Six Nations 2015

[Blackleaf]

Forget the silly events of last weekend: the commercials for laxatives and piles treatments; a crappy concert with a couple of crappy "singers"; and the odd bit of "sport" interrupting proceedings from time to time. Now's the time for PROPER sporting action.

Last night the 2015 Rugby Union Six Nations Championship got underway. Six teams - England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy - are competing for what is, this year, a new, re-designed Six Nations trophy.

The format of this annual tournament is simple: each team plays every other team once, with home field advantage alternating from one year to the next. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. The team that finishes top of the group at the end is the winner.

If a team wins all its games, they are said to have won the "Grand Slam". Victory by any Home Nation - England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland - over the other three Home Nations is known as the "Triple Crown" which, since 2006, has been awarded with an actual trophy. When Scotland and England play each other, the winner is awarded the Calcutta Cup.

This year's Six Nations started last night at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when Wales took on England, bitter rivals and the two most successful teams in the tournament. Including its previous incarnation as the Five Nations - it became the Six Nations when Italy joined in 2000 - both teams have won this tournament the joint most times with 26 wins each.

And, last night, the 74,500 capacity Millennium Stadium - one of the world's greatest rugby union stadiums - was full and was a deafening cauldron of noise as both Wales and England fans enjoyed a spectacular light and flames show before the start of the match before the teams took to the pitch. It did look at one point, though, as though the two teams would never come on the pitch, as both stood in the tunnel, in a standoff, whilst England refused to go out on to the pitch early.

The atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium last night was crackling with the pre-match pyrotechnics before the Wales and England players stepped out onto the pitch

But the match itself, once it got underway, was a great advert for rugby union, played in a racous, deafening atmosphere. So stick your Super Bowl where the Sun doesn't shine. This is the true pinnacle of sporting action.

Here's the whole of the match itself for you to watch:

BBC iPlayer - Six Nations Rugby - 2015: Wales v England

 

[Locutus]

Forget the silly events of last weekend: the commercials for laxatives and piles treatments; a crappy concert with a couple of crappy "singers"; and the odd bit of "sport" interrupting proceedings from time to time. Now's the time for PROPER sporting action.

The troll is strong with this one.

 

[SLM]

The troll is strong with this one.

That implies said troll is akin to one Luke Skywalker.

Really, this is more appropriate.....

 

[Locutus]

yeah, and that Luke guy made out with his sister.

 

[SLM]

yeah, and that Luke guy made out with his sister.

Good point. Do seem to remember him going on about that too.

 

[gopher]

I'm watching the girls R7s from Brazil - prefer 7s as there is continuous action, more running & skill as opposed to just power

 

[Blackleaf]

After last week's adverts for piles cures, which were rudely interrupted from time to time (but not that often) by a sporting competition, this opening weekend of the RBS Six Nations Championships - real sport - continued yesterday with Italy vs Ireland and France vs Scotland.

Ireland are the defending champions and will be hoping to kick off the defence of their title - they've not won back to back Five/Six Nations Championships since 1948 and 1949 - against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The Irish have only ever lost three times against Italy in Italy.

After that match, the Scots travelled to Paris to play the French at the Stade de France. The Scots have not won in France since 1999, so were hoping to change that last night. Rather unusually, the French wore red shirts for the match, something they last did for two Tests way back in 1958 and 1959, in which they beat both Australia...... and Scotland.

I won't tell you the result of either match because you can watch each match here:

Italy v Ireland

Jason Mohammad presents live coverage as defending Six Nations champions Ireland begin their bid to retain the title with an opening fixture against Italy in Rome.

The Irish took the title on points difference over England in 2014 thanks in part to a thumping 46-7 win over the Italians in the penultimate game of the tournament.

Joe Schmidt's Irish side are adjusting to life without centre Brian O'Driscoll, but posted some impressive results in the autumn beating South Africa and Australia. Italy are in the midst of a bad run of form having won just one of their last 12 Tests.

Guests include Keith Wood and Carlo Del Fava with commentary by Conor McNamara.

Watch it here: BBC iPlayer - Six Nations Rugby - 2015: Italy v Ireland



France v Scotland

Gabby Logan presents live coverage as France and Scotland clash in their opening fixture of the 2015 Six Nations at the Stade de France.

Both countries are looking to improve on what was a poor tournament for them in 2014, when France finished fourth and Scotland fifth.

Since triumphing in Paris back in 1999, Scotland have failed to win there and have managed just one victory over the French in 16 subsequent attempts.

Guests include Andy Nicol and Thomas Castaignede with commentary by Andrew Cotter.


Watch it here: BBC iPlayer - Six Nations Rugby - 2015: France v Scotland

I'm watching the girls R7s from Brazil - prefer 7s as there is continuous action, more running & skill as opposed to just power

I can just about understand watching Rugby 7s, but watching GIRLS rugby is a big no no. Women shouldn't be playing rugby. It's a men's sport. They should stick to netball.

I wouldn't say Rugby 7s is any less physical that normal rugby union. It's just quicker than normal rugby union as it's played with just seven-a-side but on a normal sized rugby union pitch. It's still full contact in the same way as normal rugby union, though

And there's nothing wrong with raw power in sport. That's why I'm more of a rugby league man that a rugby union man (not just because I live in Northern England).

 

[Blackleaf]

This weekend's Six Nations results:

On the day that the England cricket team were put to the sword by Australia in the Cricket World Cup, Jonathan Joseph scored two tries and put in a Man of the Match performance as England thrashed Italy in their second match of the 2015 Six Nations Championship to put some pride back into English sport.

In front of a crowd of 82,061, Joseph's first-half try, a brilliant shimmying break covering half the length of the pitch, was the pick of England's scores and he accelerated away to another midway through the second after Billy Vunipola and Ben Youngs had grabbed opportunistic tries of their own from close in.

England have now played Italy 21 times and have beaten them 21 times. They've now played two and won two in this Six Nations and will be fairly confident they can beat Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in the next match. Achieving the Six Nations Grand Slam this year will put them in good stead for the World Cup, in England, in the autumn.

England 47-17 Italy

Saturday 14th February
At Twickenham
Att: 82,061
Ref: John Lacey (Ireland)

Captain Sergio Parisse led from the front for Italy, but his 13th Test try was in vain


England continued their unbeaten start to the Six Nations as they ran in six tries to pull away from a spirited yet limited Italy.

Inspired by two more dazzling tries from 23-year-old Jonathan Joseph, Stuart Lancaster's men overcame another sluggish start to take control and complete their 21st victory in 21 against the Azzurri.

Joseph's first-half try, a brilliant shimmying break covering half the length of the pitch, was the pick of England's scores and he accelerated away to another midway through the second after Billy Vunipola and Ben Youngs had grabbed opportunistic tries of their own from close in.

Fifteen points from the boot of George Ford and further scores from replacements Nick Easter and Danny Cipriani reflected England's increasing dominance.

It was Italy's 17th defeat in their last 19 Tests, a sorry record that will not be alleviated by two fine tries from Luca Morisi and another from captain Sergio Parisse.

Another season of toil beckons, while England will go to Ireland in a fortnight knowing that a third win in a row over the men in green will set them up for a genuine crack at the Grand Slam.

This was a far from perfect display - the defence was not the impenetrable wall of a week ago in Cardiff, and at least two tries were thrown away - but it puts England on a run of four consecutive wins ahead of what is likely to be a far tougher challenge.

Italy had stunned Twickenham in the third minute when the storming Parisse took advantage of good work from Morisi to dummy Mike Brown and barrel through in the left-hand corner.

Brown was then knocked out by an inadvertent collision with Andrea Masi, Watson switching to full-back and Joseph to wing with Billy Twelvetrees coming on at inside centre.

England were struggling for fluency, but a 15-point deluge in seven minutes reversed the mood and momentum.

Ford's first penalty was followed by Vunipola's drive into the corner, and then Joseph brought the crowd to its feet with his second piece of try-scoring magic in a week.

Robshaw stole a turnover, Cole and Ford spread the ball right and Joseph stepped one defender on halfway before slicing into space, dummying a pass out wide and haring through under the posts.

Italy struck next, with Leonardo Sarto gathering his own chip before Morisi ghosted between forwards Dave Attwood and Joe Marler to cut the deficit to 18-10.

Haimona missed the simple conversion and England, stung into action, went straight down the other end to move clear through Youngs' tap penalty and Ford's conversion.

Stuart Lancaster threw on his replacement forwards and Ford put Joseph away for his second.

Cipriani, on for Ford with 18 minutes to go, popped up on May's inside shoulder to grab England's fifth try, and Easter rumbled over from a line-out drive to become the oldest try-scorer in England's history.

At 47-10 and with 10 minutes remaining more points seemed certain to follow, but it was Italy who rounded things off as the lively Morisi scored his second.

Jonathan Joseph has now scored three tries in two games for England in the 2015 Six Nations

Mike Brown was taken off on a stretcher after colliding with Andrea Masi and had to watch from the stands

Danny Cipriani's previous Six Nations appearance at Twickenham was against Ireland in 2008

BBC Sport - Six Nations 2015: England 47-17 Italy

Ireland 18-11 France

Saturday's game was not a match for backs, as Ireland winger Simon Zebo discovered

Saturday 14th February
At Aviva Stadium
Att: 50,000
Ref: Wayne Barnes (England)

Ireland remain unbeaten in this year's Six Nations after a gritty victory over a disappointing France in Dublin.

Man-of-the-match Jonathan Sexton, who had been out for three months with concussion, kicked four first-half penalties as Ireland led 12-6 at the break.

With both sides engaged in a torrid battle at the breakdown there was little flair on display and fans had to wait until well into the second half for the first clear-cut try-scoring opportunity, which Ireland butchered.

French lock Romain Taofifenua scored the only try of the match after 70 minutes but two more penalties had already made Ireland safe.

Joe Schmidt's Ireland, the defending champions, have now won nine games in a row and host England, who are also unbeaten in this year's tournament, in two weeks' time.

And Schmidt will be buoyed that Sexton, flanker Sean O'Brien and prop Cian Healy, who were all returning after long injury lay-offs, came through a tough battle unscathed.

It was expected that giant French centre Mathieu Bastareaud would target Ireland fly-half Sexton, but it was Sexton who went looking for Bastareaud early on, bringing the Toulon man to a juddering halt and earning his side the put-in at the resulting scrum.

Tommy Bowe nearly latched on to diagonal kick from Sexton, but a penalty had already been awarded and the Racing Metro number 10 duly kicked the hosts into the lead.

France levelled the score through the boot of Clermont's Camille Lopez, but two more Sexton penalties, after France twice infringed at the breakdown, gave Ireland a six-point lead.

Teddy Thomas, who had looked one of the liveliest of the French three-quarters, limped off shortly before half-time, before Lopez reduced Ireland's lead to three points after Rory Best was penalised for being caught on the wrong side at a ruck.

But France's indiscipline cost them again, allowing Sexton to pop over a simple penalty and make the score 12-6 to Ireland at the break.

It had been an attritional first half, more notable for the number of infringements and turnovers at the breakdown than any commitment to creativity or attacking verve.

Shortly after the restart, Ireland full-back Rob Kearney fielded a high kick in the French 22 and Sexton was clobbered by Bastareaud from the resulting attack. Having clashed heads, both players were led from the field, with Sexton replaced by Leinster's Ian Madigan.

Madigan increased his side's lead with his first attempt at goal and with France's scrum also starting to creak, Ireland appeared heavy favourites with 30 minutes to go.

Both sides lost a man to the sin bin, while Sexton, who returned to the fray after 55 minutes, should have set up his side's first try, but centre Jared Payne was unable to gather the fly-half's fiery short pass.

Sexton slotted his fifth penalty before replacement lock Taofifenua touched down unopposed after the visitors, despite making handling error after handling error, eventually found a way through Ireland's defence.

With replacement prop Vincent Debaty making his presence felt up front, France gradually improved as the second half wore on and at least attempted to put width on the ball in the final stages, but despite a late assault they were unable to deny Ireland victory.

Giant France centre Mathieu Bastareaud relished the physical contact

Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton came off worst in a clash of heads with Bastareaud

But Sexton, who played for French club Racing Metro, recovered to guide Ireland home. They play England next, the only other team to have won both their opening matches

BBC Sport - Six Nations 2015: Ireland 18-11 France


Scotland 23-26 Wales

Sunday 15th February
At Murrayfield
Att: 67,144
Ref: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Wales recovered from their opening Six Nations defeat by England to secure a hard-fought win at Murrayfield that leaves Scotland without a point.

Scottish full-back Stuart Hogg ran in the opening try but Leigh Halfpenny's three penalties and a slick Rhys Webb try put Wales 10-6 up by half-time.

A disallowed Liam Williams try and a missed Halfpenny penalty gave Scotland hope that they could recover.

But Jon Welsh's late try was not enough after Jonathan Davies had powered over.

Wales are now back on track to mount a championship challenge, but despite the Scots' improvement, they still seem a little short of the Six Nations heavyweights.

Things looked good for Scotland when full-back Stuart Hogg ran in a try from his own half in the 10th minute

Warren Gatland's side arrived in Edinburgh reeling from that loss to a patchwork England side.

Scotland too began the tournament with a defeat, to France in Paris, but there was enough in their display in the Stade de France to give their fans hope they could put one over on Wales for the first time in the Gatland era.

The Scots had spoken during the week of keeping the penalty count against Wales down, but they conceded three in the first five minutes, one of which was kicked by Halfpenny to give Wales the lead.

As the Welsh began to build pressure in the home 22, they were sucker-punched by a breakaway try.

Alex Cuthbert lost possession in the tackle and Richie Gray quickly shipped the ball wide to Hogg, who showed great speed to race past the cover defence and score under the posts. Laidlaw's conversion and a subsequent penalty put the Scots 10-3 up before Halfpenny responded with a three-pointer of his own.

Scotland lost fly-half Finn Russell to the sin-bin on the half hour when he was judged to have taken out opposite number Dan Biggar with a dangerous tackle in the air, with Halfpenny bringing the score to 10-9 with the resultant penalty.

Wales did not take long to make their one-man advantage count, a sweeping move from inside their own half stretching the Scots' defence to breaking point, and scrum-half Webb diving over at the corner.

Scotland's Finn Russell was sin-binned for clashing with Dan Biggar while the Welshman was leaping for a high ball

Scotland duo Sean Lamont and Geoff Cross are left to ponder what might have been after the narrow defeat by Wales


BBC Sport - Six Nations 2015: Scotland 23-26 Wales


Standings

...................................P........W........D........L........F........A........Pts
England.....................2.........2........0.........0.......68......33........4
Ireland........................2........2........0..........0.......42......14........4
France........................2.........1........0.........1.......26.......26........2
Wales.........................2.........1........0.........1.......42.......44........2
Scotland.....................2.........0........0.........2.......31.......41........0
Italy.............................2..........0.......0.........2.......20.......73........0

Next games:

Scotland vs Italy (28th Feb)
France vs Wales (28th Feb)
Ireland vs England (1st March)

 

[Kreskin]

European teams in any sport have the butt ugliest uniforms. Unless someone tells who is playing there is no other way to determine it based on crappy logos and a mountain of commercial bullshyt on their shirts.

 

[Blackleaf]

European teams in any sport have the butt ugliest uniforms. Unless someone tells who is playing there is no other way to determine it based on crappy logos and a mountain of commercial bullshyt on their shirts.

Well I think rugby and football fans know which team has which kit. We all know what the Ireland rugby kit or the Manchester United football kit is. It's pretty hard to mistake the Chelsea kit for the Everton kit, despite the fact that both teams' home shirts are blue.

 

[Blackleaf]

After a break last weekend, the 2015 Six Nations is back and brutal as ever.

Yesterday saw the tournament's two perennial weakest teams and Wooden Spoon contenders Scotland and Italy go head to head at Murrayfield. Having a lead with just minutes to spare, the Scots must have thought they had the match sown up, but a penalty try for Italy in the dying seconds of the game sealed a narrow victory for the Italians. The result means Scotland are the only team to have lost all three of their matches so far.

Also yesterday, Wales beat a disappointing France at the Stade de France in Paris to all but end French hopes of winning the tournament and keep Welsh hopes alive.

And this afternoon, England put up a spirited display against favourites Ireland in Dublin, in what was a match between the only two unbeaten teams in the tournament, but eventually lost by ten points.

It means defending champions Ireland are still on course for a Grand Slam, something England haven't won since 2003, the year they also went on to win the World Cup. But the tournament is still a three-horse race, with Ireland, England (who last won it in 2011) and Wales all in with a shout.

Scotland 19-22 Italy

By Andy Burke
BBC Scotland at Murrayfield
28 February 2015


Scotland slipped to a third successive Six Nations defeat as they fell to a battling Italian side at Murrayfield.

Mark Bennett ran in his first international try for the Scots before Joshua Furno and Giovambattista Venditti replied for Italy.

Greig Laidlaw's 14 points with the boot kept them in front until the final minute.

But Vern Cotter's side were undone by a last-gasp penalty try, which was converted by Tommaso Allan.

The result leaves Scotland bottom of the Six Nations table as the only team without a victory to their name while Italy secure their first championship win since 2013.

Italy scrum-half Edoardo Gori celebrates with some of the travelling fans

Scotland's performances in defeats by France and Wales had offered some signs of encouragement, but there will be no crumbs of comfort in losing to Italy, who celebrate a first win in Edinburgh since 2007.

With matches against title contenders England and Ireland to come, the Scots are staring at the very real prospect of a Six Nations whitewash.

They started the match in positive fashion. Captain Laidlaw kicked Scotland in front with barely a minute on the clock after an Italian infringement, and it was immediately obvious the Scots were aiming to play a more expansive game than in those opening two matches.

The Scots' ambition was helped by some sloppy Italian play, fly-half Kelly Haimona's wayward pass an open invitation for Mark Bennett to intercept and coast under the posts unchallenged.

Bennett capped a positive start for the Scots with the opening try

The visitors were not about to crumble though. A driving maul from a line-out on the Scotland 22 carried the Italians over the try line, with lock Furno the man grounding.

Two Laidlaw penalties either side of Haimona's three-pointer extended Scotland's lead to 16-8, but they conceded just before half-time through a slice of bad fortune.

Haimona's penalty attempt came back off the post and the ball bounced favourably to wing Venditti, who managed to force the ball down through a ruck of bodies to make it 16-15 at the break.

Allan, on for Haimona, spurned a good chance to put Italy in front for the first time on 54 minutes, sending a fairly straightforward penalty attempt wide of the posts.

For the second match running the home side had a try ruled out, though in this instance there was no controversy; Sean Lamont's off-load to Stuart Hogg a blatant forward pass.

Italy battled hard throughout at Murrayfield

A reinforced glass door in the Scotland coaches' booth at Murrayfield was smashed following the defeat (of course, it'll probably be English taxpayers who will be billed for it like everything else in Scotland)

Laidlaw nudged Cotter's men four points ahead with a routine penalty 13 minutes from time, but the Italians would not lie down.

They forced a succession of line-outs and scrums deep in Scottish territory, and with the home defence desperately trying to halt a rolling maul, referee George Clancy deemed they were doing so illegally and awarded a match-winning penalty try, which was converted by Allan to seal a desperately disappointing day for the Scots.

Scotland: Hogg, Seymour, Bennett, Dunbar, Lamont, Horne, Laidlaw, Dickinson, Ford, Murray, Swinson, Gray, Harley, Cowan, Beattie.

Replacements: Scott for Bennett (67), Tonks for Horne (80), Hidalgo-Clyne for Laidlaw (78 ), Grant for Dickinson (68 ), Brown for Ford (67), Cross for Murray (78 ), Toolis for Swinson (70), Watson for Beattie (51). Sin Bin: Toolis (79), Watson (80).

Italy: McLean, Visentin, Morisi, Bacchin, Venditti, Haimona, Gori, Aguero, Ghiraldini, Chistolini, Biagi, Furno, Minto, Favaro, Parisse.

Replacements: Bisegni for Visentin (70), Allan for Haimona (44), De Marchi for Aguero (5* ), Manici for Ghiraldini (71), Cittadini for Chistolini (58 ), Fuser for Biagi (69), Vunisa for Favaro (62). Not Used: Palazzani.

Att: 62,188.

Ref: George Clancy (Ireland).


BBC Sport - Scotland 19-22 Italy


France 13-20 Wales

By Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Wales Sport at Stade de France
28 February 2015

France were lacklustre

Wales kept alive their Six Nations title hopes with a hard-earned 20-13 victory against France in Paris.

Leigh Halfpenny kicked two penalties as Wales edged a tight first half 6-3, but the game burst into life after an hour.

Dan Biggar crossed for a slick Welsh score only for France to hit back with Brice Dulin's try in the corner.

Another Halfpenny penalty eased Welsh nerves as they sealed a fourth straight win over France for the first time since 1957.

Having lost to England on the opening weekend, Wales knew only a win would suffice for them to have a chance of claiming a fifth championship in 11 seasons.

Dan Biggar scored his first international try as Wales opened up a 17-6 lead

And following their latest Parisian triumph - a fifth win in nine visits to Stade de France - they host Ireland on 14 March with their title dreams intact.

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley said beforehand they would be on "red alert" defensively, wary of a French side they expected to adopt a more expansive approach than in previous matches.

The omission of juggernaut centre Mathieu Bastareaud did not hinder their physicality, however, as Yoann Huget set the tone for a confrontational start with a thumping tackle on opposing wing Liam Williams.

Wales centre Jamie Roberts was prominent as a battering ram in midfield, and the away side's forays into French territory were rewarded as two Halfpenny penalties either side of one from Camille Lopez put Wales 6-3 up.

Genuine scoring opportunities were at a premium, although France thought they had the opening try after half an hour, only for Huget's touchdown to be disallowed for a forward pass.

Wales then threatened as George North galloped into the French 22 but, after that period of pressure yielded no points, the visitors could count themselves fortunate to lead at half-time as Lopez missed two penalties.

The fly-half redeemed himself with a penalty early in the second half but Halfpenny's third soon restored Wales' lead.

After an hour of attrition, Warren Gatland's side extended their advantage with a stylish try.

Scrum-half Rhys Webb made the initial sniping break before passing to flanker Dan Lydiate, whose deft sleight of hand allowed Biggar to scamper over in the corner.

It took only seven minutes for France to strike back, their forwards pounding the Welsh line before the ball was spread wide for Dulin to squeeze over for a first French try against Wales since 2011.

Halfpenny soothed fraying Welsh nerves with another penalty, before the visitors had to withstand a late flurry of French pressure to secure a memorable victory.

Morgan Parra in action during the RBS Six Nations rugby match between France and Wales

George North returned to the Wales line-up following his recovery from concussion

France: Dulin, Huget, Lamerat, Fofana, Guitoune, Lopez, Parra, Ben Arous, Guirado, Slimani, Taofifenua, Maestri, Dusautoir, Le Roux, Chouly.

Replacements: Bastareaud for Lamerat (17), Tales for Fofana (70), Tillous-Borde for Parra (52), Debaty for Ben Arous (52), Kayser for Guirado (52), Atonio for Slimani (52), Suta for Taofifenua (61), Goujon for Chouly (74).

Wales: Halfpenny, North, J. Davies, Roberts, L. Williams, Biggar, Webb, Jenkins, Baldwin, Lee, Charteris, Jones, Lydiate, Warburton, Faletau.

Replacements: Priestland for Biggar (74), James for Jenkins (71), Hibbard for Baldwin (70), Jarvis for Lee (79), B Davies for Charteris (70), Tipuric for Warburton (70).

Att: 80,000.

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa).


Ireland 19-9 England

By Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer in Dublin
1 March 2015

England have nothing to be ashamed of in their brave defeat against favourites Ireland


Ireland march on towards a possible Grand Slam after inflicting a thumping defeat on a misfiring England.

Four penalties from Jonathan Sexton and a second-half try from centre Robbie Henshaw opened up an unbridgeable gap which accurately reflected the one-sided nature of what was expected to be a tight contest.

England were outplayed in all departments, starting slowly, consistently second-best at the breakdown and all too fallible under the high ball until a late rally.

After all the optimism engendered from their unbeaten start to the Six Nations this will go down as one of the most chastening defeats of Stuart Lancaster's regime.

With trips to Wales and Scotland still to come, Ireland face a testing March if they are to win a second consecutive Six Nations title, let alone a second Grand Slam in 60 years.

But after this record-equalling 10th successive Test victory, Joe Schmidt's men will travel with optimism, their status as the northern hemisphere's most effective team underlined in some style.

Ireland had begun at pace, turning over a sleepy England at the first breakdown and winning two quick penalties to allow Sexton to kick them into an early six-point lead.

George Ford replied with a drop-goal on England's first foray into the Irish half but his side twice wasted fine territory through lost line-outs and, after Luther Burrell was overrun by green shirts on his own 22, Sexton's third simple penalty made it 9-3.

The experienced Sexton won the battle of the fly-halves against Ford

Ireland were dominating the breakdown, England twice penalised for offside as they struggled to cope with the ferocity of the Irish attacks.

Sexton was relishing his battle with the young apprentice Ford, smashing him backwards in the tackle and orchestrating a more expansive handling game for the hosts than in their victories over Italy and France.

The sole comfort for England at the break was to be just six points behind, having been starved of possession and conceded a remarkable 10 turnovers in that first period.

Sir Clive Woodward

England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach on BBC One

"I hope England don't change the team too much because they're going in the right direction, but they'll have learned a lesson today. If you give away 13 penalties at this level you're going to get beaten."

Matt Dawson

Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Ireland have been simply too good today. It was a superhuman effort at the end. That is World Cup semi-final/final stuff - the accuracy and the tactics are well and good but you have to execute. I believe England shouldn't worry because any team would have struggled to beat Ireland today."




Against Wales in their opening match they had won from a bigger deficit by coming back out at pace, but this time it was Ireland who took further control through Sexton's fourth penalty after Dave Attwood strayed offside.

England were being pinned back by Sexton's probing kicking from hand, unable to exert the control they had hoped for at the set-piece and poor under the predictable hailstorm of garryowens.

And when the impressive Conor Murray's box kick into the corner was claimed by Henshaw above the backpedalling Alex Goode, a steep slope became a mountain.

Sexton's conversion from out wide made it 19-3 and seemed likely to trigger an avalanche.

Two penalties from Ford halted the advance before England's replacements made the contest - if not the scoreboard - a more even affair in the final 20 minutes.

But although Ireland tired as the match wore on, the damage had already been done, and the capacity crowd in Dublin celebrated a win that was never in doubt.

England have not won a Six Nations Grand Slam since 2003


Ireland: R. Kearney, Bowe, Payne, Henshaw, Zebo, Sexton, Murray, McGrath, Best, Ross, Toner, O'Connell, O'Mahony, O'Brien, Murphy.

Replacements: Jones for Payne (71), Madigan for Sexton (55), Healy for McGrath (59), Cronin for Best (74), Moore for Ross (57), Henderson for Toner (65), O'Donnell for O'Brien (25). Not Used: Reddan.

England: Goode, Watson, Joseph, Burrell, Nowell, Ford, B. Youngs, Marler, Hartley, Cole, Attwood, Kruis, Haskell, Robshaw, B. Vunipola.

Replacements: Twelvetrees for Joseph (69), Wigglesworth for B. Youngs (69), M. Vunipola for Marler (65), T. Youngs for Hartley (55), Easter for Attwood (66), Croft for Haskell (62). Not Used: Thomas, Cipriani.

Attendance: 51,500

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa).


Standings


............................P.....W.....D.....L.....F.....A.....Pts
Ireland...............3......3......0.....0......63...23.....6
England.............3......2......0.....1......77...52.....4
Wales.................3......2......0......1....62...57.....4
France...............3......1......0......2.....39...46......2
Italy.....................3.....1.......0......2...42...92.....2
Scotland.............3.....0......0......3....50...63.....0




BBC Sport - Six Nations 2015: Ireland 19-9 England

 

[Blackleaf]

The Six Nations put on a great advert for the sport of rugby union yesterday as Ireland won the tournament - just.

England, Wales and Ireland came into this final weekend of the 2015 Six Nations Championship level on points at the top of the table with 6 points each - with England topping the table on points difference after their victory over Scotland last week - knowing that it will be one of them being crowned champions, with Italy and Scotland not able to win and with France, two points behind those leading three, having just an outside chance

The day saw a whopping 27 tries - the most in one day in the tournament - and a remarkable 221 points scored in the three matches.

In the first match, Wales thrashed Italy 61-20 in Rome to put themselves in pole position for the title. That meant that Ireland needed to beat Scotland by a margin of 21 points or more in the next match to have any chance of winning the title and prevent Wales taking the title. And they did just that, winning by a 30-point margin after thrashing the Scots - who are having their worst run at home since 1970 - 40-10 at Murrayfield.

That therefore meant that Wales's hopes of winning the title were extinguished, and England needed to beat France at Twickenham by a margin of 26 points or more for them, rather than Ireland, to lift the title.

But, in a remarkable highscoring match in front of a partisan London crowd, which included Prince Harry, the honorary president of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, England were winning by a margin of 20 points with just five minutes to go in the match, needing a further six points to be crowned Six Nations champions. A converted try (worth a total of seven points) in those final few minutes would have been enough for England to win the tournament. They did threaten to score that much-needed try in those final few minutes and Irish hearts must have been in Irish mouths as England tried in desperation to get over the try line right at the end of the game, but England just weren't able to do it. England won the match 55-35 - it was only the second time in the Six Nations that a team scored over thirty points in a match but lost, and the highest number of points England have scored against France, who have beaten England at Twickenham only once since 1997 in the Six Nations - and it meant Ireland lifted the Six Nations trophy by finishing with a points difference.

It means that Ireland have won the tournament in successive years for the first time since 1948/49. Ireland won the title on points difference last year, too, with England also finishing second.

Meanwhile, dire Scotland won the Wooden Spoon after finishing bottom of the table with no points having lost all their matches. The Scots were complaining recently that England don't show them enough respect - but respect needs to be earned.

Despite finishing second in the Six Nations for the fourth year on the trot - they last won it in 2011 - England will probably have the greatest chance of all the European teams of winning this year's Rugby World Cup. They are still the only Northern Hemisphere team to win that tournament and they will have a great chance of winning again in England in the autumn.

Italy 20-61 Wales

By Richard Williams
BBC Wales Sport at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome
21 March 2015

Ireland lift the Six Nations trophy after thrashing a dire Scotland but, minutes earlier, they had just seen England - who needed just a converted try in the last few minutes of the game - almost snatch the title from their grasp right at the death

In first game Wales only lead 14-13 against Italy at half-time
But seven second-half tries see them win 61-20 and go top
Ireland need a 21-point or greater win over Scotland for them, rather than Wales, to be crowned champions and lead 20-10 at the break
Ireland go on to win 40-10, putting Wales out of the running
England need a 26-point or greater win over France to take title
France lead 15-7 after 18 minutes in a remarkable game
England lead by 20 points with just minutes to go, needing just a converted try to be crowned champions in those dying moments, but the trophy ends up in Irish hands after England win 55-35

Wales produced a stunning second-half performance to crush Italy by a record margin, but Ireland took the Six Nations title, despite England coming within a converted try of lifting the trophy.

Warren Gatland's side finished in third place on points difference even though the overwhelming victory in Rome had kept their title hopes alive until the closing stages of Scotland v Ireland.

Wing George North raced in for a hat-trick of tries against Italy, as Wales turned a one-point half-time lead into a 41-point winning margin.

Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Scott Williams, Rhys Webb and Sam Warburton also crossed. Fly-half Dan Biggar contributed 15 points with the boot.

Italy scored tries through wings Giovanbattista Venditti and Leonardo Sarto, the latter converted in the last minute by replacement fly-half Luciano Orquera.

Wales were relentless in the second half, with George North running in his first Test hat-trick. Despite thrashing the Azzuri, they still finished third, behind Ireland and England, on points difference

Giovanbattista Venditti's try meant Wales led by only one point at the break

Wales skipper Sam Warburton got in on the action as Wales scored seven second-half tries

Leonardo Sarto scored a late Italy try though, to chip away at Wales' point difference

BBC Sport - Six Nations 2015: Italy 20-61 Wales
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Scotland 10-40 Ireland


By Andy Burke
BBC Scotland Sport at Murrayfield, Edinburgh
21 March 2015

The Scots watch Jonathan Sexton's conversion sail between the posts. They have the dubious honour of winning the Wooden Spoon after losing all of their games

Ireland successfully defended their Six Nations title as a record win over Scotland surpassed Wales and England's final-day efforts.

Ireland, needing a 21-point victory to overtake a Welsh side who beat Italy 61-20, led 20-10 after Paul O'Connell and Sean O'Brien crossed.

Scores from Jared Payne and O'Brien then took Ireland beyond the reach of England, who later beat France 55-35.

Winless Scotland were condemned to the Wooden Spoon.

What the fans thought

Harry Williams @cockneywilliams Bonkers - absoutely bonkers
Paul Wade @paulmatthewwade What a game of rugby!! Ireland are champs again!!!
Erin Ferris @ferris_erin Boom! Done!
Colin Nicholl @cnicholl33 Cancel the World Cup. It will be a let down after this 6 Nations finale
Emma Hart @emmamh Unbelievable day of rugby! Wales may not have won the title but they certainly did us proud!

And the celebs...

Dara Ó Briain @daraobriain Commiserations to England and Wales, a hell of a finale, but Come on you boys in Green!
James Martin @jamesmartinchef I love rugby. What a day! Top work Ireland
Rory Bremner @rorybremner What. A game. Of rugby
Phillip Schofield @Schofe Well it doesn't get much closer than that ... Dammit! Great match though
Gary Lineker @GaryLineker If you were watching the drab finish in the rugby, you'd have missed a classic at Upton Park.

Sean O'Brien was named as BBC Sport's man of the match after scoring two tries

Skipper Paul O'Connell

Scotland suffered their sixth successive home defeat in the Six Nations, their worst run at Murrayfield in the Championship since 1970

BBC Sport - Six Nations 2015: Scotland 10-40 Ireland
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England 55-35 France


By Tom Fordyce
Chief BBC sports writer at Twickenham, London (Att: 82,319)
21 March 2015

Just falling short: England needed to beat France by 26 or more points to lift the title, but won by 20 points. They almost scored a try in the last few minutes which, had it been scored and then converted, would have seen them crowned champions

England fell one try short of a first Six Nations title in four years as they out-ran France in a sensational 12-try contest.

Needing to win by 26 points to deny Ireland, they attacked relentlessly in a chaotic, thrilling match and so nearly pulled off a remarkable win.

A brace of tries apiece from Ben Youngs and Jack Nowell plus scores from Anthony Watson, George Ford and Billy Vunipiola saw them pile up their highest ever score against France, while the visitors' total was only the second time in Six Nations history that a team has scored 30 points or more and lost.

But while the win put them level on points with Ireland and Wales, their inferior points difference means they finish second for the fourth year in a row.

And Stuart Lancaster's men will be left ruing their profligacy last weekend against Scotland, when six clear try-scoring opportunities were blown.

"Credit to Ireland, they beat us away from home, so congratulations to Joe and his team," added Lancaster.

"We're sat here disappointed but we've just put 55 points on France and scored seven tries in the process.

"I'm hugely proud of what that England team has shown today and throughout the Championship."


It was only the second time in Six Nations history that a team scored over thirty points and lost


Six Nations records tumble

27
Tries in a single day

55
Points scored by England against France

40
Points scored by Ireland in an away match

7
Tries scored in one half by Wales

The table shows how close it was between Ireland, England and Wales at the end

Ireland fans stayed behind after their team's win over Scotland at Murrayfield to watch England's meeting with France on the big screen

Noa Nakaitaci was adjudged to have stayed in play to score his try by video official Ben Skeen

England needed just a converted try in the final five minutes of the match to be crowned champions, but just weren't able to get over the try line

France fans have seen their side win only once at Twickenham in the Six Nations
since 1997

Prince Harry - the honorary president of England 2015 Rugby World Cup - was in attendance at Twickenham









BBC Sport - Six Nations 2015: England 55-35 France