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Does Six Nations’ final-round points bonanza herald new dawn for Europe? Does Six Nations’ final-round points bonanza herald new dawn for Europe?
(about 2 hours later)
Some England players showed their frustration at missing out on the Six Nations title for a fourth successive season, a period when their cumulative record is as good as Wales’ and much better than Ireland’s – the two countries who have won the championship since the last World Cup – by accusing Italy and Scotland of not fronting up on the final weekend.Some England players showed their frustration at missing out on the Six Nations title for a fourth successive season, a period when their cumulative record is as good as Wales’ and much better than Ireland’s – the two countries who have won the championship since the last World Cup – by accusing Italy and Scotland of not fronting up on the final weekend.
England were not complaining last year after a comfortable 20-0 victory at Murrayfield, one that would have been greater but for the worm-infested surface that made it heavy-going underfoot, nor did they accuse Italy of capitulating on the final day in 2014 having enjoyed a 41-point romp in Rome, although the margin was not enough to require Ireland to do more than win in Paris later in the day to finish top.England were not complaining last year after a comfortable 20-0 victory at Murrayfield, one that would have been greater but for the worm-infested surface that made it heavy-going underfoot, nor did they accuse Italy of capitulating on the final day in 2014 having enjoyed a 41-point romp in Rome, although the margin was not enough to require Ireland to do more than win in Paris later in the day to finish top.
At least Italy are consistent: they lost to Wales by 41 points at home on Saturday, a margin which again was not quite enough to deny Ireland the title. In their two games in Edinburgh and Rome last season, England amassed 72 points; this year Ireland totalled 66 against the pair on the road. The difference between the top two this year was not how many they piled up against the bottom two – England, with home advantage, held sway 72-66, but the outcome when they met at the Aviva Stadium. At least Italy are consistent: they lost to Wales by 41 points at home on Saturday, a margin which again was not quite enough to deny Ireland the title. In their two games in Edinburgh and Rome last season, England amassed 72 points; this year Ireland totalled 66 against the pair on the road. The difference between the top two this year was not how many they piled up against the bottom two – England, with home advantage, held sway 72-66 but the outcome when they met at the Aviva Stadium.
Italy offered more resistance against Wales than they had against England the year before when the contest was over before the break, but more ire seemed to be directed at Scotland, as if they took consolation in defeat through England not winning the title. Italy offered more resistance against Wales than they had against England the year before when the contest was over before the break but more ire seemed to be directed at Scotland, as if they took consolation in defeat through England not winning the title.
Scotland, like Italy, were beaten by a considerably better team and there was no consolation for them as a campaign that started with a measure of optimism ended in whitewash. Avoiding the wooden spoon was their priority, not denying England the title, and they had hardly given up at the end against Ireland with Stuart Hogg denied a try by Jamie Heaslip’s pertinacity.Scotland, like Italy, were beaten by a considerably better team and there was no consolation for them as a campaign that started with a measure of optimism ended in whitewash. Avoiding the wooden spoon was their priority, not denying England the title, and they had hardly given up at the end against Ireland with Stuart Hogg denied a try by Jamie Heaslip’s pertinacity.
England’s disappointment was understandable because there was very little separating them from Ireland and Wales. Any of those three teams would have been worthy winners, and in former times they would have shared the trophy. Ireland, although outwitted in Cardiff, were the most consistent of the trio, conceding three tries in the tournament compared to Wales’ eight and England’s 11. For all the flow of a thrilling final day, the Six Nations was won by the team with the meanest defence, as it was the year before when Ireland let in four tries.England’s disappointment was understandable because there was very little separating them from Ireland and Wales. Any of those three teams would have been worthy winners, and in former times they would have shared the trophy. Ireland, although outwitted in Cardiff, were the most consistent of the trio, conceding three tries in the tournament compared to Wales’ eight and England’s 11. For all the flow of a thrilling final day, the Six Nations was won by the team with the meanest defence, as it was the year before when Ireland let in four tries.
The explosion of movement on the final day, when offloads abounded and space, rather than contact, was sought and found, begged the question why so much of what had gone on before had been risk averse and unspectacular. Did it herald a new dawn?The explosion of movement on the final day, when offloads abounded and space, rather than contact, was sought and found, begged the question why so much of what had gone on before had been risk averse and unspectacular. Did it herald a new dawn?
In a word, no. Wales’ second-half spree in Rome meant Ireland had to think about more than setting a target for England, who in turn needed to defeat France by a margin they had only achieved once in the tournament since the econd world war. Necessity became the mother and father of invention. In a word, no. Wales’ second-half spree in Rome meant Ireland had to think about more than setting a target for England, who in turn needed to defeat France by a margin they had only achieved once in the tournament since the second world war. Necessity became the mother and father of invention.
Were England and France to meet in the World Cup semi-final in October it is highly unlikely that Jules Plisson, or whoever is wearing No10 for Les Bleus, would be seen flicking out a Hail Mary pass inside his own half with less than a minute on the clock. Were England and France to meet in the World Cup semi-finals in October it is highly unlikely that Jules Plisson, or whoever is wearing No10 for Les Bleus, would be seen flicking out a Hail Mary pass inside his own half with less than a minute on the clock.
What the weekend did show was that Wales and Ireland can play, in the words of a football manager, with the handbrake off. A weakness of Wales over the years against opponents above them in the world rankings is that they have tended to score in multiples of three, unable to create tries at decisive moments against the likes of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, unlike their opponents. What the weekend did show was that Wales and Ireland can play, in the words of a football manager, with the handbrake off. A weakness of Wales over the years against opponents above them in the world rankings is that they have tended to score in multiples of three, unable to create tries at decisive moments against the likes of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
New Zealand have perennially shown that there is more than one way to play and Wales have in Rhys Webb a scrum-half who scents opportunity, and in Scott Williams they have a clever runner who, like Jonathan Joseph, seems to be able to step at pace without decelerating. One question for the head coach, Warren Gatland, is whether to persist with Leigh Halfpenny at full-back or move him to the wing. New Zealand have perennially shown there is more than one way to play and Wales have in Rhys Webb a scrum-half who scents opportunity, and in Scott Williams they have a clever runner who, like England’s Jonathan Joseph, seems to be able to step at pace without decelerating. One question for the head coach, Warren Gatland, is whether to persist with Leigh Halfpenny at full-back or move him to the wing.
Liam Williams moved from the wing to full-back at the end of the first-half in Rome when Halfpenny again suffered concussion after tackling a runaway forward head on and getting his body position wrong. His value to Wales as one of the most accurate goal-kickers in the game is considerable, and those who say Owen Farrell will not start another game for England at outside-half are forgetting the importance of goal-kicking in the latter stages of a World Cup. But Gatland has to consider whether the player’s career would be extended by moving to the wing, where he won his first cap. Liam Williams moved from the wing to full-back at the end of the first half in Rome when Halfpenny again suffered concussion after tackling a runaway forward head on and getting his body position wrong. His value to Wales as one of the most accurate goal-kickers in the game is considerable, and those who say Owen Farrell will not start another game for England at fly-half are forgetting the importance of goal-kicking in the latter stages of a World Cup. Gatland, however, has to consider whether the player’s career would be extended by moving to the wing, where he won his first cap.
In Webb and the two Williams, Wales have players who deal in tries. In Dan Biggar, surely the most improved player of this year’s Six Nations, they have a conductor and in Jonathan Davies and George North they have three-quarters of the highest quality. Which is not to forget Jamie Roberts, who helped re-establish equilibrium after the opening night defeat to England. There was a time not so long ago when Wales looked to have few options beyond their starting 15, but Gatland will have a problem of who to leave out come the end of August. In Webb and the two Williamses, Wales have players who deal in tries. In Dan Biggar, surely the most improved player of this year’s Six Nations, they have a conductor and in Jonathan Davies and George North they have three-quarters of the highest quality. Which is not to forget Jamie Roberts, who helped re-establish equilibrium after the opening night defeat to England. There was a time not so long ago when Wales looked to have few options beyond their starting 15 but Gatland will have a problem of who to leave out come the end of August.
So will Stuart Lancaster, who for all the despair at missing out on the Six Nations yet again on the final day, should be satisfied with the way his side has developed since the opening two weeks of the November internationals when they looked tactically adrift. The emergence of George Ford has given them a sharper attacking edge; Jack Nowell’s second try against France, which gave his side five minutes to win the Six Nations, was typical of the Bath outside-half who delayed his pass to the point where Nowell had a hole, rather than an opponent, to run through. So will Stuart Lancaster who, for all the despair at missing out on the Six Nations yet again on the final day, should be satisfied with the way his side have developed since the opening two weeks of the November internationals when they looked tactically adrift. The emergence of George Ford has given them a sharper attacking edge; Jack Nowell’s second try against France, which gave his side five minutes to win the Six Nations, was typical of the Bath outside-half who delayed his pass to the point where Nowell had a hole, rather than an opponent, to run through.
England scored 18 tries, their most in the Six Nations since 2003, but they conceded a record number, 11, beating the nine they leaked in 2007. Both figures reflected the way they played, and the notion that Farrell will never start again for England at No10 ignores not only the vicissitudes of form – Ben Youngs was playing for Leicester during last year’s Six Nations when Danny Care was deemed to be a central figure for England – but also circumstance. The future is another story. England scored 18 tries – their most in the Six Nations since 2003 – but they conceded a record number, 11, beating the nine they leaked in 2007. Both figures reflected the way they played, and the notion that Farrell will never start again for England at No10 ignores not only the vicissitudes of form – Ben Youngs was playing for Leicester during last year’s Six Nations when Danny Care was deemed to be a central figure for England – but also circumstance. The future is another story.
• This is an extract taken from the Guardian’s weekly rugby union email, the Breakdown. To subscribe, just visit this page, find ‘The Breakdown’ and follow the instructions.• This is an extract taken from the Guardian’s weekly rugby union email, the Breakdown. To subscribe, just visit this page, find ‘The Breakdown’ and follow the instructions.