England hold off Wales in Cardiff

 

Wing Chris Ashton scored two tries as England kicked off the Six Nations with a hard-fought win in a compelling encounter in Cardiff.

 

It was England's first tournament win in the Welsh capital since their 2003 Grand Slam before the World Cup.

 

Ashton went over either side of the break, which saw England leading 13-6, and Toby Flood kicked 13 points.

 

Morgan Stoddart's converted try and a James Hook penalty made it 19-23 but Jonny Wilkinson's penalty sealed it.

 

The World Cup winner came on as a replacement for man-of-the-match Flood with 13 minutes left, and helped the visitors close out victory to underline their status as the world's fourth-ranked nation.

 

They will now host Italy at Twickenham next Saturday, one of three successive home games, with high hopes of launching a serious title tilt for the first time in eight years.

 

For Wales though, an eighth Test without a win - since beating Italy in the 2010 Six Nations - is a major blow to their hopes of a successful campaign.

 

The opening exchanges were almost as explosive as the pyrotechnics that greeted Wales' emergence from the tunnel ahead of kick-off.

 

With Wales boss Warren Gatland having dubbed England hooker Dylan Hartley a weak link and Ben Foden urging the "big neighbour to put their small neighbour in their place", that fiery start should perhaps have been expected. Wales chose to bring their back-five into the game early on with Andy Powell, Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate and Bradley Davies making inroads into the England defence.

 

England held firm, but according to referee Alain Rolland they were guilty of offending at the first two scrums.

 

However, Hook could not fire over his long-range penalty and after taking a heavy knock trying to bring down Foden, Stephen Jones also missed from closer range.

 

Wales were also guilty of kicking possession away badly, relieving some of the pressure they had built up in the opening quarter. England were intent on ensuring their big ball-carriers were also well employed with fly-half Flood regularly bringing into play the likes of Nick Easter and James Haskell.

 

The visitors received their reward for absorbing Wales' early pressure. Flood put the ball deep into Wales' territory from a penalty and from the line-out England launched their forwards on the drive.

 

When that eventually ground to a halt, England went wide only for Mike Tindall to send a dreadful pass over Ashton's head and into touch.

 

But England were far from finished in their attacking intent and when Flood a gaping hole between Welsh props Paul James and Craig Mitchell, he breezed through it and sent Ashton in under the posts before adding the conversion.

 

Wales fell further behind when Powell was caught in possession at the base of a retreating scrum and Flood kicked the penalty.

 

But fly-half Jones put Wales on the scoreboard when Haskell was caught offside.

 

Another England score seemed to be on the cards as their forwards again built up a head of steam in the Welsh 22.

 

But Wales somehow snaffled possession for fly-half Jones to send half-back partner Mike Phillips haring away with Stoddart in support.

 

The wing outstripped Mark Cueto, but Foden's excellent cover tackle killed the threat.

 

That close call encouraged Wales to launch another series of attacks that ended when lock Louis Deacon killed the ball illegally in the shadow of England's posts.

 

It earned Deacon 10 minutes in the sin-bin and fly-half Jones the chance to kick a simple penalty. However, in the process Wales had to relinquish a wonderful attacking position and England were able to ride the loss of a forward and even did enough for Flood to restore their seven-point lead in Deacon's absence.

 

That is how it stayed until the break and just when Wales needed to keep their composure, tight-head prop Mitchell was sin-binned for killing the ball at a ruck and Flood kicked the penalty.

 

There was no doubt England had the edge up front even before Mitchell's enforced rest and despite Wales' continued attempts at breaking free, the visitors again found their way around the Welsh defence.

 

The outstanding Tom Palmer won a line-out and then charged into the heart of the Welsh defence, scrum-half Ben Youngs moved the ball swiftly right and Cueto's looping pass saw Ashton benefit from a huge overlap to again run in untouched.

 

Flood converted to leave Wales with a 23-9 deficit going into the final quarter.

 

Gatland's side got back to within striking distance when fly-half Jones's clever pass sent centre Jonathan Davies arcing round Shontayne Hape.

 

The Scarlets centre's pass was slightly behind Stoddart but the wing managed to gather and force his way over in the right corner, Jones converting from wide out to leave Wales with 15 minutes in which to strike again.

 

They did so when Hook kicked a 70th-minute penalty to reduce the deficit to four points, but Wales' challenge all but ended there.

 

England came close to forcing their way over with a series of forward charges from close range as the minutes ticked away, but Wales held out and the attack came to nothing when the visitors were penalised.

 

But replacement Wales full-back Lee Byrne was penalised for not releasing at a tackle under pressure from Palmer and Wilkinson landed the kick with five minutes left to effectively seal victory.

 

Wales launched one final assault but when it broke down, Danny Care - on for Youngs - kicked the ball out of play to signal the end of proceedings.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9386391.stm

Italy 5 minutes away from a shock win over Ireland! :o

Ireland rescued with a drop goal!

Frane 7 - Scotland 0

Frane 7 - Scotland 0

 

Frane?:P

Mark :p:p:p:p:p:p

 

btw France 10 Scotland 7

Mark :p:p:p:p:p:p

 

btw France 10 Scotland 7

 

Allez les grenouilles?:rolleyes:

I've watched all the matches this weekend, fab stuff, bar france beating scotland though, that was disappointing, though france played good, I just didn't want them to win!!! Better still that England beat Wales, always a satisfying thing that is!! ;)

34-21!!! Take that Scotland :D Our pack was really strong today! So proud of the boys even if we were kinda on/off today, the scots never gave it up... Great game on both side!

Side note: I was happy to see Yachvili, Poitreneaud and Clerc on the same field again <3

 

Next Ireland.... Well, will surely be tougher...:/

 

Italy 11-13 Ireland

 

Ronan O'Gara's late drop-goal spared Ireland's blushes as Italy were denied a sensational first ever RBS Six Nations victory over the Irish.

 

Ireland produced an error-ridden first half against the lively Italians as two Mirco Bergamasco penalties helped the home side to a 6-3 interval lead.

 

Brian O'Driscoll's try helped Ireland move 10-6 ahead but Luke McLean's 75th-minute reply gave Italy a shock lead.

 

But O'Gara's drop-goal two minutes later rescued the relieved Irish.

 

On this evidence, Ireland will have it all to do against France in Dublin next Sunday while the Italians will hope to produce another vigorous display against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

 

Italy's early enterprise yielded a successful penalty for Bergamasco in the seventh minute after Sean O'Brien had been penalised for not releasing.

 

Sergio Parisse had already shown his line-out prowess in the opening exchanges with Keith Earls needing to move smartly to prevent Bergamasco chasing down a clever diagonal kick from Kris Burton.

 

When Ireland did attempt to put phases together in the opening 15 minutes, their efforts were undone by a series of unforced errors which included a wild pass into touch by O'Driscoll.

 

If Declan Kidney had sent his team out with a game plan, it wasn't obvious in the opening 20 minutes as they appeared surprised by the Italians' aggression.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9386742.stm

 

France 34-21 Scotland

 

Reigning Six Nations champions France opened this season's campaign with a stylish victory over a spirited Scotland side at the Stade de France.

 

Maxime Medard, Imanol Harinordoquy and Damien Traille all crossed the line for the French, who also claimed a penalty try during an impressive display.

 

Captain Alastair Kellock's first-half score gave the Scots hope.

 

And Kelly Brown and Sean Lamont ran in further tries for Andy Robinson's side in the second period.

 

France continue their pursuit of a second straight Grand Slam against Ireland in eight days' time, while Scotland host Wales a day earlier.

 

Still reeling after their 59-16 loss to Australia in November, France punished Scottish slackness in the opening minutes as Nick De Luca surrendered possession to Thierry Dusautoir, who offloaded to Aurelien Rougerie.

 

Rougerie's delightful grubber kick sat up perfectly for the pacy Medard to run onto and touch down in the corner, Morgan Parra adding the conversion.

 

The French were dominating territory and Francois Trinh-Duc's drop-goal stretched the home side's advantage.

 

A raking cross-field kick by Trinh-Duc set France on their way down the right as Yoann Huget got a kind bounce and, after the ball was recycled, Richie Gray made a vital tackle to block the progress of the menacing Rougerie.

 

The Scots were galvanised by Gray's intervention and, after kicking into touch with a penalty, the visitors pressed well down the French left to make their first dent on the scoreline.

 

Kellock dummied well to slip under the challenge of William Servat and squeeze the ball over the line for his first international try, Parks adding the extras.

 

Gray came to Scotland's rescue again with a last-ditch tackle on Huget as France tried to re-assert themselves.

 

A lengthy sequence of scrums that featured several Scottish infringements prompted a penalty try for the French and Parra kicked a simple conversion.

 

Scotland strung some decent phases together, but they lacked the pace and incisiveness of their opponents and a loose pass by Joe Ansbro deep inside French territory put paid to any hopes of another try before the turnaround.

 

Kelly Brown was penalised near halfway, but Parra's penalty attempt slipped wide.

 

However, France were soon in the ascendancy again and a marvellous backwards pass through the legs by Trinh-Duc released Harinordoquy, who dummied inside to run in under the posts, Dimitri Yachvili converting.

 

The Scottish response was positive and, after France were caught offside, replacement scrum-half Mike Blair opted to run and slipped in Brown, who went over and Parks maintained his 100% kicking record.

 

Yachvilli was wide with France's next penalty, but the Scots were soon undone by some clinical French attacking stemming from a turnover.

 

Medard retrieved and burst into space before Yachvili and Poitrenaud worked the ball on to Traille, who finished off a stunning move. Yachvili converted.

 

But, once again, Scotland reduced the French advantage as Ansbro opened up the space for Lamont to touch down between the posts, Ruaridh Jackson adding the conversion.

 

Yachvili's penalty brought the scoring to an end.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9386540.stm

Chabal on the main pic... :dozey: He was on the bench for the 3/4 of the match...I don't understand the fascination for him (ok, his tackles are impressiv, but he's not the best player at is post!!)

 

Anyway, bring in Ireland! I fear them...

Scotland had a good shot at it but made a bit too many mistakes. Still they should be a challenge for the rest of the tournament and I can't wait until they pummel Wales as payback for last year at Murrayfield next week!

 

Personally though I think the tournament will be between England and France. Thinking that this is England's best chance for the tournament since 2003 and possibly a Grand Slam. Having your next 3 matches at Twickenham helps massively...or it should!

Scotland had a good shot at it but made a bit too many mistakes. Still they should be a challenge for the rest of the tournament and I can't wait until they pummel Wales as payback for last year at Murrayfield next week!

I think you could have win with a stronger pack. We gave you real blows during scrums but you guys were in possession of the ball much more often than us. With a stronger scots scrum, I'm not sure we would have won.

 

Personally though I think the tournament will be between England and France. Thinking that this is England's best chance for the tournament since 2003 and possibly a Grand Slam. Having your next 3 matches at Twickenham helps massively...or it should!

I don't think we'll win this year...The team is pretty shaken up since they've been litteraly slaughtered by Australia last november... :sick: The confidence is not really there and if we're against a team that will be able to shaken us a bit, I'm afraid we won't be able to overcome it... I hope I'm wrong and the boys will get over it, this first victory will surely get the moral a little bit up but there's still a lot to do!

IF we win the tournament, I doubt we'll do a grand slam like last year.

 

 

anyway: GO FRANCE! :smug:

Nice warm up for the World Cup later this year :)

Nice warm up for the World Cup later this year :)

yes and no...the VI Nations and the world cup are two different things.... winning against teams we're used to play in the VI Nations or the HCup is one thing but winning against the south nations, it's another one....!

Look at us last year: a good season in HCup with home teams, a grand slam at the VI nations and BIG fails during the automn tour in the south...we were slaughered there :\

I don't think the VI nations will give us a real indication for the WC....Anything can happen.

England 59-13 Italy :cool:

Wow. England were actually sublime.

for once!

 

Ashton stars as England thrash Italy

 

England 59-13 Italy

 

Winger Chris Ashton became the first England player to score four tries in a Five/Six Nations match since 1914 as his side thumped Italy at Twickenham.

 

Ashton claimed his first after three minutes, celebrating with a trademark dive over the line.

 

England cut loose at the end of the half, Ashton, Mark Cueto and Mike Tindall all crossing before the break.

 

Danny Care, James Haskell and Ashton (twice) scored in the second half as England recorded an impressive victory.

 

Following England's opening-day win over Wales in Cardiff, Martin Johnson's men headed into the Twickenham contest full of confidence but with a warning from their manager not to take the Italians lightly.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9393726.stm

 

Scotland 6-24 Wales

 

Wales recovered from their opening Six Nations defeat by England with an accomplished victory over Scotland.

 

Shane Williams' try got the visitors off to a flying start and James Hook's kicking kept the score ticking over.

 

Yellow cards for Bradley Davies and Lee Byrne gave Scotland a two-man advantage at one stage but they were only able to take three points during that period.

 

And Williams went over again after the break to put the seal on Wales' win, their first since March 2010.

 

For Scotland, it is a second straight championship defeat and an error-strewn performance undermined the positives gained from an encouraging display against France in Paris the previous week.

 

Scotland were forced to make a late change to their starting XV and reshuffle their pack after Richie Gray was unable to recover from illness. Nathan Hines was moved from blindside flanker to the second row, meaning a switch for Kelly Brown and a place in the line-up for number eight Richie Vernon, who was promoted from the bench.

 

The hosts brought pressure on themselves early on when Dan Parks' kick was charged by Paul James and a scrum ensued.

 

The Welsh got into an excellent attacking position and patiently probed for an opening before Hook weaved his way past three tackles and offloaded for Williams to cross the line. Hook, switched to fly-half following last week's defeat by England, converted.

 

A turnover almost allowed Scotland in on the left but a knock-on by Allan Jacobsen stopped them in their tracks.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9392746.stm

f-f-f-fiddle sticks :laugh3:

 

Wow. England were actually sublime.

 

True, although to be fair, you would expect them to be against Italy.;)

Loved that last-ditch tackle by Wilko to prevent a try near the end, though.

That guy is the England rugger team's answer to Becks - a legend through and through.:cool:

Scotland or Italy for the wooden spoon this year?

I'll go for Scotland, the Italians have a bit of fight about them