| Scotland throw Six Nations wide open
By
Gareth Makim
The touch paper has been lit. The supposed minnows of the tournament were
the stars of a weekend that saw the Six Nations splutter and then
explode into life. Italy and Scotland proved that they should be written
off at their peril and both could very easily be sitting at the top of
the pile going into this weekend’s vital second fixtures.
The pre-game fireworks were for once overshadowed at Murrayfield, where
80 minutes of enthralling action saw Scotland defy the form-book by
ending favourites France’s Grand Slam hopes.
Playing a simple brand of rugby centred around their strengths — strong
set-pieces and exquisite rucking and mauling — Frank Hadden’s men
thoroughly outplayed the French for 60 minutes before two late tries
gave Les Bleus the chance to steal victory.
England, though, sit on top after a one-sided win over champions Wales
at Twickenham. The 47-13 scoreline flattered the hosts a little, but the
English pack showed the same ability to dominate that we saw against
Australia in the autumn and are ominously growing in confidence without
being on top of their game yet.
Wales, despite their injuries, tried to play the same open rugby that
took them to the Grand Slam, but Mike Ruddock’s side were, apart from
Martyn Williams first-half try, unable to puncture the disciplined
English defence.
Ireland, for their part, looked tense and somewhat hesitant against the
vastly improved Italians at Lansdowne Road and were fortunate to come
away with a win.
There was a clear plan to run every slice of possession, an admirable
declaration of intent from Eddie O’Sullivan, but Ireland were far too
predictable and the Italians easily dealt with most of what was thrown
their way, leaving the home side looking bereft of ideas.
Indeed it was the much-pilloried Italian three-quarters, marshalled by
the excellent Ramiro Pez, who often looked the more dangerous attacking
units.
From one to 10, Ireland did barely enough to win the game. Paul
O’Connell was magnificent, creating Ireland’s first try and offering the
leadership that had been missing from the pack during the autumn
internationals against Australia and New Zealand, and Ronan O’Gara’s
tactical kicking was again the best part of his game.
Hooker Jerry Flannery recovered from a shaky start to cap a decent debut
with a try and some useful contributions around the field, while David
Wallace improved as the game wore on.
Looking ahead to the trip to Paris this Saturday, O’Sullivan has some
big calls to make. The back row lacked balance and will require a
reshuffle should Denis Leamy be suspended and Malcolm O’Kelly will be
pushed hard for his second-row place by Donnacha O’Callaghan.
Ireland will have to vary their game plan and will no doubt take heart
from the success Scotland had attacking the French midfield. Without
star centre Yannick Jauzion, who remains on the sidelines this weekend,
the combination of out-half Frederic Michalak and inside-centre Ludovic
Valbon was highly vulnerable and should be attacked early on by the
likes of David Wallace and Gordon D’Arcy.
Ireland must also hope that the French handling is as poor as it was
against Scotland, where barely a phase of possession was completed
without the ball going to ground.
Much also depends on the well-worn cliché of suspect French
temperaments, but our best hope may lie in French heads dropping in the
face of early Irish pressure. Otherwise, we could be lambs to the
slaughter as the French seek retribution for their Scottish debacle in
front of their home fans.
|
