Scotland 15 England 15

The Six Nations game between Scotland and England at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, on Saturday, March 13 2010.

The closest of games. If you like your sport taut and tense, if you like passion and commitment and the intense physical brutality which is international rugby these days, then Murrayfield was the place for you.

It was a no-holds barred, compelling contest. But when the bruises begin to subside, both teams will reflect on a missed opportunity.

England, whose title aspirations were all but extinguished by the draw, yet again had real difficulty finishing promising overtures and Scotland still have to win a game in this Six Nations.

The final seconds were almost too tight to watch as Toby Flood, on for an injured Jonny Wilkinson, fired and missed at a long-range shot at goal with the scores level, and it was Flood again whose drop-kick failed to clear rushing Scotland defenders in the final play of the game.

Who knows what would have happened if Wilkinson had been on the pitch in those dying minutes, but I fancy it is highly unlikely that he would have let slip two separate chances for victory.

Scotland would have been entirely justified to cry foul if England had snatched a result. Dan Parks twice hit the posts with penalty shots and referee Marius Jonker was incredibly lenient with England players who killed a lot of ball at the breakdown.

Jonker warned England captain Steve Borthwick three times but declined to send any miscreant to the sin bin. Compared to what has happened elsewhere in this absorbing Six Nations, where players have been binned in a blink of an eye, England were very, very luck indeed.

As for progress? Not much. Neither side can feel content with the result. Murrayfield is traditionally one of the unkindest venues for visiting England teams but that does not excuse their failure to disrupt Scotland.

Towards the end when an avalanche of replacements had entered the fray, England opened up but they were often second best at the primary collisions, their penalty count was too high and the error rate is still not acceptable.

That said, Mark Cueto had a fine match and Ben Foden showed once more that he should be starting England matches, not coming on midway through the contest.

Scotland, too, are no further forward in terms of honing an attacking edge. Their commitment was laudable and their back row grows in stature almost by the minute, but breaks that Chris Cusiter made in the second half have to be finished off.

It was clear from the start that the enmity that has disfigured this fixture over the years was still very much in evidence. The England replacements were subjected to a fusillade of jeers as they tried to keep warm in the in-goal areas and Wilkinson had to take his penalty shots accompanied by a chorus of booing, although there was scattered applause when he went off injured four minutes into the second half.

On the pitch, too, there was the odd skirmish. On the half hour Dylan Hartley was ticked off by referee Jonker after the England hooker had taken exception to a spot of face-pushing by his opposite number, and we were treated to the extraordinary sight of England skipper Steve Borthwick pointing his finger and dissing Scotland captain Chris Cusiter in a break in play. It was all very unedifying.

And all this during a first half which was funereally slow for long passages. England were twice asked to hurry up at the lineout and Delon Armitage, amongst others, seemed to take an age before executing simple clearance kicks from penalties.

Perversely, the dynamic of the match created a curious excitement because when the action switched to fast forward, largely it has to be said when Scotland were attacking, it seemed more frenetic because of the contrast to what had gone on before.

Scotland ended the half 9-6 in front, which was a fair reflection of their effort. Both centres made occasional incursions behind England’s first line of defence, when Mathew Tait and Riki Flutey slipped off tackles, and there was huge industry across Scotland’s back row which clattered into the bigger, bulkier England forwards as they tried to put pace on the game.

However, Scotland’s main tactic early in the match, the wide, hanging kick from Parks, designed to bewitch England’s back three, was a conspicuous failure. England dealt with that well and there were moments when Wilkinson tried to find Ugo Monye, and, later, Armitage, when England looked dangerous.

Their concern, though, was the number of penalties they were forced to concede to protect their try line and the odd handling error, with Louis Deacon at fault on one occasion, which disrupted their rhythm.

England were better at the start of the second period. Mark Cueto, James Haskell, Joe Worsley and Dan Cole combined well in a raid which took England deep into Scotland’s 22 and created the pressure which led to Wilkinson banging over his third penalty to tie the scores at 9-9, but they were never dominant enough or controlled enough to shake off Scotland.

And that was the context of the final quarter as both sides strove to secure the decisive opening. Flood missed and landed penalties, as did Parks, both men serving only to ratchet up the tension by keeping the scores close.

There was also drama of a more unsavoury nature when Kelly Brown clashed heads with Monye, which resulted in the England winger leaving the field on a stretcher, head clamped in a neck brace.

That particular episode caused England to bring on Ben Youngs, a scrum-half by trade, and station him on the wing, but by this time the battle was so brutal, the carnage so complete, that both sides had all but emptied their replacements’ bench.

And maybe that is the final memory to take away from the contest. In the end neither side had the wherewithal to outwit the other. All they could do was hurl bodies into battle.

Ireland 27 Wales 12

The Six Nations game between Ireland and Wales at Croke Park, Dublin, on Saturday, March 13 2010.

Not the cracker anticipated, instead a comfortable, simple and efficient victory for Ireland in a low-octane match. They did not play particularly well and still won easily: that is never a satisfying spectacle for anyone, especially when a southern hemisphere referee, Craig Joubert, is also making a series of befuddling decisions. So if this was something of a disappointment to the expectant hordes gathered for Brian O'Driscoll's 100th Ireland cap, it was much more than that for Wales.

It was, quite simply, horrible for them. They are now in serious trouble. They are a side that has gone precisely nowhere in this championship. They were extremely fortunate to beat Scotland and a victory over Italy at home next weekend will prove nothing. They did not even especially entertain yesterday: no tries tells a story. The self-publicised `Welsh Way' meant only meandering imprecision and, ultimately, defeat.

Some familiar failings resurfaced: a misfiring, unreliable line-out, a lack of physicality at the breakdown and, most damagingly, poor discipline, a yellow card for Lee Byrne meaning two tries were scored in his absence. Wales were fortunate actually that Jonathan Sexton had a shocker with the boot. The scoreboard might have got very messy otherwise.

Surprisingly, Wales, through Bradley Davies, Jamie Roberts and, occasionally, Gareth Delve, probably crossed the gain-line more often they had all season. The problem was that they could not then do anything with such positions. Support was lacking, quick ball a rarity.

Wales's only hint at a true positive was another excellent performance from young Davies. He is rapidly growing into a lock of some stature. But even he departed injured before the end. So did skipper-for-the-day Martyn Williams. But he was substituted after another below-par effort. His standards are, of course, very high, but you fear for him now. Father Time does not spare even the greats.

As he won't O'Driscoll. Not yet, though, even if he was quiet yesterday; his hands full in defence against Roberts and with rarely an opportunity to attack. He even fluffed a kick badly late on. It was still a day to remember for him, though, and not just because he made one massive late hit on his Lions mate Roberts. He had entered the arena to a rousing, spine-tingling reception. He was not alone- two lucky young mascots accompanied him- but all eyes were on him. It is to his immense credit that there was so little fuss from the man himself. He is just not that type. He simply swung his arms around and waited for his team-mates to arrive. As simple as that.

Ireland's heroes lay elsewhere yesterday. Not Gordon D'Arcy, who departed early to a painful leg injury, but instead scrum-half Tomas O'Leary who had a quite superb match, capped by a first-half opportunist try but typified by an energy and spark that Wales could not match. Lock Paul O'Connell gave a towering performance in both the tight and the loose, Stephen Ferris provided further evidence of a well-earned world-class reputation and Keith Earls, emphasising Ireland's clinical edge in taking limited scoring opportunities, took his two adroitly. Sexton, however, went no further in deciding his personal duel with Ronan O'Gara. He made far too many mistakes, aside from his errant place-kicking. The jury remains out.

Not on Byrne, though. He was guilty, and Wales, as they have done so many times this season, paid dearly. Indeed his first-half sin-binning after a professional foul- slapping the ball out of O'Leary's hands from an offside position- saw 10 points conceded, as Ireland scored two neat tries. First was a snappy effort from Earls after O'Leary had taken a quick tap penalty and O'Driscoll had popped him through a gap with a lovely short pass. Then came an unexpected score for O'Leary after Wales had appeared to have snuffed out an Ireland driving line-out. But suddenly the Irish forwards wheeled open and O'Connell slipped a dextrous pass to O'Leary who screamed through the gaping hole. Leigh Halfpenny could not stop him.

From nip and tuck at 6-3 to the hosts, there was now the daylight of a 16-3 lead. Wales rallied valiantly upon Byrne's return, and Roberts might easily have crossed save for some excellent defence from O'Leary after good approach work from Delve, Davies and Matthew Rees. But they had to content themselves with a penalty. It was 16-6 at the break.

Wales began the second period promisingly. They pounded the Irish line and fancied their scrummage as a threat, as most sides do against Ireland. They even opted for it at a penalty award, but Ireland surprised everyone- prompting the biggest cheer of the afternoon- by pushing Wales off the ball and clearing their lines. It was a crucial moment. Wales never threatened seriously thereafter.

Byrne conceded another silly penalty- throwing the ball into the crowd to prevent a quick Irish throw and Sexton extended the lead. And then, after a Stephen Jones riposte- Wales' only source of points all afternoon- Earls scored his second try after a pre-planned back move appeared to falter but O'Leary looped around and sped through the gap. Desperate defence from Shane Williams was not enough as Earls rolled over and remained in control.

Jones kicked another penalty and Sexton dropped a goal but, in truth, the game could not end soon enough. Ireland's victory, but nobody's glory.

England 16 Ireland 20

The Six Nations game between England and Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday Feb 27, 2010.

A brace of tries by Tommy Bowe clinched a thrilling victory for Ireland at Twickenham as England crashed to their first defeat of the Six Nations championship.

England looked on course to land their third successive victory when Jonny Wilkinson put the home side in front for the first time in the match with a sweetly-stuck drop-goal in the 71st minute.

But Ireland lifted themselves for one last effort and Bowe scythed through the English defence from a superb line-out move for his second try just four minutes from time, with Ronan O’Gara adding the simple conversion.

The drama continued as England mauled their way towards the Irish line at the death, but some desperate defending by the reigning grand slam champion ensured Ireland held on for their sixth victory in their last seven meetings with the red rose side.

Ireland could not have asked for a more heartening opening after their comprehensive defeat in Paris, with Bowe winning the race to a perfectly-placed chip by Jonathan Sexton for a try in the fourth minute after Wilkinson had been turned over from an enveloping tackle by Keith Earls and Jamie Heaslip had sparked a rapier counter-attack.

And although England dominated possession in the opening exchanges, Ireland’s ability to poach ball at the breakdown frustrated the home side’s attacking ambitions.

Wilkinson, whose first penalty attempt rebounded off an upright, did land his second attempt to reduce the deficit but Ireland’s aggressive defence continued to blunt England’s cutting edge.

Their ability to stop England playing saw Ireland’s confidence grow. And after Sexton had slotted a 30th minute penalty following a second line-out steal, a thrilling counter-attack by Keith Earls almost culminated in a second try only for Danny Care to touch the ball down ahead of Jamie Heaslip.

Still, a second Wilkinson, albeit against the run of play, saw England trail by just two points at the break to leave the game perfectly poised.

Sexton and Wilkinson both missed difficult penalty attempts within the first three minutes of the restart before crucially a moment of indiscipline by Danny Care saw an English penalty reversed.

Sexton kicked superbly to the corner and after a strong drive by David Wallace, a flat pass by Sexton put Earls over in the corner in the 56th minute for a seven-point to Ireland.

Yet just as Ireland looked to have landed a decisive blow, a defensive lapse by the visitors from an England scrum allowed Care to attack the short side and force Earls concede five-metre scrum.

With a penalty already awarded after John Hayes had collapsed the scrum, Leicester prop Dan Cole forced his way from close range, with the television match official confirming the try under the posts in the 61st minute.

Wilkinson converted to level the scores and Ireland suffered a further blow when they lost their captain Brian O’Driscoll following an accidental knee to his head from his team-mate Paul O’Connell.

Wilkinson surprisingly missed penalty in the 66th minute but his drop-goal in the 71st minute nudged England in front for the first time in the match.

The momentum was all with England, but the final act went Ireland’s way as Bowe cut through a gap between Joe Worsley and Wilkinson after Tomas O’Leary got on the outside of England’s defence for the decisive blow.

Italy 16 Scotland 12

The Six Nations game between Italy and Scotland at the Stadio Flaminio, Rome, on Saturday Feb 27 2010.

Scotland are facing a Six Nations whitewash - their first in six years - after this dispiriting defeat in the Stadio Flaminio.

Showing none of the wit or urgency of their performance against Wales two weeks ago, they struggled to assert themselves, failed to control territory and deservedly fell to an Italy side that managed those aspects of the game particularly well.

As tense as it may have been, there was no mistaking that this was anything but a wooden spoon decider, as both sides responded to the glorious conditions with a stream of errors. As a consequence, neither team could control the patterns of play in the first half, as they all too often surrendered hard-won possession and territory with schoolboy mistakes.

Scotland slipped behind early, as two Mirco Bergamasco penalties gave Italy a 6-0 lead in the opening 15 minutes. However, Andy Robinson's side regrouped, drawing level with a brace of kicks by Dan Parks just after the half-hour mark. It was also around that point that the Scots began to play with the authority they had lacked earlier in the game, with raking kicks from fly-half Parks and full-back Hugo Southwell winning them the field positions they had previously struggled to gain.

Scotland's best chance of a try came just before half-time, but a glorious break by Johnnie Beattie was stopped by some cynical ball-killing by Italy flanker Josh Sole.

The offence merited a yellow card, but Sole escaped with a lecture from referee Dave Pearson, and Scotland did not even have the consolation of another three points as Parks sent the resultant penalty wide.

Bergamasco nudged Italy back in front with his third penalty just after the break, but the Scots responded with a powerful move that ended with Allan Jacobsen being thrust over the line. The television official ruled that he had been held up, but after a couple of scrums Parks struck a simple dropped goal to level the scores again.

A fourth Parks penalty put Scotland ahead for the first time in the 63rd, but Italy stunned the Scots with a try three minutes later, Pablo Canavosio diving over after a sizzling break by Gonzalo Canale. Bergamasco's conversion brought up the four-point winning margin and rubbed salty ignominy in Scotland's wounds.

Wales 20 France 26

The Six Nations Championship game between Wales and France at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Friday, Feb 26, 2010.

If only Wales would play for the full 80 minutes. For the second Six Nations game in succession they mounted the most stirring of comebacks but this time there was no fairytale ending, the sporting Gods were looking the other way, their benevolence exhausted.

Wales, in fact, played much better and for considerably longer last night than they did during their remarkable comeback win against Scotland but this time there was little tangible reward, only pride in a brave, if error strewn, performance as they tried to claw back 20 point half-time deficit.

There was also the consolation of yet another Shane Williams special, a magical jinking last-minute try by the Osprey on his 33rd birthday which took him to 19 Championship tries easing him past the previous Welsh record of Gareth Edwards. A moment enjoyed by all rugby fans regardless of allegiance.

Warren Gatland’s team tried to be positive in the first half but struggled against an exceptionally well organised France defence as Marc Lievremont’s side helped themselves to two interception tries, one for Alexis Palisson and a second for Francois Trinh-Duc.

It would be harsh to blame these purely on Welsh errors and explain the tries away as mere gifts to the French, they were the result of constant French pressure in defence and predatory instincts in attack on the rare occasions the opportunity to strike arose For 40 minutes France were in total control, containing Wales with something to spare and looking every bit Grand Slam champions elect.

They had quietened the crowd, which was some achievement on an unusually emotional evening which started with a minute’s silence for Cheryl Davies, the mother of Wales lock Bradley Davies, who died last week.

Her son, making his first ever start for Wales, looked to the heavens briefly and blinked back the tears as the silence meshed into applause before enjoying a fine game indeed being at the very heart of the Wales forward effort from start to finish. A fitting tribute.

Initially however it was all France with Morgan Parra also adding two well struck medium range penalties to augment the tries and spread gloom and despondency among the Welsh crowd. Only once before, against England, have Wales ever trailed by 20 points or more at half-time in a Six Nations game.

Palisson’s try had come from an over ambitious miss pass from James Hook to Jamies Roberts while Trinh-Duc’s effort came on the stroke of half-time after Williams had been scragged by Yannick Jauzion and, with Wales already playing catch-up, opted to try and keep the ball alive. Trinh-Duc read his mind, reached back athletically and was away up the touchline.

Wales looked dead and buried – a situation they seem to find strangely energising – and straight after the break they went to work with a will as they upped the pace, tapped a few penalties and started to turn that infuriating French swarm defence that had been stifling the life out of them. And, as they came under pressure, France started to transgress and panic. It was ever thus.

Stephen Jones got the crowd back on side with a brace of penalties, the first of which saw him surpass Neil Jenkins’ Welsh record of 406 Championshp points. He would have added a third but Wales, wanting to maintain momentum, spurned another three points to kick for a line-out five metres out. Lee Byrne alas kicked the ball dead, which seemed an omen at the time, but Wales soon recovered with a splendid sprinters try from Leigh Halfpenny, the Cardiff man winning the foot race after a quick-fire and very “flat” pass from Shane Williams.

Game on and if Jamie Roberts had spotted Hook steaming up alongside moments later when breaking downfield Wales could well have been on level terms. Instead it was the let off France badly needed to steady the ship and although down to 14 men after Parra had been sin-binned for a deliberate slap down, their defence regrouped. Freddie Michalak, on for Trinh-Duc and not the first man you would put your mortgage on in a crisis, eased the pressure with a penalty and the errant Parra returned to add a second.

France were home and hosed surely? But not quite. Williams struck in thrilling fashion – a highlights package of his greatest tries would be a guaranteed best seller – and we were back on familiar ground. 80 minutes were showing on the clock as France, leading by six points, were asked to restart the game by referee Jonathan Kaplan. Michalak knew exactly what was required and made sure his restart found touch.

The game was over. France, for the first time under Lievremont, had won three games in a row and with home games beckoning against Italy and England Le Grand Chelem is theirs to lose.
Match details

Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), R Rees (Cardiff Blues); P James (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt). Subs: L Charteris (N-G Dragons) for D Jones 24,

France: C Poitrenaud (Toulouse); J Malzieu (Clermont-Auvergne), M Bastareaud (Stade Français), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), A Palisson (Brive); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Parra (Clermont); T Domingo (Clermont), W Servat (Toulouse), N Maz (Perpignan), L Nallet (Racing Metro 92), J Pierre (Clermont-Auvergne), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), J Bonnaire (Clermont-Auvergne), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz).
Subs: D Szarzewski (Stade Français) for Servat 51, J-B Poux (Toulouse) for Domingo 54, F Michalak (Toulouse) for Trinh-Duc 64, S Chabal (Racing Metro 92) for Pierre 64
Referee: J Kaplan (South Africa).

Italy 12 England 17

The Six Nations game between Italy and England at the Stadio Flaminio, Rome, on Sunday Feb 14 2010.

Jonny Wilkinson, a long way from his best but on target when it counted at the death, won this drab encounter with a late drop goal but there was no glory for an England team who struggled, pitifully at times, to proudce any coherent rugby.

England went close in the opening minute of this Six Nations Championship clash when Ugo Monye chased Delon Armitage's grubber, but fine work from Tito Tebaldi saved Italy who went straight on the attack themselves, Australin Rugby League convert Craig Gower launching his backs with much more fluency than last week.

A speculative cross-field kick also nearly brought dividends with Gower picking out No 8 Alessandro Zanni on the right wing, the tall Treviso man outjumping Monye and going close before losing possession.

England weathered that storm and went upfield to open the scoring with a Jonny Wilkinson penalty, equalised moments later by Mirco Bergamsco, preffered as first-choice kicker ahead of Luke McLean.

Monye again threatened after a nicely timed intervention by Mark Cueto, but will be disappointed not to have got past covering centre Gonzalo Garcia as he tore down the left wing.

England were showing distressingly little composure and then, shock upon shock, Wilkinson missed two penalties in succession - the second from virtually in front of the posts.

As one wag commented: "Does anybody know what plan B is?"

A little harsh perhaps, but as England's confidence ebbed their main offensive weapon appeared to be prolonged bouts of meaningless aerial pingpong, at which the Italians were marginally best at returning.

Indeed, they moved upfield purposefully on a couple of occasions, and eventually forced England into conceding another penalty, which Mirco Bergamasco slotted from in front of the posts to give them an unlikely lead five minutes from half-time.

Italy probably deserved to lead at the break but as a tedious first-half ebbed away England perked up a little and a strong run from Flutey put them on the attack, forcing Italy to concede a penalty wide out on the right.

Wilkinson might have been forgiven for passing that one but stepped up to the plate and landed a fine touchline kick that went some way to settling frayed nevers a little.

The opening exchanges of the second half were equally tedious but England finall produced a classy passage to score through Matt Tait down the left wing, after Monye had broken through the first tackle.

Wilkinson, to more widepread disbelief, again missed a kick in front of the posts when attempting the conversion.

Still England struggled for any fluency but they were beginning to take a territorial stranglehold of the game and they extended their lead on the hour when Wilkinson, having just picked himself up gingerly after a heavy tackled, relocated the target and slotted over from 30 yards.

The departure of Martin Castrogiovanni for hands at a defensive ruck didn't help Italy, but they are nothing if not spirited and down to 14 men started to produce some of their best rugby, and were well rewardarded with a third penalty from Mirco Bergamasco.

England were nervy, Lewis Moody was very lucky indeed not to be yellow carded for taking out McLean in the air as he casually draped his arm around the full-back's throat, Bergamasco added a fourth penalty and suddenly England were struggling again.

It was time for route one, basic rugby and thankfully that's what they belatedly produced, working a position for Wilkinson to land a simple right-footed dropped goal.

Match details:

Italy XV: Luke McLean (Treviso); Andrea Masi (Racing Metro) Gonzalo Canale (Clermont), Gonzalo Garcia (Treviso), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais; Craig Gower (Bayonne), Tito Tebaldi (Gran Parma); Salvatore Perugini (Bayonne), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso, capt), Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester) Quintin Geldenhuys (Viadana), Marco Bortolami (Gloucester), Josh Sole (Viadana), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais) Alessandro Zanni (Treviso).
Replacements: Pablo Canavosio (Viadana) for Tebaldi (53), K Robertson (Viadana) for Masi (54), M Aguero for Castrogiovanni (70)
Pens: Mirco Bergamasco (4)

England XV: Delon Armitage (London Irish); M Cueto, M Tait (both Sale), R Flutey (Brive), U Monye (Harlequins); Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), Danny Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Haskell (Stade Francais), Lewis Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins)
Replacements: M Mullan (Worcester) for Payne (64), Louis Deacon for Shaw (67), D Wilson (Bath) for Cole (67), S Thompson (Brive), for Hartley (72), S Armitage (London Irish) for Moody (75)
Try: Matt Tait.
Pens: Wilkinson (3), Wilkinson (d/g)

Referee: C Berdos (France)

France 33 Ireland 10

The Six Nations game between France and Ireland at Stade de France, Paris, on Saturday Feb 13 2010.

A performance of blazing power from France, one to strike fear into the hearts of opponents still to face this formidable outfit.

This was several steps up from their game against Scotland because there was more variety, more physicality and more accuracy to their play, and because they were up against an Ireland team who had gone 12 successive games without a defeat.

At the end of this wonderful match, the French players declined to return to the sanctuary of their changing room, choosing instead to take a celebratory walk around the perimeter of the freezing stadium.

While their delight might be a touch overdone, given that this Six Nations is only two rounds down, if France play the way they did against Ireland in their remaining matches there is every chance that they will take over their mantle as Grand Slam champions.

It wasn’t that Ireland were off colour. Jamie Heaslip, Tommy Bowe, even Brian O‘Driscoll had their moments. It was just that France did not allow Ireland out of their box.

French discipline was good, their defence uncompromising, and they batted Ireland into submission in an opening quarter as physical and intense as I’ve witnessed in a long while.

That was not the whole story either. With Ireland punch drunk, France then decided to run at them, to play with width, to take risks and have fun. It was rugby as it should be played and it was bloody fantastic.

Any number of French players stood out. Imanol Harinordoquy was colossal in everything he did, the half backs controlled affairs with precision and poise, both props subdued the Irish front row, Mathieu Bastareaud and Yannick Jauzion made Brian O’Driscoll look ordinary, but it was the collective effort which took the breath away.

Apart from an indifferent line-out early in the first half, France were nigh on perfect in everything they did, including banging over some outrageous drop goals.

Quite where this defeat leaves Ireland is anyone’s guess. This was a big test for them.

Earlier in the week Paul O’Connell, captain of the Lions and a Grand Slam winner, said a victory in Paris would be a career highlight. Yet when the questions were asked, O’Connell, like the majority of his colleagues, could not deliver.

Beaten badly in the scrum, and unable to contain the power of France in contact, Ireland ran out of steam and ideas, and it will be interesting to see if they can bounce back against England at Twickenham on Saturday week.

My impression from this match is that Ireland are far from finished, that few teams could have coped with France on this form. England could get the backlash.

The first quarter was fascinating as the two big beasts of the championship sized each other up.

From very early on it was clear that this was not going to be a pretty spectacle. With both sides unbeaten in their opening encounters, there was plenty at stake. Yet the action was nothing less than compelling. Even from high up in the stand you could feel the crunches as the big men from both sides collided with sickening ferocity.

It was this area of the match, the control of the gain line, that France eventually dominated to close out the first half with a lead of 17-3.

France had their difficulties, notably when Gordon D’Arcy was unlucky with a bounce as he chased after a clever kick, but apart from the odd lapse, it was France who threatened more with their driving maul and superiority in the tackle.

And guess what? It was the French scrum, fast becoming a subject of national pride once again, which undermined Ireland. It was there that France had Ireland by the throat, there where they squeezed the life out of Ireland’s front five.

Cian Healey’s yellow card didn’t help Ireland’s cause much. Healey was sent to the bin for a trip on Morgan Parra as the French scrum-half tried to break free, but even with Healey on the field Ireland looked uncomfortable whenever the front rows clashed.

Healey was in the cooler when France opened their account. Four times Ireland had folded under scrum pressure, bringing the prospect of a penalty try ever closer, but from the fifth Harinordoquy found Julien Malzieu and the wing unloaded to hooker William Servat who crashed over for the sore.

That set up a rampant period for France because minutes later Yannick Jauzion squeezed over for France’s second try to put them 15-3 in front after half an hour.

Again, it was spawned in the cauldron of physicality when Bastareaud blasted through and over the first line of Ireland’s defence.

Ireland were on the rack after that and, though they did well to end the half camped on France’s line, a Paul O’Connell fumble meant that they ended the half with a solitary Ronan O’Gara penalty on the scoreboard.

Ireland did eventually claim that try when David Wallace went over late in the second period, after a break by O’Driscoll, but France were out of sight at that stage.

Clement Poitrenaud had added a third try and Parra and Frederic Michalak were banging over drop goals for fun.

And maybe that is the most disturbing aspect of this match for the rest of the Six Nations. It is years since France have played with this power and panache, years since they have had players in key position to give full expression to their talent.

Walking out into an icy Paris, it was impossible not to suspect that this French team can kick on to greatness. They were that special.

Wales 31 Scotland 24

The Six Nations game between Wales and Scotland at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday Feb 13 2010.

Wales snatched a dramatic Six Nations Championship victory in stoppage time with a try from Shane Williams.

A last minute penalty from Stephen Jones looked to have bagged a share of the spoils for Wales. But with the final play, Wales went the length of the field and Williams popped over for Jones to convert.

With both sides having been beaten in their opening fixtures last weekend, the second week of this season's campaign had taken on even greater importance.

However, in the end, it was Wales who came out on top and secured a remarkable victory.

A bout of aerial ping-pong and a succession of early penalties and free-kicks prevented the game from gathering any momentum in the early minutes.

However, the game sprung into life after eight minutes when Scotland flanker John Barclay shrugged off paper-thin tackles from James Hook and Gareth Cooper to cross for a try that Chris Paterson converted.

Uncertainty and inaccuracy in the Welsh midfield was proving Wales' Achilles Heel as Scotland did their bit to unsettle a side for whom little has gone right since the end of last season's Championship.

A penalty for collapsing the scrum after 15 minutes gave Stephen Jones the chance to cut the early deficit, but Wales conceded ground in the 17th minute and Dan Parks dropped a goal to restore Scotland's seven-point advantage.

Seven became 12 two minutes later when a wonderfully executed grubber kick from Parks saw replacement Max Evans collect and touch down for a try, less than four minutes after coming on as a replacement for blood victim and brother Thom.

Jones and Paterson swapped kicks shortly before the half hour mark and, after the former had wasted a chance to cut the deficit once again, Parks dragged a drop goal effort wide.

The loss to injury of Paterson (shoulder) and Thom Evans, who was carried from the field on a stretcher after collapsing in a heap in midfield, meant a serious reshuffle in the Scottish back line.

Wales bombed two golden opportunities in the final moments of the first half, but when referee George Clancy whistled up the Scots for collapsing a scrum in stoppage time, Jones kicked the ensuing penalty to leave Wales 18-9 down at the interval.

If the first half ended on a disappointing note for Scotland, the second began in perfect fashion with Parks converting a penalty after Byrne was penalised for holding on in the tackle.

The game might have been over a minute later had it not have been for a forward pass from Sean Lamont to Kelly Brown 30 metres from the Wales line.

Wales grew in confidence after that and when Shane Williams made his first break of the game after 55 minutes, the Ospreys wing executed a two on one situation to perfection and put over Byrne for a try.

Jones missed the conversion and, though Wales looked as if they could strike at any moment, Parks appeared to have made the game safe with a 45-metre drop goal.

With Alisdair Dickinson and Phil Godman both yellow carded and off the field, Leigh Halfpenny's try and Jones' conversion four minutes fromt time set up a grandstand finale - and after Jones' penalty, Williams won the day.

England 30 Wales 17

The Six Nations game between England and Wales at Twickenham, London, on Saturday Feb 6 2010.

England kicked off their Six Nations Championship campaign with a welcome win over Wales at Twickenham.

However, they did their best to throw it away once again as Wales fought back from 20-3 down to 20-17 with 10 minutes remaining on referee Allain Rolland's timepiece.

Fortunately, for Martin Johnson, Wales, - who conceded 17 points while Alun Wyn Jones was serving 10 minutes - for a deliberate first half trip on Dylan Hartley, forced the issue once too often and gifted England victory with James Haskell making sure of victory in the closing minutes.

Having enjoyed an early foothold in the England half, Wales committed the cardinal sin after 11 minutes when Andy Powell was caught off his feet at a ruck in front of their own posts.

Wilkinson, whose kicking from hand had been exemplary in the early minutes, duly converted and with James Hook twice spurning opportunities to put Wales on the board, it was left to Stephen Jones to level matters after 28 minutes.

Unfortunately, for those who had paid decent money to watch this opening day contest between two sides with grand designs on this season's title, it was nothing short of a tedious kicking duel lacking in genuine quality.

Jones, Gareth Cooper and Lee Byrne kicked with little accuracy, whilst England, who started with a decent degree of ambition, slipped back into their shell and played straight into the hands of a Wales side who could scarcely believe their good fortune.

However, when Wyn Jones was rightly sent to the bin, Wilkinson edged England back in front with a penalty from 40 metres.

Buoyed by their numerical advantage, England compounded the lock's misery when Haskell picked up at a ruck on the Wales line and nipped over for Wilkinson to convert.

Before Wyn Jones had returned, Danny Care pinched a yard of space around the blindside before stepping inside Shane Williams for his side's second try, two minutes into the second half.

Wilkinson's conversion put England 17 points to the good, but a converted try from Adam Jones on the overlap after 49 minutes, suggested that Wales might have discovered a way back into the contest.

They certainly started to believe with 10 minutes remaining - Hook side-stepping through a collection of static English jerseys for a try Jones once again improved.

However, when Wales tried to force the final pass, Delon Armitage intercepted, Matthew Tait and Toby Flood took it on and Haskell bagged his second to seal the day.

Ireland 29 Italy 11

The Six Nations game between Ireland and Italy at Croke Park, Dublin, on Saturday Feb 6 2010.

It was not the ritualistic slaughter expected or feared, but nonetheless this was a comfortable and convincing enough victory for grand slam champions Ireland to begin their new campaign.

It was a minor hurdle cleared before the much bigger one next weekend in Paris. Only then we will discover how heavily the burden of expectation weighs on this excellent Ireland side.

But this was good enough, a success based on a superb line out and driving game, and a confidence in their structures and plans that oozed throughout the side from the start.

They will be disappointed in their second half performance against Italy, not adding a try to their two efforts in the first half, but in truth the game was over as a contest by half time. And the habitual avalanche of replacements did not help either.

There were some individual contributions to savour. Fly-half Ronan O'Gara place-kicked flawlessly and generally controlled the game adroitly. If a second-half knee injury is not too serious, Jonathan Sexton might find it difficult to reclaim his place.

And scrum-half Tomas O'Leary probed relentlessly and effectively around the fringes, and also box-kicked shrewdly. Tommy Bowe chased the latter faithfully.

Brian O'Driscoll was not astoundingly good, but there were moments of magic to remind us that he can be. One in the first half came to nothing, but it was memorable nonetheless. Spotting space inside his own 22 he chipped ahead and gathered, and then made the most audacious kick off the outside of his right boot, which might have made a try for David Wallace had it remained in play. It truly took the breath away. As did a couple of sublime kicks to the corner in the second half.

Wallace carried strongly in the first half but appeared to fade a little. He will be miffed to have lost an important contact near the Italian line at the end of a scrappy third quarter. He has played better and not earned the man-of-the-match award as he did today.

At least Ireland's first try was a cracker, instigated by O'Gara's delightful flat pass that set Andrew Trimble free down the left. When the ball was transferred swiftly right, O'Driscoll's quicksilver hands allowed Wallace to put Jamie Heaslip in unhindered.

Their second, though, was gift-wrapped. Down to 14 men after Gonzalo Garcia was sin-binned for a spear tackle on O'Driscoll, an Italian line out was lost, the throw to a shortened line landing in Leo Cullen's hands, lurking in splendid isolation at the tail. He was stopped short of the line, but O'Leary wasn't, as he scuttled blind.

Before the break Ireland had their own present to hand out. Trimble hesitated a little in collecting a speculative Italian kick to his line. The ball was left for full-back Rob Kearney. It was right-footed clearance to be made. But Kearney is left-footed.

Quite why so few of the modern-day players can kick with both feet is mystifying, but with his left he went. It was not his only error in a disappointing afternoon for him.

Kaine Robertson duly made the charge down, and the ball bounced kindly. So it was 23-8 at half-time when it should have been 23-3, with the floodgates being attended to.

They did not open fully, but, still, on days like this you worry for Italy. This is their 11th Six Nations Championship campaign. They have won just six matches from 51, and only one away (against Scotland). Yes, France took an age to be competitive after being admitted to this competition, but those were different times.

Professionalism waits for no-one. It demands results. And you wonder how Italy can improve. Heineken Cup exposure hasn't had the desired effect, and the decision not to allow two of their teams into the Magners League is a blow.

Italy looked to their scrum again, as they always do. Often they opted for scrummages at free-kicks. Such a tactic actually yielded their first points when a concerted drive brought a penalty and Craig Gower landed a fine penalty from an angled distance. But there is little future in such a reliance. And Ireland finished the stronger in that department.

So much of the Italian ball was so slow as to be worthless. Their attacking threat remains embarrassing. And their line out was a shambles. Paul O'Connell and Cullen pinched their ball at will. Debutant Kevin McLaughlin got in on the act in the second half too when a penalty was kicked to the corner. It summed up Italy's impotence.

Back-to back grand slams are notoriously difficult to achieve - there have only ever been five - but, despite the fact that they have not beaten France in Paris and England at Twickenham in the same season since 1972, Ireland will fancy it.