[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td8vw9q6lS8]Six Nations 2013 Trailer - BBC Sports - YouTube[/ame]

 

Six Nations: England, France and the wild bunch ride again

 

Rarely the case, there is a certain logic to the Six Nations this season. England and France, the two biggest and richest rugby countries in a sport that demands size and cherishes wealth, are in rude health. England's last game was a seismic victory over the New Zealand All Blacks and France went through the autumn undefeated, with wins over Australia, Argentina and Samoa.

 

England have the advantage now of three home games, starting against Scotland, while France are on the road for three games. Any notion that the first, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, does not carry the same menace as trips to the north should be set against the last result, in 2011: Italy 22 France 21. It was the sort of game that will be held under the noses of the French players, like smelling salts.

 

Perhaps they are already fully alert, having combined invention, especially against Australia, and resilience, particularly against Samoa. On the side of adventure, the France coach Philippe Saint-André paired a revitalised Maxime Mermoz in the centre with Florian Fritz, pushing Wesley Fofana, tipped to become a fixture in midfield, to the wing, and with newcomer Brice Dulin of Castres at full-back.

 

To prove the case for a no-nonsense approach, second-row Pascal Papé, wonderfully scratchy and blunt during the 2011 World Cup, was given the captain's armband, and he keeps it now, ahead of the quieter Thierry Dusautoir. Papé and Yoann Maestri form a partnership that harks back to the days of frightening, um, candour in the French second row.

 

But they do have to travel to Twickenham, for the Saturday evening kick-off of the third weekend. It sounds cosy but this is the dangerous crossing of the championship, the grand centrepiece featuring the pair of favourites. But will it be?

 

By then, England will have played Scotland at home and Ireland away. Victory in round one should be a routine affair, given the form of the Scots in Europe this season and their recent history at international level, a record so dispiriting that Andy Robinson resigned as coach after defeat in Aberdeen to Tonga. This means that Scotland go to the home of the logically fancied England under Robinson's former assistant, Scott Johnson, an Australian who has done the rounds without ever winning anything as a head coach.

 

But it will be harder for England to play well against Scotland than against New Zealand, who, as always, held out an invitation to play. The surprise was that England, by way of acceptance, snatched the invitation from their hand and performed with a healthy disrespect for the world champions.

 

Scotland will not be coming south with generosity in their master plan. It will appeal to Johnson's sense of cheek to be given no chance. He knows that a game based on good kicking and even better chasing is very much in vogue. Scotland's second- and back-rows, with Richie Gray and Kelly Brown experienced harriers, are ready-made for frustrating their betters.

 

England want to cultivate a more positive game, a next stage when the territorial, tackling game presents them with turnovers. There was a moment when Ben Morgan or Thomas Waldrom seemed poised to deliver passes out of the tackle and give England a launchpad from the back row. But it seems they were then analysed by opponents and brought to a standstill. No harm done, as long as others could take advantage of the space afforded to them by the marking of the No8s. But the wing forwards – nobody carries more than Chris Robshaw – are not so inclined to charge and pass. Charge, yes; pass, not so likely.

 

It means the onus is on the midfield to create space for others. And here Manu Tuilagi was a revelation against New Zealand. But the centre has an ankle injury. There are reasons – as logical as the ones that put England on course for a successful campaign – to preach caution when it comes to their prospects. And yet caution is the one thing they cannot fall back on. How sweetly jumbled it can all become.

 

Nowhere, of course, is more jumbled right now than Wales, proud winners of the grand slam in 2012 and not so proudly coming at 2013 on the back of seven straight defeats. In truth, form does not seem particularly relevant when it comes to Wales. They won a grand slam in 2008 from a state of 2007 World Cup mutiny.

 

To go from hapless to all-consuming is a Welsh speciality. It is not necessarily to be recommended for those on medication, but it's just the way it seems to be in Wales. Win at home to Ireland on the first day and they could be off again. Supply the wings – and you can take your pick from any of the following: George North, Alex Cuthbert, Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny and Eli Walker – and it will be accomplished in the most thrilling manner.

 

But go the other way in Cardiff, through lack of lineout possession from an injury-ravaged second row, or by any of the countless ways Wales have contrived to lose of late, and they face three away games in a row: France, Italy and Scotland. Logically, and given that the only back-to-back grand slams they won were in 1908 and 1909, it really should be a season of this other way.

 

Ireland have England and France at home, which sets them up as the wrecking ball of the championship. Not that the Irish, with Sean O'Brien, Brian O'Driscoll and Rob Kearney back from injury, see themselves as mere dashers of the hopes of others. But it somehow fits into the scheme of taking reasoned argument and shredding it in the Six Nations, that the side in contention to win European prizes at one level – Ulster and Munster in the Heineken Cup and Leinster in the Amlin – may have to settle for unpicking the dreams of the fancied, without converting them into a clean sweep of their own in the annual international championship of the continent.

 

Does that make sense? If not, good. The Six Nations is no place for computation and reason. May your passage through February and March be wild. My stab at a winner: France, on points difference, with no more than three wins out of five, the same as England, Wales and Ireland.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2013/jan/26/england-france-six-nations

Ireland to win with 4 wins out of 5

You might be right there since their away fixtures are "pretty easy", even Wales who are in shit form.

My stab at a winner: France, on points difference, with no more than three wins out of five, the same as England, Wales and Ireland.

Yaayy :awesome::dance:

'Rugby, a hooligans game played by gentlemen' ~W Churchill

 

Looking forward to it.

 

Six Nations 2013: Who will win the title?

 

Every year it seems the Six Nations becomes more open, competitive and harder to predict with any logic or certainty who will prevail at the end of it.

 

And yet Wales' Grand Slam last year was the eighth in the past 11 championships, suggesting early momentum and confidence regularly take a team right through to the ultimate prize.

 

England, after their stunning win over world champions New Zealand in December, and France, following an impressive series of autumn victories, start favourites with the bookies.

 

But if there was a time in the 1990s and early 2000s when such a scenario invariably meant "Le Crunch" between the two was the likely title decider, it is rarely that straightforward these days. History tells us the French rarely do well in the 'odd' years when they have to travel to Twickenham and Dublin, as they do this time.

 

Only in 2007, when they lost in London but sneaked home in Dublin and scored a last-gasp try against Scotland in the final round to deny Ireland the title on points difference, have they bucked the trend.

 

So even if it sounds like a faintly ludicrous attempt at shifting pressure elsewhere, perhaps France coach Philippe Saint-Andre is right to be cautious and not look beyond Sunday's opening fixture in Rome where, memorably, they were beaten two years ago.

 

"England are the big favourites for the tournament after their performance against New Zealand and the fact they have three games at home," declared Saint-Andre.

 

"We have three games away and two at home so our target is to do better than last year [fourth]. But in French rugby we like to be outsiders."

 

France have lost on their last three Six Nations visits to Twickenham, where they will travel on the third weekend of the championship.

 

Yet Italy captain Sergio Parisse, a player who knows the French well having played with and against them in the Top 14 since 2005, had no hesitation in dumping the favourites' tag on his Latin neighbours.

 

"France are definitely favourites," said the number eight, who could end up the player of the tournament while holding the Wooden Spoon.

 

"Everyone now expects England to dominate the Six Nations and they showed some really interesting things against New Zealand, but they probably don't have the natural capacity to adapt their game like the French.

 

"In France they give us liberty to play, and I think the French have the best players in the world at adapting to every situation. England try to dominate physically, they have a more structured team and they follow instructions. They may find it more difficult to adapt to different defences than the French."

 

If that was an illuminating insight into how opponents view England, Parisse is also keen to change the perception of Italy as a one-dimensional, forward-orientated side who will always struggle to achieve more than one-off victories because of a lack of class behind.

 

"We don't fear any team in this Six Nations," he said. "Coach Jacques Brunel wants to give us the liberty to take risks and counter-attack more than we did in the past. It is not enough to play well and improve. We want to confirm our progression and get some wins."

 

With three home games, Azzurri optimism is high, while three successive games at Murrayfield - after their opener at Twickenham - also offers Scotland's interim coaching team hope of something more than simply returning the Wooden Spoon to Italy.

 

Wales - in 2005 - and Ireland - in 2009 - are the only countries to have overcome the handicap of having only two home matches in a campaign to win a Grand Slam.

They are both faced with the same scenario this time, and it does not take a genius to grasp that Saturday's opening fixture will be pivotal to their respective fortunes.

 

Twelve months ago in Dublin, Leigh Halfpenny's last-gasp penalty denied the Irish victory and propelled Wales on an upward trajectory that led to a clean sweep.

 

A fourth consecutive win over the Irish on Saturday might do similar wonders for Welsh morale, battered by a run of seven straight defeats, the performances of their regions in Europe, and a horrendous catalogue of injuries, notably in the second row.

 

Equally, an eighth successive loss would cast a grisly shadow over the subsequent trips to Paris and Rome. The spectre of the record 10 straight Welsh defeats from 2002 to 2003 could swiftly loom large.

 

Ireland, without leading lights in Stephen Ferris, Paul O'Connell and Tommy Bowe but boosted by the return of Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Rory Best, could extract a similar bounce from an opening-day win as Wales did 12 months ago.

 

Suddenly home games with England, in round two, and France in round four would assume the look of decisive encounters in the destination of the championship.

 

Could O'Driscoll, who has scored more tries (25) and started more matches (55) in the Six Nations than any other player, sign off what is likely to be his last campaign with a glorious final flourish?

 

Sport does not tend to lend itself to such romantic endings, but you would not rule it out.

 

It might be easier to predict next year's champions. Every year following a Lions tour in the professional era, when the best of British and Irish tend to be a tad below their peak, France have won the championship (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010).

 

They also have three games at home in 'even' years.

 

Stick your money on the French in 2014. As for 2013, it is anyone's guess. Mine, at a push, is England on points difference. You?

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21279247

Ireland and England won their games

 

Six Nations: Wales 22-30 Ireland

 

Ireland held off a stirring second-half Wales comeback to launch their Six Nations campaign with a thrilling win and condemn the champions to an eighth successive Test defeat.

 

Converted tries from Simon Zebo and Cian Healy and three Jonny Sexton penalties gave Ireland a commanding 23-3 half-time lead, Leigh Halfpenny's penalty Wales' only riposte.

 

Brian O'Driscoll's score on the resumption increased Ireland's lead before tries from Alex Cuthbert, Halfpenny and replacement Craig Mitchell revived the hosts.

 

But Ireland, who had Rory Best and Conor Murray yellow-carded, held out in a breathless encounter.

 

It was their 11th win in their past 14 visits to Cardiff, Wales suffering a fifth straight home defeat for the first time in their history.

 

Failure to beat France in Paris next Saturday would see them travel to Rome on 23 February striving to avoid equalling their record run of 10 successive defeats.

 

Ireland, meanwhile, have the ideal base from which to launch a title challenge, with England - next Sunday - and France both to visit Dublin.

 

After an even opening 10 minutes, the visitors opened the scoring with a cracking try in the 11th minute, the spark for a 20-point burst inside 18 minutes.

 

Wales full-back Halfpenny had already pulled off one try-saving tackle to deny Ireland's Six Nations debutant wing Craig Gilroy in the right corner.

 

But from the resultant scrum the visitors swiftly moved the ball left and the returning O'Driscoll showed his class by jinking inside Alex Cuthbert before putting Zebo over in the left corner with a sumptuous pass.

 

Sexton nailed the conversion from the touchline and Ireland sensed another opportunity when Wales were penalised at the scrum for a second time.

 

The Leinster fly-half drilled the ball to the corner but Best failed to locate Peter O'Mahony at the tail of the line-out, allowing Wales the chance of a break-out, but the normally reliable Jonathan Davies sent the vital pass behind Cuthbert and into touch.

 

The dangerous Gilroy was then almost in at the right corner for a second time, Halfpenny just doing enough to tip him over inches before the line.

 

But Ireland continued to apply pressure from a scrum on the Welsh line, debutant lock Andrew Coombs conceding a penalty which Sexton landed for 10-0.

 

Things swiftly went from bad to worse for the defending champions. Lock Ian Evans turned over possession at a ruck and Dan Biggar's clearing kick was charged down by Best.

 

The Ireland hooker showed poise and vision to collect the ball on the run and send a pass out to Jamie Heaslip. The captain swiftly fed Zebo, who acrobatically kept it alive with his heel before prop Healy eventually plunged over.

 

Wales were in desperation mode, number eight Toby Faletau getting isolated as he drove into the Irish defence, the visitors winning the turnover and Sexton drilling Wales 60m back with a kick to touch.

 

Mike Phillips then conceded another penalty and Sexton made it 20-0 after 29 minutes.

 

Another Wales attack fizzled out as Davies - for the second time - sent a pass behind Cuthbert into touch before Halfpenny finally got the hosts on the board with a penalty in the 34th minute.

 

It briefly energised Wales, adding snap to their passing. They laid siege to the Irish line as half-time approached, but the visitors' defence held firm and Wales' efforts grew increasingly frantic before referee Romain Poite penalised Aaron Shingler for holding on in the tackle.

 

A try at that stage might have put a different complexion on matters, but instead Wales conceded another penalty and Sexton restored Ireland's 20-point advantage at the interval.

 

Any hope of a home comeback appeared to disappear within three minutes of the resumption. Biggar missed a couple of tackles and Rob Kearney was held up on the line before O'Driscoll extended his own Irish try record to 46, and his Six Nations record to 26, diving over from no more than a metre. Sexton's conversion made it 30-3.

 

Wales sent on Justin Tipuric for Shingler to try to wrestle back the breakdown battle, and the Ospreys flanker made an instant impression with his athleticism around the field.

 

Faletau was held up in the right corner but Cuthbert came charging onto Biggar's pass at an angle to score at the posts, Halfpenny adding the extras.

 

Suddenly it was all Wales, battering away at the Irish line. The visitors defended desperately, conceding two penalties before Poite yellow-carded Best for the third offence.

 

Wales were quick to profit from the extra man, Davies sending Halfpenny in at the right corner.

 

The full-back could not convert, and Ireland survived further damage during the hooker's absence despite the constant onslaught.

 

With 10 minutes left, Faletau was held up just short as he tried to force his way over, with Ireland scrum-half Murray earning Ireland's second yellow card.

 

Wales had further chances - Davies inexplicably delaying his pass to Halfpenny on one occasion - before replacement prop Mitchell was awarded a close-range try after consultation with the television match official.

 

But Wales still needed two scores, and a brave comeback fell short.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21285946

 

Six Nations: England 38-18 Scotland

 

England overpowered great rivals Scotland to retain the Calcutta Cup and get their Six Nations campaign off to the perfect start.

 

A try on debut from Billy Twelvetrees and equally clinical scores from Chris Ashton, Geoff Parling and Danny Care, added to 18 points from the boot of man of the match Owen Farrell, were fitting reward for a dominant display.

 

Sean Maitland's 10th-minute try offered the visitors brief early hope of a long-overdue upset, but they led for less than four minutes.

 

A late rally after a brilliant length-of-the-field break finished by Stuart Hogg narrowed the margin but never threatened to overturn it.

 

Scotland have now gone 30 years without a win in the English capital and England's young side will now travel to Dublin with confidence high as they continue to develop quickly under coach Stuart Lancaster.

 

Farrell's penalty on two minutes had given his side an early lead, bullocking runs from Ben Morgan and Tom Wood then punching huge holes in the Scottish rearguard as Lancaster's men began at pace.

 

But it was Scotland who silenced Twickenham with the first try of the day. Mike Brown's clearing kick found Hogg in space, and the full-back ghosted between Mike Brown and Dan Cole before clattering through Alex Goode.

 

Debutant Maitland was free on his shoulder, only for Hogg to hold on, but after his forwards made further inroads the winger was able to dive over in the corner from three yards out.

 

Indiscipline at the breakdown from the Scottish forwards gave Farrell the chance to land a brace of penalties for 9-5, Greig Laidlaw adding one of his own to keep the match in the balance as the half-hour approached.

 

It was an open game, with both sides looking to put the ball through hands on a dry but bitterly cold afternoon.

 

And England struck next as their mobile forwards thundered at the Scottish defence.

 

Joe Launchbury took a short pass from Joe Marler and drove through a tackle, sucking in defenders, and the lurking Ashton took Ben Youngs's pass at pace to crash between Sean Lamont and Ruaridh Jackson and reach out to touch down.

 

Farrell's conversion and fourth penalty after a high tackle on Morgan made it 19-8, Laidlaw reducing the deficit to 19-11 at the interval with his second penalty after Wood transgressed.

 

England, so impressive in their previous match at Twickenham, the record 38-21 defeat of New Zealand, then took control as the second period began.

 

Quick ball and incisive drives set up possession deep in the Scottish 22, and a flat pass from Ben Youngs allowed Twelvetrees to take the ball at pace and thump through Dougie Hall and Jim Hamilton for his first international try.

 

It was fitting reward for a composed display from the Gloucester centre, only in the team because of injury to Manu Tuilagi.

 

The faultless Farrell added the conversion, and then threw a beautiful long miss-pass to pick out lock Parling loitering on the left wing for the Leicester man's own maiden England try.

 

Launchbury had a try ruled out for a high tackle earlier in the move, before the game meandered for a while as errors crept in on both sides.

 

Scotland then rallied, turning the ball over close to their own line and putting it through the hands before Maitland kicked ahead and Hogg won the race to touch down ahead of replacement Toby Flood.

 

But Scott Johnson's men could do little more to break down the well organised home defence, and when Care burrowed over at the death, a capacity crowd celebrated another encouraging victory.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21274428

HT Italy 13-15 France (1500 GMT)

France beaten in Italy!

 

23-18

:disappointed:

Well done to the Italians.

Six Nations: Italy 23-18 France

 

 

Six Nations: Italy 23-18 France

 

Italy blew the Six Nations wide open as they won at home against France for the second time in a row.

 

Italy took an early lead as number eight Sergio Parisse finished off a flowing counter-attack but France hit back as his opposite number, Louis Picamoles, powered over.

 

Luciano Orquera's boot saw the hosts stretch clear but Benjamin Fall's try and Frederic Michalak's kicks put the visitors 18-13 up 10 minutes into the second half.

 

France looked set to pull away but Martin Castrogiovanni's converted try put Italy back in front and Kris Burton's drop-goal and some ferocious defence saw the hosts secure a dramatic victory.

 

The two nations may consider themselves friends and equals off the rugby pitch, but on the field of play it has always been a wholly unequal relationship.

 

Going into the game France led their head-to-head 31-2 and were in great form after a November clean sweep against Australia, Argentina and Samoa.

 

France had lost the last time the two sides met in Rome, with Italy pulling off a famous 22-21 victory in 2011, but French pre-match talk of a possible repeat seemed designed more to take the pressure off their team, rather than genuine fear of Italy.

 

However, the Italians were determined to prove they were more than deserving of the respect offered to them by their visitors.

 

Their pack has always been able to mix it with the best, with it including the likes of the world-class Parisse, but this time Italy's backs stood up to be counted with Orquera turning in a man-of-the-match performance at fly-half and winger Giovanbattista Venditti proving a real handful.

 

Captain Parisse started the ball rolling, although Orquera was the architect of the score.

 

Luke McLean began a counter-attack and, when the ball came into midfield, Orquera saw he was up against France prop Nicolas Mas and took full advantage, slicing through the visiting defensive line.

 

Parisse was ranging up in support and had the pace to out-run the cover and cross for a cracking try, with Orquera adding the extras to get the game off to an explosive start.

 

The opening two matches of the championship on Saturday had both been exciting encounters, and it was soon clear this match was to join them.

 

France were rapidly on the scoreboard as Picamoles, who had been driven back by opposite number Parisse earlier in the move, this time got the upper hand and showed his immense power to go over for an unconverted score.

 

A drop-goal and penalty from Orquera put Italy 13-5 up but Michalak trimmed the margin with a penalty and then put France ahead after Fall finished off a fantastic French move.

 

Ten minutes into the second half veteran play-maker Michalak, starting his first Six Nations game at fly-half for seven years, slotted a penalty to put France five points ahead and it looked as though the momentum was with them.

 

But Italy had other ideas. The hosts looked to have blown their chance of a try after failing to exploit an overlap inside the France 22, but from a ruck near the line, Orquera sniped around the fringes, somehow managed to free his arms from the gasp of two giant French forwards and fed Castrogiovanni to plunge over.

 

Orquera converted and when his replacement Burton added a drop-gal with 12 minutes to go, the hosts led by five points.

 

France had been under the cosh but they finally roused themselves and looked as though they might sneak victory with a late attack.

 

Italy saw prop Davide Giazzon yellow carded but managed to hold out when France subsequently went for a pushover try from a scrum, forcing the visitors to attack through their backs.

 

They were repelled in the right corner and when they spun the ball back to the left, Fall was swept into touch by a tide of white shirts.

 

Italy coach Jacques Brunel set his side a target of at least two wins in this year's Six Nations, while captain Parisse said before the game that one day he wants to win the competition, adding "why not this year?".

 

On the evidence of the Stadio Olimpico, that may not be the unlikely dream most imagined it to be at the start of the day.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21279519

This weekend's predictions anyone?

 

Italy to win by 5 pts (Scotland a)

France to win by 20 pts (Wales h)

Ireland to win by 10 pts (England h)

Scotland running riot against Italy :o hard to believe after last weeks games

FT Scotland 34-10 Italy

FT France 6-16 Wales

 

Two defeats in two for France, Wales still in touch with the leaders

such a shame...

WHAAAT wtf happened :angry:

 

Six Nations: France 6-16 Wales

 

George North's late try saw Wales end a run of eight successive Test defeats with their first Six Nations win in Paris since 2005.

 

The giant wing's score with eight minutes left was the highlight of a lacklustre affair on a freezing evening that saw France booed off after following up defeat by Italy with another inept display.

 

A penalty apiece for Frederic Michalak and Leigh Halfpenny were the only scores of a low-key opening period.

 

Both added another after the resumption to leave the game deadlocked at 6-6 before North's try broke the stalemate, Halfpenny converting and adding another penalty to take Wales clear. If the victory was an ugly one, built on a rock-solid defence, it will bring much-needed relief to the defending champions and their interim coach Rob Howley.

 

They will now travel to Rome in a fortnight in much better heart, having banished the spectre of equalling their record run of 10 successive defeats.

 

France, who started the Championship as favourites, will head to Twickenham - where they have not won in the Six Nations since 2005 - looking like Wooden Spoon contenders, with a trip to Dublin also still to come.

 

Wales dominated territory for large periods of the first half, but a lack of precision and penetration in the French 22 saw them fail to translate it into points.

 

They turned the ball over on 14 occasions in their opening defeat against Ireland, and the same problem resurfaced at crucial moments before the interval.

 

After Dan Biggar sent a neat grubber to the right corner on the half-hour that Yoann Huget was forced to put into touch, Wales won the line-out but promptly lost possession in a promising position.

 

Five minutes later, after an inside pass from Jamie Roberts had brought North in off his wing, the men in red again looked poised for a breakthrough, only for another move to unravel.

 

Michalak had opened the scoring in the 14th minute after the visitors were penalised for a second time at the scrum but it was swiftly cancelled out by Halfpenny after a French infringement in front of their own posts.

 

France full-back Huget was a danger with ball in hand, but his failure to release Wesley Fofana after 20 minutes with an overlap beckoning let Wales off the hook.

 

Barrel-chested Mathieu Bastareaud bulldozed his way through several Welshmen, but the visitors' defence held firm, winning a vital turnover that allowed Halfpenny a relieving clearance.

 

Wales were forced to scramble again moments later after the full-back's kick was charged down by Huget, but to the frustration of the home crowd, France were equally profligate when they reached the Welsh 22.

 

Whistles then greeted the players as they departed for the changing rooms at half-time.

 

Phillips did his best to stir Wales into action with a 50-metre break from his own 22 on the resumption, and Halfpenny put Wales back in front after Dimitri Szarzewski was penalised at an ensuing ruck.

 

France threatened, only for Francois Trinh-Duc - on as a half-time replacement at full-back with Huget moving to the left wing - to push a woeful drop-goal attempt wide.

 

But when Wales were penalised for collapsing another scrum, Michalak stroked France level in the 53rd minute.

 

A barnstorming charge up the right touchline by France number eight Louis Picamoles briefly lifted local spirits but the momentum was not sustained.

 

Suddenly, nine minutes from time, a flash of inspiration from Biggar belatedly found the key to victory. The fly-half's delicate chip over the onrushing French defence bounced up perfectly for the charging North, who ploughed over Trinh-Duc to score in the left corner.

 

Halfpenny nailed a superb touchline conversion - and two minutes later his long-range penalty brought a 10-point cushion, and blessed relief for Wales.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21375720

 

Six Nations 2013: Scotland 34-10 Italy

 

Stuart Hogg scored a spectacular solo try against Italy as Scotland secured their record Six Nations win and their first in the tournament for two years.

 

Scotland were full of intensity from the off and went 13-0 up through Tim Visser's try and Greig Laidlaw's boot.

 

Luciano Orquera made it 13-3 with a penalty but Matt Scott scored a converted try soon after the break.

 

Hogg claimed an 80m interception try and Sean Lamont also crossed before Alessandro Zanni's consolation score.

 

Scotland, whose previous record win in the Championship was the 32-10 victory against Ireland in 2001, went into the game fearing a repeat of 2007, when Italy secured what remains their only away win in the Six Nations by triumphing at Murrayfield.

 

The Azzurri were full of confidence after their fine display against France, while Scotland were on the wrong end of a heavy defeat away to England.

 

The Scots were out-fought and out-muscled at Twickenham, but they were a different proposition in Edinburgh and flew into the breakdown.

 

That meant Italy were always on the back foot and the likes of Azzurri fly-half Orquera, so commanding last weekend, were shadows of the players they were in Rome.

 

In contrast the Scottish half-backs enjoyed the chance to play front foot rugby and some superb finishing from their talented runners out wide was rapturously received by the success-starved Scottish fans.

 

The hosts could have taken an early lead but Laidlaw's grubber kick bounced wickedly to elude the on-rushing Visser.

 

But Laidlaw knocked over two penalties to get the scoreboard ticking over and with Scotland attacking rucks with far more urgency than they managed against England, Italy were always in trouble.

 

A superb tackle from the covering Tobias Botes denied Scott but the hosts scored their first try when Jackson dummied and fed Netherlands-born winger Visser, who stepped off his left foot and powered over.

 

Orquera, who had missed an early penalty, made no mistake just before the break to make it 13-3 to the hosts at half-time, but the Scots remained in total control in the second half.

 

They added a second try when former Canterbury Crusader Sean Maitland came off the blind-side wing to make the initial bust and Scott was on his shoulder to arc round last man Orquera and score.

 

Italy looked like they might hit back as Orquera tried to free centre Tommaso Benvenuti 10m from the Scottish line, but Hogg had read the fly-half's mind and was already setting sail for the Italian line 80m away.

 

He scythed past Martin Castrogiovanni and Botes before burning off the chasing defence to score one of the great solo tries of the Six Nations.

 

Scott was denied a second try by a marginal forward pass decision, but the hosts did not have to wait long for a fourth as Lamont picked up a loose ball to stride over.

 

Laidlaw converted all three tries and although Zanni profited from Sergio Parisse's fine pass to grab Italy's consolation try, Scotland will welcome Ireland to Edinburgh in a fortnight's time with more optimism than they have felt for quite some time.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21345281

HT Ireland 0-6 England

FT Ireland 6-12 England

 

Ireland miss the opportunity at 6-6 and extra man. Not a vintage England display but 4 kicks make it count

Week 3:

Italy 9-26 Wales

England 23-13 France