Unpublished Review of Round 4 of the 6N, with a view to the 2015 World Cup

This is an unpublished review I wrote on last weekend's games with a view to the World Cup. It's for a general sport section, so isn't too detailed in the points it makes, but debate is always welcome!


As the ashes of the fourth weekend of the 2014 Six Nations settle, all eyes look toward the next round and the conclusion of the tournament. When the bruised bodies and heaving lungs are given respite, when a new champion has been crowned, each nation will begin their preparations for the World Cup, now only eighteen months away, in earnest.

Ireland v Italy

Whilst Ireland will be without their midfield talisman come the World Cup, they have grown under the tutorage of Joe Schmidt and, tentatively, appear to be realising the potential that neither Eddie O’Sullivan nor Declan Kidney could fully realise when key players were in their prime.
Brian O’Driscoll’s final home game for his country saw a comprehensive destruction of Italy: they won 75% possession and 79% territory, scoring seven tries. The replacements maintained the intensity set by the starters, an encouraging sign of team ethic and strength in depth. Even the scrum- for so long a weakness of the side- is now an aggressive asset.
There is a fragility in the side; had Andrew Trimble not scored before half time, Ireland would have had a three point lead at the interval for total dominance. Better teams will not be as forgiving as Italy, who capitulated under the fervour of the Dublin crowd roaring on the mercurial thirteen in the second half.  
The two close defeats to New Zealand in the past two years come to mind. If Ireland pair accuracy with their current intensity and desire to move the ball, they will become genuinely competitive with the very best on a regular basis.
For Italy, it seems to be a frequent pattern of progression followed by regression. Last season’s positivity, with victories over Ireland and France, is almost certain to be followed by a whitewash this season and the Wooden Spoon.
Sergio Parisse was conspicuous in his absence, and though the Italians were steadfast and dedicated- their 208 tackles is the most by one team in a Six Nations game- they need to find half backs and a twelve capable of delivering good ball to their promising three quarters.
Ireland ought to claim the title in Paris, whilst Italy, always a more difficult prospect at home, are unlikely to be on the end of a similar hammering against England, but have little chance of defeating them for the first time.

Scotland v France

To put it simply, Scotland threw this game away.
Scott Johnson’s schizophrenic selection may have been to challenge complacency, but in essence has more likely undermined the players’ confidence, not least his captain, Kelly Brown. This was a game that Scotland lost due to lack of conviction and the experience of putting away a team as reputable as France.
There is quality in the Scottish side; the midfield of Matt Scott and Alex Dunbar, the back row, Ryan Grant at loosehead, and the brilliant Stuart Hogg, occasionally filling in as a second five eighth, as he did for his try, were all impressive. Yet most impressive was the dominance Scotland had up front, the typically dogged Jim Hamilton joined by Richie Gray in enforcing the forays their back row made over the French gainline. The scrum, too, outmuscled the French front five on occasion.
Yet they allowed France to stay in the game with their inability to, initially, field and clear kicks- with France taking the penalties that followed- before the devastating fourteen point swing as Yoann Huget ran in an intercept try as Scotland seemed certain to score. Though a more adept fly-half would not have gone for the missed pass, instead trusting the men outside him, Scotland do not possess one; Duncan Weir is limited but decent, and is likely to retain the shirt for the foreseeable future.
For France, selection has been even more confusing. The makeshift backrow was comprehensively outplayed by the Scots. There were signs of flair from Brice Dulin and Huget, but this French team is typified by Mathieu Basteraud: big, laborious, predictable, and seemingly disinterested for large periods of the game. Yet occasionally they are effective, as they showed in rallying for the final surge that led to their winning penalty in the dying minutes.
Incredibly, France still retain a slim chance of winning the tournament if they beat Ireland. There is, then, an element of progress for the side that propped up the table last year. Phillip Saints-Andre has a serious battle against the cosmopolitan composition and power of the Top 14 clubs, yet the non-selection of the talented Morgan Parra only serves to reinforce the cliché of the unpredictable French.
Scotland have a decent chance of beating Wales in the dead-rubber in Cardiff; Vern Cotter will take over a team with the green shoots of promise at the end of the season. Scott Johnson, ever courting controversy, may find his role as Director of Rugby brings him into conflict with the current Clermont coach, but that is a bridge yet to be crossed.
The French power and ability ought to see them regularly winning the tournament, and though this year’s will surely elude them, they could capitalise on Irish inexperience of winning crucial Test matches to conclude the tournament in second position.

England v Wales

In what could have been the game of the tournament, Wales saw their chances of a hat-trick of titles slip gently away.
England gained the bragging rights for a year, erasing the embarrassment of the demolition in Cardiff twelve months earlier. As dominant as England were, Wales conspired to repeat the mistakes they made in Ireland. Whilst England smashed everything in red, they also showed greater invention with ball in hand, offloading from the point of contact and nullifying the Welsh blitz defence.
Stuart Lancaster has built his squad without undue favouritism or pretension. The pack finally looks settled, one which- even shorn of Dan Cole, Alex Corbisiero, and the Vunipola brothers- could win a World Cup.
The backs outplayed their seemingly superior Welsh counterparts, which is a testament to the work of the forwards. Yet there is the sense that the likes of Jonny May, Billy Twelvetrees, and Exeter’s Jack Nowell may not be starting in the side in eighteen months: in part due to the competition Lancaster has facilitated with his competitive selection policy.
The true test for the backs will be against the liberated and more talented footballers of New Zealand, Australia and, increasingly, South Africa. The player depth- but more importantly belief- is now there for England.
Wales can view the loss in several ways. The effect of the Lions tour can be cited, both in terms of the player fatigue and a demystification of Warren Gatland’s tactics. So, too, could the turmoil surrounding domestic Welsh rugby, or the drop in form and fitness of their French-based contingent. Even the scrum, so utterly dominant over the last few seasons, now creaks under the new laws; though Wales appeared on top, referee Roman Poite refused to acknowledge their forward thrust, and penalised them repeatedly.
Though the Welsh front three will contest his interpretation, they must be criticised for their lack of tact- and David Wilson perhaps praised for his- in not amending the way they attacked the set piece.
It was the same dull naivety from Wales that allowed Danny Care to score one of the softest international tries you may ever witness. The experience is there for Wales, but not the performances.
Wales needed a dreadful Six Nations in 2011 to justify the reinvention they underwent prior to the World Cup later that year, when they went on the reach the semi-final. It is possible Gatland has treated this year’s tournament with one eye on the future.
Whilst they are not as desperate as three years ago a mild evolution of style and selection must occur. Gatland could do well to give an opportunity to the bull-like Samson Lee at tighthead, whilst there are two scrum halves at Parc y Scarlets- Rhodri Williams and Gareth Davies- arguably in better form than Rhys Webb.
The Welsh public has been patient during Gatland’s reign. Despite the success, they still clamour for fast hands and tries, and Wales must produce them against Scotland if they are to retain their fervent support, especially as England will surely be sitting at the top of the Six Nations table when that game takes place.

As the penultimate Six Nations before the World Cup draws to a close, Ireland and England, the latter the hosts of the 2015 tournament, have set a marker down, despite only one of them able to win this year’s trophy on Saturday. Amidst a Welsh anti-climax, Scotland have progressed, finally scoring the tries that may stop them heralding false dawns, a luxury Italy can only aspire to after their disappointing campaign. And the French? Seemingly as willing as ever to live up to their stereotype as an enigma, who, unbelievably, can still wrap up the season with the title.

The mark of a great team is that they keep winning while playing badly….are the French flattering to deceive, will they cream the irish, win the title and make ALL the teams, except Wales who beat them, look like pate de canard.

I canard see it to be honest  

very well written and well thought out. Nice article and can't find anything with which I disagree (the obvious mark of a brilliant article!).
Would like to see the one you write after the final weekend.

Top marks Miaow!

More please