two minutes to go when Keith Earls chipped ahead and Ireland hunted in numbers, but France's scrambling defence was superb.
Last-ditch tackles held firm and when substitute hooker Sean Cronin knocked on, Les Bleus were able to breath a sigh of relief.

Telegraph Staff

Scotland 6 Wales 24

The mood can lighten. Wales have won a rugby match after eight failures to do so. It was hardly perfect, heavily reliant as it was on a slick opening quarter, but it was enough. It was no spectacle, especially a generally dire second half, but there was resilience and nous in only conceding three points when down to 13 men in the first half, and so Wales can at least build on this.

The truth is that they were not that bad against England last weekend. The reaction did not match the performance. It was simply because it was against England. To lose to the old enemy at home does such things.

And so they showed here that they possess the makings of a much better outfit than that.

Dan Lydiate was outstanding at flanker, alongside him Sam Warburton was no less impressive and, despite some wayward kicking out of hand, fly-half James Hook did decently, making a delightful break for Shane Williams' first try, setting Wales on their way and shocking Scotland.

Wales were also much more direct in attack, with centre Jamie Roberts more prominent and so incisive.
Scotland? They were awful. And they will continue to be so with Dan Parks at fly-half. He is just too conservative, as well as a liability in defence. All the talk was of their more enlightened approach against France, but it was never exhibited here. They started badly and never recovered.
The clamour had been for Hook to start at fly-half. It took him just eight minutes to justify those calls and his subsequent inclusion with a sublime break to create a try for Williams. Wales had snared possession by wheeling a Scotland scrum so violently that the ball spewed their way.
Scotland's scrambled defence did well initially but the carrying from Wales was forceful and the lines sharp so that, when the ball eventually came left, Hook was presented with prop Allan Jacobsen in front of him.
It was just too good an opportunity. He glided past him, with the help of a had-off, and then around the covering scrum-half, Rory Lawson. Richie Vernon did manage to make the tackle on Hook, but the pass to Williams was still made with ease. Williams slipped, but not enough to prevent his scoring. With Hook's conversion a formality, Wales were 7-0 ahead.
Scotland could not quite believe it, and behaved as such, proceeding to make a string of silly errors. Poor old full-back Hugo Southwell had a horror period, punting two kicks straight out, in golfing parlance one a slice and the other a hook.
He was then extremely fortunate not to receive a yellow card for a challenge in the air on opposite number. Pursuing Parks' kick he did not even have eyes on the ball as he clattered into Byrne. He left the field with a nasty-looking facial injury, not to return. In his stead Sean Lamont looked strong and menacing.
The first quarter was barely over and Hook had kicked three penalties to extend the lead to 16-0. Wales looked in complete control, but then, as is their wont, attempted some savage self-destruction.
Mike Phillips dropped a kick and Lamont went surging to the line. Bradley Davies considered kicking the ball from the ruck his only alternative, and was quite rightly dismissed temporarily for his foolishness.
Being down to 14 men is bad enough, but how about 13? Three minutes later Wales were. Byrne clearly did not intend any malice in his tackle on Max Evans, but it was mistimed and horribly high. On the advice of his touch-judge referee George Clancy had no option other than to brandish yellow too to Byrne.
Chances for a comeback do not come much more promising. But somehow Scotland could only score three points- a Parks penalty- while Wales were so inconvenienced.
They made some knock-ons and took some poor decisions, but one brilliant piece of defensive work by flanker Dan Lydiate, forcing Kelly Brown, to hold on in the tackle, was the outstanding moment in some brave Welsh resistance.
Parks slipped when taking another penalty just before the break, and so Wales deservedly led 16-3 at half-time.
The second half simply would not spark. Scotland had more possession and territory, but for all the excellence of Lamont could do little about it.
They clearly had a plan beforehand to target Williams with cross kicks and expose him to Nikki Walker's height. But Wales knew what was coming, and Williams coped admirably. Scotland had been pressing in Wales' 22 for some time and really should have made more of such a position, but Parks kicked to the opposite corner and Williams just collected with aplomb.
Penalties were exchanged between Parks and Hook, but Scotland were going nowhere, and Roberts really should have scored when clear from Alun Wyn Jones' pick up of a loose ball. Lamont did brilliantly to scurry back, but a second Wales try did eventually arrive, as Williams latched onto Jonathan Davies' chip ahead with not a defender to be seen.
Wales are back, even if with heavy qualification.

 Steve James  Daily Telegraph

England 59 Italy 13

Wow. Eight tries in total, a hat-trick inside the hour for Chris Ashton, who ended up with four, and another stellar contribution from Toby Flood - this was a very, very productive afternoon for England.

If the opening game against Wales was an exercise in coping with naked hostility, this was a lesson in how to bury a side with well over half the match still to unravel.

Italy were out of this game after 30 minutes when Mark Cueto blasted over for England’s third try. It was as comprehensive a Six Nations display as England have offered in many a year.

Almost the best thing about England’s effort was that the final score didn’t quite do justice to their excellence. England took their chances well, but they also failed to finish off one or two others. That was the scale of their superiority.

From the opening seconds when Flood, Ashton and co went wide to the final minutes when Jonny Wilkinson - who else? - risked life and limb to prevent a second Italy try, England exuded effort and class.
It was a performance in which every player contributed. Alex Corbisiero, in his first game, and up against the mighty Martin Castrogiovanni, was magnificent, England’s midfield had the measure of their Italian opponents, and James Haskell had the best half of his international career to date.
But the man who held it all together was Flood. From callow youth to Mr Indispensable, Flood is now the guy who thinks and plays this team into strong positions. Half of England’s tries came from sharp, smart Flood passes to support runners arriving on his inside and outside shoulders. Ashton was the main beneficiary, but every time Flood had his hands on the ball and was challenging Italian defenders, Italy wobbled badly.
If there were any dodgy areas for England to rectify they came in the shape of poor discipline early on, the fact that they allowed Italy a try from a lineout which hadn’t functioned all game, and a stodgy patch just after half time when it took England too long to get themselves hot and sweaty once more.
But to do more than mention those in passing is to veer towards the nit-picky. As with England’s annihilation of Australia in the autumn, this was a display which will reverberate around the world. France are next up for England at Twickenham in two weeks. They won’t enjoy the DVD of this game.
England’s transformation since they went to Paris for the final game of last season’s Six Nations has been remarkable. A year ago England played Italy in Rome, stumbling to a victory which Steve Borthwick, then captain, raved about but which anyone with half a rugby brain realised was anything but.
England that day were one-paced, predictable and utterly tedious. Fast forward 12 months and the side has been transformed by the arrival of Ashton, Ben Youngs and Ben Foden. But it is more than an injection of new personnel which is behind England’s revival. The really startling development is that England now look like a team that knows how to play rugby.
The way they varied the point of attack, the way they mixed up the tempo, the way forwards and backs hunted and hurt Italy was very impressive.
That doesn’t happen by accident, and it is pertinent now to acknowledge the contributions of an England coaching team marshalled and led by Johnson.
A while ago forwards coach John Wells was under the cosh for failing to generate quick ball. No such problems now. The ball came back pretty much exactly as England’s half backs wanted it. Similarly with England’s attack. Against Scotland at Murrayfield last year they couldn’t buy a try. Now there was nothing wrong with their attacking edge. Brian Smith has unlocked England to the point where they are comfortable attacking from anywhere.
Of course, any final reckoning of England has to take account of the opponents and Italy were desperately disappointing. But this is the Italy which ran Ireland close a week ago, the Italy who many thought were close to becoming genuinely competitive. That is the context against which to judge.
It is vastly to England’s credit that they demolished Italy’s lineout. That was an alarming weak point which hasn’t surfaced before, but other Italian difficulties were more predictable. Yet again Italy had little or no idea how or where to attack. There was one brief spell in the first half when Italy were able to string several phases and passes together but they ended up further behind the gain line than when they started. If anything showed up Italy’s lack of ideas and penetration, that did. The little ball they got was a liability for them.
The sadness was that some great players were caught up in the mess. Sergio Parisse and Martin Castrogiovanni are proud, fine rugby men, yet long before the end of the match they were both bickering with each other and the referee.
Castrogiovanni was sin-binned when he prevented England from taking a quick tap penalty and Parisse, normally the most focused of individuals, was more worried about perceived injustices than what was actually happening on the pitch. It was impossible not to feel for them. They deserved to be part of a better, more competitive team.
No such problems for England where the momentum is building nicely. Given the way they played, they would probably fancy France this Saturday rather than have a week’s rest as the Six Nations goes into limbo.

Paul Ackford   Daily Telegraph

Viking 7's

It is now official, there is to be a new 7's tournament this year.
The Viking Summer 7's will be held at Spartacus RK on the 4/5th June. With a number of teams visiting from Italy, Spain. Holland, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and France this will be an International event with what we are told some very good sides ready to challenge the Swedish clubs for the prize money on offer.
We are given to understand that there will be sponsors for both the Men's and Women's events. with 25,000Sek for the winners of the Men's and 15,000Sek for the Ladies Champions along with the normal trophies.
Without doubt, this is really good news for Swedish Rugby and will hopefully contribute towards the development of the game in Sweden. Now an Olympic Sport it could help showcase 7's and help to attract new participants to the game.

Our congratulations go to Spartacus for their initative in this and we wish them well in this endeavour.

Italy 11 Ireland 13

Beautiful weather, ugly rugby. A thrilling finale should not mask the dross that preceded it, as Ireland snatched victory through a drop goal three minutes from time by replacement Ronan O'Gara.

Two minutes earlier Italy, using their numerical advantage with Denis Leamy sent to the sin bin, had scored their first try, and a famous first win over the Irish in this competition had looked possible.

But they committed the cardinal sin: they dropped the ensuing kick off. Ireland, knew the drill. A couple of drives were made upfield and then the old head of O'Gara stepped back into the pocket in readiness.

So certain was he of his target that he was punching the air and running back towards halfway before the ball was anywhere near the posts.

Ireland were clearly the better side, dominating possession and territory, but it would not have been a huge injustice had Italy sneaked it, because Ireland made enough mistakes to last a whole campaign.
There really was no excuse for their profligacy. The conditions were near perfect, with the sun shining and the flat track.
Amid some thoroughly ordinary performances lock Donncha O'Callaghan had a huge match for Ireland and Sean O'Brien had his moments, but the day's outstanding individual was undoubtedly the Italian skipper and No. 8 Sergio Parisse, who enjoyed an extraordinarily good and influential second half. His power and work rate was quite phenomenal.
And when Leamy was off the field, given his orders for handling at a ruck, Italy's scrummage really put Ireland under the cosh.
Skipper Brian O'Driscoll was spoken to by referee Romain Poite as loose-head prop Cian Healy collapsed for a second time.
Tension was high and a try was almost inevitable and it duly came after a slick pass out of the tackle from replacement Gonzalo Garcia, putting full back Luke McLean, who had a lively game throughout, in at the corner.
Italy had actually led 6-3 at the break, with winger Mirco Bergamasco kicking his second penalty on the very stroke of the break.
It was a fine kick, from way out on the right, and it provoked a huge roar from the home crowd, but in truth this had been a half full more of groans.
Goodness, there were some mistakes. When you witness the great O'Driscoll hurling a pass off his left hand straight into touch you know for certain that error is the order of the moment.
A couple of minutes later he was dropping a pass after an ill-timed switch with Jonathan Sexton.
Then Gordon D'Arcy spilled a regulation pass as Ireland threatened in the Italian 22. He was to do the same again in the second half.
Other passes went straight to ground. Nothing clicked. Without solely blaming one person, it never helps when you have a scrum half like Tomas O'Leary whose strength clearly is not his pass.
His stiffness and an involuntary duck of the head at the moment of release suggest that it is not a natural movement. The all-enveloping Parisse caught him napping a couple of times at the base of rucks.
Ireland might have scored once after full back Luke Fitzgerald had put Sexton clear, but a wonderful scything tackle from Alberto Sgarbi put paid to that.
O'Driscoll also escaped down the left after a pass from Leamy. We will give the flanker the benefit of the doubt and call it a flick on, but Leamy may not have realised that was what he was doing. Anyway another superb tackle, this time from McLean, stopped O'Driscoll.
Yes, Italy were doing a lot of tackling and not much attacking- although Sgarbi was always running strongly- but, as ever, that defence was ferociously committed. And yes it was unsettling Ireland. The rhythm and snap simply would not come.
But pressure usually tells, and so does class. That O'Driscoll should drag his side form their languor just after the interval was a not a surprise.
Their try came from their best scrummage of the match, with tight-head prop Mike Ross at last anchoring his side and from a solid base Ireland could finally attack with composure.
Even then they looked as if they had taken a wrong option as Sexton was left isolate don the left, but the ball was recycled and O'Leary fed O'Driscoll going left and through a gap.
You expected the tries to flow from there. But maybe Ireland's injury count - 12 major players missing- was more of a factor than we thought. Confidence appeared low and rustiness high.
Even O'Driscoll made another mistake, throwing a poor pass to debutant winger Fergus McFadden who might have scored with a better service.
Italy refused to cow, and their response was rousing. It was just a shame that replacement lock Carlo del Fava fumbled at that re-start, and that another replacement- fly-half Luciano Orquera- should attempt his own dramatic drop-goal effort from such a long distance.
More patience and calm was required. Ireland just about had it, but will need to improve in spades.

Steve James, Daily Telegraph

France 34 Scotland 21

This game comes with a health warning. France, the Grand Slam champions, are back, all memories of the stuffing by Australia in the autumn banished on a surprisingly balmy February evening. France were confident, poised, controlled.

They had pockets of flair and if they lost concentration at various stages in what was an enthralling encounter, it was probably because they were saving themselves for the bigger games to come.

Twickenham towards the end of the month springs to mind. It should be lip-smackingly exciting.

It was not so much the scoreline at the end of the game which advertised France’s welcome return to form, more the fact that it came against a resurgent Scotland who actually played pretty well themselves.

That was the beauty of this encounter. It had everything. Seven tries, four from France, three by Scotland.
The physical beauty of big men running into each other with intent on their faces and murder in their souls. It had some elusive running — strangely, given their reputation — by Scotland’s midfield and back three. And it had a scrummaging performance of stunning eloquence by the portly-looking Thomas Domingo.
He was the significant difference between the sides in the first period. France had galloped away to a 10-0 lead after nine minutes with a Maxime Médard try when Nick De Luca was turned over in a dump of a tackle followed by a conversion from Morgan Parra and a dropped goal by François Trinh-Duc.
Yet Scotland had cantered back into it when Alastair Kellock drove low and hard through a pile of bodies after his second-row mate Richie Gray had been prominent in the build-up. The conversion by Dan Parks brought Scotland to within three points of France at 10-7.
If truth be told, France were a little better value for their points because there were a number of occasions when profligacy or a lack of care saw them cough up ball, but the game was nicely poised as it ticked into its second quarter.
Enter Domingo, hoping to profit from a strong scrummaging position deep inside Scotland’s 22 to the right of the posts.
Three times Domingo went down to pack against Euan Murray and three times Domingo’s superiority was so complete Murray had to slip and fall away to concede a penalty.
At the fourth scrum Domingo himself accidentally lost his footing, but on the fifth referee Wayne Barnes was so upset with Murray that he awarded France the penalty try.
Domingo, red-faced and breathing heavily, grinned all the way back to the halfway line accompanied by fawning team-mates. The entire sequence lasted four minutes and encapsulated why the game’s authorities are so keen to sort this mess out. Four minutes of collapses and resets.
Four minutes of 14 players and 80,000 spectators watching two packs of forwards trying to make the unintelligible comprehensible.
But the strange thing, too, was that Domingo was so self-evidently a supreme craftsman that it carried with it a macabre fascination.
Scotland struggled a little after that, never getting close enough to France to put the frighteners on them, which was a shame because they played with far more purpose and pace than usual.
Scotland opened up from the kick-off and for the rest of the match tried to send men down the wide channels outside the French blitz defence. When they managed to flood that space they were effective.
Hugo Southwell and both wings led sorties and there were some neat exchanges involving De Luca and Joe Ansbro. But, even at their most potent, there was always a sense that France were playing within themselves.
That’s the worrying aspect for the other teams yet to face France. They seem to have the urge back and that coupled with the talent they always possess makes them very formidable indeed.
This was the France of old, a team who pushed all the buttons. Although their scrummage was formidable, their line-out solid, France did not just play tight and mean. Aurélien Rougerie was very influential in the centre and both half backs mixed up tempo and strategy.
As ever, France set great store on winning the one-on-one collisions but there was far greater fluency and knowingness abut their rugby here. They looked as if they knew how to play again.
Scotland did well to stick as close to France as they did. Ten minutes into the second half when Imanol Harinordoquy made the most of another turnover, cantering over for a try after a diagonal run from 40 metres out, it appeared they would be on the end of a right old hiding.
And that impression wasn’t altered by the sight of Parra and Harinordoquy leaving the pitch to be replaced by Dimitri Yachvili and Sebastien Chabal. But Scotland scored themselves within five minutes through Kelly Brown, confirming the belief that sides built by Andy Robinson never give up easily.
It was tit for tat after that. Damien Traille pushed France further out in front before Sean Lamont had the last laugh with the final try of the contest. I say last laugh, but it was the French who had the smiles.
They knew they had laid down an important marker, knew, too, that this is a squad capable of taking on the best. France are bubbling again, and if you like your rugby, you should be mighty happy for them.

 Paul Ackford, Daily Telegraph.

Wales 19 England 26

Land of Hope and Glory ? Yes, why not? Delighted England fans certainly thought so as they streamed out of the Millennium Stadium on Friday night, victory over Wales already putting their side in the driving seat for Six Nations honours and suffusing dreams with thoughts of World Cup honours. This was a defining moment.

England have proved poor travellers in the Six Nations and this was a performance that silences any doubts about their ability to deliver under duress and on the road. They will carry that feel-good vibe with them to New Zealand in September. They have three championship games in a row at Twickenham now. Who could blame their supporters if they were already eyeing that final day showdown with Ireland?

This was England’s first win in Cardiff in eight years, their 2003 victory here prefacing something rather notable later that year. This side may lack the clout and consistency of that World Cup-winning team but they are a gathering force. There is an evident sense of togetherness, a hard-nosed desire to tough it out as they did in the final stages. They have a notable cutting edge, too, in Northampton wing, Chris Ashton who scored two trademark tries to take his tally to five in the last seven tests. Anything is possible when you have a finisher of that quality.

There is a growing maturity, too, in the play of fly-half Toby Flood, who directed his line well and who is proving every

As for Wales, where do they go now? A crisis is looming as their run without a win stretches to eight matches. That record is becoming a millstone. It could drag Wales back into the dark days. True, they were nuggety and zealous but they lacked penetration. Too often they ran across the field and not at England. Scrum-half Mike Phillips also had a wayward game. Wales travel to Murrayfield with desperation in their eyes. How they need a win.
Their discipline also let them down when it mattered, prop Craig Mitchell falling foul of referee, Alain Rolland, when diving over the top and ending up in the sin-bin. England scored ten points in his absence, Ashton nabbing his second just before his return in the 56th minute. That was effectively game over, 23-9 with just over twenty minutes to run. Wales could only manage three points when England lock, Louis Deacon was yellow carded just before half-time.
That ruthlessness, that ability to deliver when it matters, will stand England in good stead. There are flaws there still. The midfield play was clunky at times, Shontayne Hape looking out of sorts. Yet still they managed to contrive scores from scant opportunities.
Ashton’s first owed everything to his own finely-tuned radar but more especially to Flood’s eagled-eyed vision. The Leicester man had a fly-half’s dream set-up in front of him, two props in opposition. Flood didn’t waste it, scampering between the pair of them in 14th minute and finding Ashton, the poacher supreme on his inside shoulder. He knows where that try-line is does Ashton, rounding things off with a flamboyant dive.
England’s forward platform was telling, the lineout in particular earning its spurs. Stade Francais lock, Tom Palmer, continues to grow in stature. He made the initial dent from where Mark Cueto eventually threw the floated pass for Ashton’s second try. England barely noticed the absence of three front-line forward through injury.
England knew that they had to strip the match back to its basics: be direct, be accurate and silence that crowd. They did just that for long stretches, only allowing Wales a sniff in the final quarter.
The streets were thronged, the mood intoxicating and the clamour deafening. This was to be a test of character as much as of skill. Heart and soul still count for as much as muscle and bone.
There were errors in their game but Wales simply did not take advantage, James Hook and Stephen Jones missing two early penalties.
England would not have wished for the beating handed out before Christmas by South Africa but it was a salutary experience. It reminded them of the need to front-up first and foremost. It’s invariably a game of inches not yards, a battle for control of the gain line. Gradually, England asserted their might. Their pack laid firm foundations.
Wales eventually had to chance their arm, and they did. Mind you, poor England defence from Shontayne Hape helped as Jones’s beautifully weighted pass beat the England centre allowing Jonathan Davies to put Morgan Stoddart in for a try on the hour. Jones converted to reduce the gap to seven points.
It was nail-biting stuff. Wilkinson replaced Flood, James Hook moved to fly-half for Wales and slotted a goal when Hape offended. 23-19, and the tension soaring with ten minutes remaining.
Wilkinson, though, eased worries.
There is a growing maturity, too, in the play of fly-half Toby Flood, who directed his line well and who is proving every bit a reassuring presence as one Jonny Wilkinson did.

Flood didn’t fluff a kick, scoring 13 points, Wilkinson closing out proceedings four minutes from time with his only pot at goal, just the tonic as things got decidedly jittery. There was a terrific debut from Northampton flanker, Tom Wood, and the perfect riposte from hooker, Dylan Hartley, who had been singled out for criticism by Wales coach, Warren Gatland. Hartley didn’t miss a beat. It was a quality showing on his part.

There may not have been the sweep and majesty of the Australia game on view, little sustained fluency and carefree devil, but England managed to face down the hype and hoopla. That is no small achievement in a Six Nations context. They have character and a sense of defiance in their ranks. They didn’t attempt to play down the magnitude of the occasion, backing themselves to rise to the challenge. That’s a sure sign of a team in a good place, at ease with themselves and with each other.

By Mick Cleary.  Daily Telegraph