Six Nations Round Three Review: The French March On

It's an odd feeling when the Six Nations have finished for the weekend at 6pm on Saturday night. 

An odd feeling which I think I like. As I've previously said I'm a support of the Friday night game, over a Sunday mid-day game anyway. I would, however, liked a bit more entertainment. 

Not the greatest set of matches in round three of the years competition.

Both Saturday's matches were very tight affairs and were won by the team that managed to be more clinical. The Scots were very poor in Rome and the Italians fought and deserved their victory. 


Both Ireland and England had nothing much to shout about. I suppose Ireland have three tries and a win! England had a lot of possession but as we have been saying for many years could do nothing with it due to slow ball produced by the forwards and no imagination from the backs. When Wilkinson dropped a goal to take the lead towards the end of the game I thought they may scrap a victory but they were unable to hold on and got what they deserved really...nothing!

Friday nights match started slow, as France looked like they were walking it but the second half turned into a great show as the Welsh showed some fight. The French held on and it will take a lot for them not to march on towards the Grand Slam. 

It seems that this year's Six Nations maybe over as contest but anything can happen in the final stages as we have seen before...(think Cardiff) 

     

A risky decision to ditch the old guard at Twickers

A lot of talk ahead of England's clash with Ireland this weekend has been about whether will England drop Johnny Wilkinson after a below par performance against Italy in Rome 9 days ago.

That was never going to happen, it was just talk.

Less talk was made about who would be wearing the Irish number 10 shirt at Twickenham this weekend and most people will not be too shocked by Declan Kidney's choice for youth over experience after last years Grand Slam champions came undone in Paris in week two of this years Six Nations.

If it was not for injury Johnathan Sexton would have started the Six Nations against Italy. It would have been a good game for the promising youngster to get used to being Ireland's number one fly half. It would have given him a chance to find his feet in the competition.

England are not a team firing on all ciliniders but Twickenham is a big place, steeped in history and the pressure will be on the Leinster fly half - something that Martin Johnson's men will no doubt try and take of advantage.

Sexton may prove me wrong, he may rise to the occation but O'Gara could do that too...

Cipriani Rebels

There has been a lot of talk this weekend about Danny Cipriani's decision to leave Wasps and head down under to start a fresh with new Super 15 team the Melbourne Rebels.

Critics say the move means his England career is over. The 22 year old fly half has seven England caps to his name and some say he will get no more.

A new energy?

Stuart Barnes highlighted, on the Rugby Club, Cipriani's lack of "fight" in last weekend's Wasps victory over the Sale Sharks. The young man has talked about his depression since he was dropped out of the England set up - the move down under will be just what he needs to spark his talent back into his game.

Remember he is only 22. If he plays for the two years of his contract at the Rebels he will return to England still the right side of a sportsman's peak age, which some say is 27.

A learning curve?

The move away will be a great learning experience for him, he will move away from the club he has played at since he was 15 - learn new things and develop new skills (on and off the pitch). He will come face to face with the best in the business and be involved in a total different kind of rugby.

If all goes well England will be begging for him to be coming home to play for them.

I'm with Cipriani this is a really chance for him to prolong his England career, and a great move as long has he works hard and goes out to enjoy his game.

Wasps losing their sting?

The other questions that arise from this move is what is next for Wasps?

England winger Paul Sackey also announced he was leaving the High Wycombe based team at the end of the season for pastures new...

What is going on at the club?

Is it all change and rebuild? The club has lost it's grip on English rugby...and I still have to question the head coach role of Shaun Edwards and his commitments with the Welsh national team. They have enter the top four of the Premiership this weekend with a win against Saracens but it just doesn't seem right to me.