THE Six Nations got underway this weekend, with action-packed matches to whet the appetite of Rugby fans the world over. Here is how it all played out.
The 25th edition of the tournament as we now know it got underway on Friday night, as last year’s runners-up France faced current wooden-spoon holders Wales in France.
And the game went as expected, with France, one of the tournament’s heavy favourites, dominating from minute one all the way to the final whistle.
It was the long-awaited return of superstar Antoine Dupont, who, after shaking off some rust, was his vintage self, as he provided three assists. 20-year-old Theo Attissogbe scored two tries alongside 21-year-old Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who was also just a try away from a hattrick.
In the end, France won comfortably, with a scoreline of 43-0, earning them the four-try bonus point to go along with the four points they earned by winning.
In the second of the three games in round one, Scotland played host to Italy, in what was a far closer affair to the prior matchup.
Despite Scotland scoring three tries before halftime, courtesy of Rory Darge, Huw Jones and Ben White, Italy’s Tommaso Allan’s three penalty kicks meant that with a halftime score of 19-9, they were still firmly in this match.
And they came out swinging in the second half, Allan scored a fourth penalty kick giving the Italians the momentum, which continued after Juan Ignacio Brex scored a try just two minutes later, 19-19.
However, the Scots showed everyone why they cannot be underestimated this year, as they scored 22 unanswered points, including two tries from Huw Jones to complete his hattrick, to give them the win, and the bonus point, with the score 31-19.
The final game of round one was the winner of the last two tournaments Ireland against a young England team.
England shocked the home fans by taking an early lead, thanks to a Cadan Murley try, just eight minutes into his test debut. Ireland came back with a try of their own, courtesy of Jamison Gibson-Park, although the conversion was missed. A penalty kick at goal by Marcus Smith saw England take the lead going into halftime, against the odds.
The second half of this absorbing game, was all Ireland, however, as a Bundee Aki try in the 51st minute, became the catalyst for a vintage Ireland performance. Following Aki’s score, Beirne and Sheehan also added tries, as well as a penalty from Sam Predergast, to give Ireland a 27-10 lead.
Last minute tries from Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman meant England got a point, as they were within seven points of the winners, but it was too little too late for England.
All this means France top the table, with Scotland in second and Ireland in third due to point difference (the equivalent of goal difference in football), England sit fourth with a point thanks to their late flurry. And Italy sit fifth, with Wales in last.
Next week, round two begins with the two sides at the bottom battling it out, as Italy host Wales at the Stadio Olimpico on the eighth. Also on the eighth is a titanic battle at Twickenham as England face France. And on the Sunday, Scotland are at home for what will be the second week in a row, against Ireland.
