Unbeaten Wales sweep past Scotland

Wales book a Grand Slam date

Wales will play Ireland in Cardiff for the Grand Slam after sweeping past Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.  The Welsh ran in six tries before the Scots mounted a spirited fightback -- but it was to no avail, as the Welsh ended the day with a 46-22 win under their belts.

It was a remarkable, entertaining, enterprising RBS Six Nations match at threadbare Murrayfield on Sunday afternoon.  It was a match of many adjectives from brilliant to mystifying.

Brilliant!

Wales scored five tries in the first half against Scotland!  It is such a simple statement but it tells nothing of the magic that surely must have the druids chortling with delight and set the poets and songsters looking for words and sounds adequate enough.

For years to come people will sing about this day in the valleys and old men will tell the little children with bright eyes.

Wales were simply astounding.

The five tries were not long in coming.

Scotland centre Hugo Southwell hoofed a meaningless kick downfield, but Wales, gratefully, counterattacked.  Burly Ryan Jones burst straight through the Scottish locks and passed.  Four pairs of hands later the ball came back to him and over he went for the first try.  Stephen Jones converted.  7-0 after four minutes.

Already the crowd were singing Cwm Rhondda.  After all some 40,000 Welshmen had made the popular Edinburgh trip, that Max Boyce sang about.

The future was writ big on the wall -- so it seemed.

Scotland wing Sean Lamont started a bullocking run.  Scotland did all sorts of pick-'n-drive.  They went right and came back left.  Dan Parks through a long pass to skip two men.  But he did not skip Rhys Williams who intercepted and ran 80 or so metres to score under the bar.  Stephen Jones converted.  14-0 after ten minutes.

Wales fly-half Stephen Jones cut through and gave to Michael Owen who gave to Shane Williams who skipped through for a try at the posts.  Stephen Jones made it 21-0 after 13 minutes.

Stephen Jones then kicked a penalty from in front.  24-0 after 18 minutes.

Scotland fullback Chris Paterson goaled a penalty to make it 24-3, which raised no excitement amongst the astounded Scots.

The referee was playing an advantage for Wales when Tom Shanklin forced a gap through Sean Lamont, and Kevin Morgan was on hand to score at the posts.  Stephen Jones converted.  31-3.

The next try looked unlikely as Wales bounced a messy ball back, but Dwayne Peel went back and got it, sold a dummy and then broke clean through.  He played inside to Morgan who scored at the posts.  Stephen Jones converted.  38-3.

There was still time for the kick-off and an astounding passage of play which may have been a sign of what was to come in the second half as the Scots attacked and attacked and kept possession.  The attack lasted nearly four minutes before the final whistle finally went.

When the old men and the druids and the bards tell of this match in the valley, hill and dale of Wales, they will tell about the first half.

Oh they had a moment in the second half when Peel caught Scotland napping.  He tapped a penalty on the left, ran to the right and threw a wonderful pass to Rhys Williams, who scored in the corner.  43-3 with 31 minutes to play.

Those remaining 31 minutes belonged to Scotland.  In that time all Wales managed was a pusillanimous penalty.

Suddenly Scotland started taking a leaf out of the Welsh book, passing quickly, keeping the ball going beyond the tackle and doing it with growing confidence.  Like Wales they made the tackle-ball quick by having the tackled player place it well back from his body.

They attacked down the right and then came the width of the field to the left touch-line where Andy Craig went over in the corner.  Paterson converted.  43-10 with 27 minutes to play.

Oh, well, one thought -- an hiatus in the Welsh blitz.  But no.  Scotland were the ones blitzing.

They went left, right, and left again with Mike Blair providing much of the spark with his lively running.  Less than half a metre from the Scottish line, Brent Cockbain stepped in from the side to deny Scotland the ball and was sent to the sin bin.

The Scots came again and only a timely tackle by Tom Shanklin on Gordon Ross prevented the try.

But with 22 minutes to go the Scots played the width of the field, going left, then far right, then far left where Rory Lamont, the debutant right-wing, powered over -- through Shane Williams and Shanklin -- for a try in the corner.  43-15.

Wales attacked, but Haldane Luscombe, falling on a long, low pass, spilled the ball in the Scottish 22.  Sean Lamont picked up and the Scots came bursting away.  Southwell hoofed downfield and Paterson easily beat everybody to the ball.  Carefully he went down to collect, threw a little dummy and sprinted over for the try at the posts.  He converted.  43-22.

It was after this that Wales were awarded a penalty goal in front of the Scottish posts with five minutes left.  Stephen Jones goaled it to the sound of booing.  46-22.

Back came the Scots with confident skill.  They were right at the line and when Nathan Hines was close, the TMO decided that he could not see if the ball was grounded on the line and awarded a five-metre scrum.  But still the Scots attacked.

Mystifying?

What happened in the second half?  Did Wales switch off because the match was clearly won?  Did the many changes have the desired effect for Scotland?  Certainly they were smarter, sharper and more resolute in the second half, giving Wales no more presents.

Man of the Match:  Scotland scum-half Mike Blair played only a half but was the spark that ignited the Scots.  Burly Sean Lamont battled and battled with remarkable courage.  Allister Hogg was creative and brave and Chris Paterson, as always, was everywhere for Scotland.  For Wales there was relentless Martyn Williams, making Scottish opportunities into opportunities for Wales, bustling Ryan Jones who started the scoring, smooth Stephen Jones who did everything right, big Gethin Jenkins and our man-of-the-match scrum-half Dwayne Peel whose skill and judgement were unfailing.

Moment of the Match:  There is that moment -- agonising if you are Scottish, delicious if you are Welsh -- when Rhys Williams intercepted, but for creativity our vote for moment of the match goes to Chris Paterson's try and everything that went before it and the spirit that it signified.

Villain of the Match:  Nobody misbehaved, but who made the Welsh decision to kick at goal when 43-20 up and five minutes to play?

The Scorers:

For Scotland:
Tries:  Craig, R Lamont, Paterson
Cons:  Paterson 2
Pen:  Paterson

For Wales:
Tries:  R Jones, R Williams 2, S Williams, Morgan 2
Cons:  S Jones 5
Pens:  S Jones 2

The teams:

Scotland:  15 Chris Paterson, 14 Rory Lamont, 13 Andy Craig (Andrew Henderson, 76), 12 Hugo Southwell, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks (Gordon Ross, 41), 9 Chris Cusiter (Mike Blair, 44), 8 Allister Hogg, 7 Jon Petrie, 6 Simon Taylor, 5 Scott Murray, 4 Stuart Grimes (Nathan Hines, 41), 3 Gavin Kerr (Bruce Douglas, 42) 2 Gordon Bulloch (captain), 1 Tom Smith.
Unused replacements:  16 Robbie Russell, 19 Jon Dunbar.

Wales:  15 Kevin Morgan, 14 Rhys Williams, 13 Tom Shanklin (Haldane Luscombe, 7-15), 12 Gavin Hanson (Ceri Sweeney, 76), 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Michael Owen (captain), 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Brent Cockbain (Jonathan Thomas, 71), 3 Adam Jones (John Yapp, 63), 2 Mefin Davies (Robin McBryde, 49), 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Unused replacements:  19 Robin Sowden-Taylor, 20 Mike Phillips.

Referee:  Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges:  Donal Courtney (Ireland), Christophe Berdos (France)
Assessor:  Giovanni Romano (Italy)
Television match official:  Eric Darrière (France)

England end campaign on a high

Noon notches up a hat-trick

England ran in seven tries in total as they finished a frustrating RBS Six Nations campaign with a flourish at Twickenham.  Jamie Noon scored a hat-trick of tries as England reclaimed the Calcutta Cup -- and avoided fourth place in the standing.

Scotland had a better second half after England had led 26-10 at the break, and it could have been even closer but for an aberration by Scottish right wing Rory Lamont.

With England leading 33-22, Lamont had a run down the right wing which had "try" written all over it as he had two supporters on his inside.  But he chose to take Josh Lewsey's tackle and get dumped into touch.

Both sides tried to run the ball at every opportunity but the match lacked the intensity, speed and skill which Wales, Ireland and France were able to generate.

That said, there were some splendid tries, especially Scotland's second.

In all England scored seven tries, Scotland three.  Three of England's tries were scored by Noon, the first hat-trick in a Calcutta Cup match since John Carleton of England did it in 1980.

The first bright moment of the first half was provided by Scottish fullback Chris Paterson who darted, raced and swerved in counter-attack, but England scored first.

From a line-out Charlie Hodgson simply cut inside Gordon Ross and gave to James Noon who had a simple run to the posts.  Hodgson converted.  7-0 after 14 minutes.

When Martin Corry was penalised, Paterson made it 7-3.

England struck straight back.  They won the ball at the kick-off and Noon scored his second try -- a remarkable solo effort.  He burst between two Scots, shucked off another and then bounced Paterson out of the way to score at the posts.  Hodgson converted.  14-3.

Mark Cueto on the right wing and not far from touch moved out, drawing two Scots, before passing inside to Joe Worsley who got over in the corner.  19-3 after 27 minutes.

When Iain Balshaw was taken off on a stretch for a leg injury, Ollie Smith came on.

England's went left.  Hugo Southwell, rushed off his line and Mark Cueto, coming off the right wing, cut clean past him, drew Paterson and sent Josh Lewsey over for the try, which Hodgson converted.  26-3 after 33 minutes.

Just before the break the Scots played through many phases, centre Andy Craig made the running and Sean Lamont powered over for the try.  Paterson converted to make the score 26-10 at the break.

Scotland scored first in the second half, one of the very best tries of the whole RBS Six Nations.

Paterson collected the ball well inside his own 22, looked calm as if preparing to kick and suddenly was accelerating over the 22, past Martin Corry and into England's half.  He chipped and chased, Blair control an awkward bounce and fed Craig who galloped off to score a brilliant try.  Paterson converted.  26-17 after 45 minutes.

Two minutes later England mauled a line-out and played down the blindside where Ollie Smith sent Harry Ellis racing for the line.  Hodgson converted from far out.  33-17 after 47 minutes.

Then came a shock.

England won a line-out and Ellis was torpedoing his lads to the left when Simon Taylor intercepted and ran nobly nearly half the length of the field for a try.  33-22.

The next significant moment after this was Rory Lamont's indiscretion.

England attacked and attacked again through many phases.  Matt Dawson changed direction with a back flick and Noon surged over for his third try.  38-22 with 14 minutes to play.

Olly Barkley broke sharply and the ball went out to the right wing where Mark Cueto shook off Sean Lamont's neck-tackle to score.

The Scots then went through several phases but a knock-on by Gordon Bulloch ensured that it did not go far enough.

Man of the Match:  Chris Paterson was far and away the most exciting player on the field, but we name powerful Jamie Noon for his rare feat of a Calcutta Cup hat-trick.

Moment of the match:  Andy Craig's try and all that made it.

Villain of the Match:  Poor Rory Lamont -- he had a nanosecond in which to make a decision and made the wrong one.

The scorers:

For England:
Tries:  Noon 3, Worsley, Lewsey, Ellis, Cueto
Cons:  Hodgson 4

For Scotland:
Tries:  S Lamont, Craig, Taylor
Cons:  Paterson 2
Pen:  Paterson

The teams:

England:  15 Iain Balshaw (Ollie Smith, 31), 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Josh Lewsey, 10 Charlie Hodgson (Andy Goode, 76), 9 Harry Ellis (Matt Dawson, 65) , 8 Martin Corry (captain), 7 Lewis Moody (Andy Hazell, 40), 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Ben Kay (Steve Borthwick, 13), 4 Danny Grewcock, 3 Duncan Bell (Mike Worsley, 51), 2 Steve Thompson (Andy Titterrell, 72), 1 Matt Stevens.

Scotland:  15 Chris Paterson, 14 Rory Lamont, 13 Andy Craig, 12 Hugo Southwell, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Gordon Ross, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Allister Hogg (Jon Petrie, 75), 6 Jason White, 5 Scott Murray (Stuart Grimes, 33), 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Gavin Kerr, 2 Gordon Bulloch, 1 Tom Smith (Bruce Douglas, 24).
Unused replacements:  16 Robbie Russell, 20 Graeme Beveridge, 21 Dan Parks, 22 Andrew Henderson.

Referee:  Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch-judges:  Mark Lawrence (South Africa) and Nigel Whitehouse (Wales).
Television match official:  Christophe Berdos (France)

Cardiff erupts as Wales romp home

Wales are back!

Wales completed their clean sweep of the RBS Six Nations with an inspired 32-20 victory over Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday.  Wales -- 40/1 to win the tournament a the start of the year -- walk away with the title, the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam.

What a place to be -- Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 19 March, 2005, as Wales put 27 years of hurt behind them!

The great crowd in the great ground in the Welsh capital grew redder and redder as the moments ticked away and it became obvious that victory belonged to Wales -- victory and far more -- honour and glory, a restitution of Welsh pride and nationhood and a a revitalisation of rugby as an adventurous game for all.

There they stood -- red jerseys, chests out proud, a beer in one hand, a daffodil in the other, head up singing a hymn with fervour.

Every Welshman in the Principality became a king!

Ireland were beaten, but their energy and skill during the last twenty minutes of this encounter made the match a thriller.  The end of that match was full of determination and resolve.

The roof was open, the sun shone on a shirt-sleeve day, the anthems were ardent, Cwm Rhondda prayerful.  And Wales kicked off to start this match of destiny.  Would it be Wales?  Would it be Ireland?  And in the background was the spectre of France and their big win over Italy which could still bring them the championship.

Ireland got early into the Welsh half and Robert Sidoli was penalised for toppling the Irish jumper.  Ronan O'Gara goaled.  3-0 after three minutes.

A minute later Stephen Jones missed a penalty kick and the whole Welsh world groaned.  But then as the Welsh attacked with lots of cleverness, Gavin Henson kicked a dropped goal under pressure.  3-3 after 13 minutes.

Not long afterwards came a turning point in the match.  O'Gara sat back to kick and Gethin Jenkins charged the kick down.  It was a classic hands-out charge-down from the mobile prop.  Then with skill no prop is entitled to have, he footed gently on.  At the line he slowed with patience and fell on the ball for the match's first try.

Stephen Jones converted and Wales led 10-3 after 17 minutes, and their confidence grew and grew.

The stadium then swelled with pride as Henson goaled a penalty goal from 52 metres away, the ball glancing in off the left upright.  13-3.

Ireland had a golden moment when Denis Hickie came off the left wing and took a neat inside pass from Brian O'Driscoll.  Hickie sped through.  As Kevin Morgan tackled him he gave to Geordan Murphy.  Murphy gave to Girvan Dempsey and right at the line Stephen Jones and Mark Taylor pulled him down.

There was then a five-metre scrum to Ireland -- and Wales won it.  Yes, it was going to be Wales's day!

Stephen Jones made it 16-3 when O'Driscoll was penalised at a tackle but O'Gara made it 16-6 at half-time when Robert Sidoli was penalised for holding on.

When O'Gara was penalised for being off-side -- and was cross about it -- Stephen Jones made it 19-6.

Ireland attacked but Wales ran from their own line and set Tom Shanklin free.  He kicked long and only Anthony Foley was there to save.

After Shane Williams countered off an Irish grubber and kicked high, Ireland knocked on and Wales were on hectic attack.  They had a huge overlap -- five against two but Martyn Williams knocked on.

When Ireland were penalised, Dwayne Peel tapped and ran and Martyn Williams cut through.  It ended with a penalty by Stephen Jones which made it 22-6 after 51 minutes.

At this stage Ireland pulled O'Gara off and sent David Humphreys on.  Whether it was cause and effect or just desperation, from then on Ireland mounted attack after attack -- eventually with a measure of success.

They made many passes but always, it seemed, there were more defenders than passes.  Big Anthony Foley pounded for the corner but little Shane Williams forced him out.

Back came the Welsh, and Michael Owen made a charge.  The ball came back to Shanklin who cut straight through.  He passed to his left to Kevin Morgan who went off at an incline to score.  Stephen Jones converted.  29-6 with 22 minutes to play.

The crowd were still tense and tension would grow as Irish effort intensified.

At this stage Ireland changed as much of its pack as it could.  They got to the Welsh line and Peter Stringer flicked a pass to Marcus Horan who burst between Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins to score Ireland's first try.  Humphreys converted.  29-13 with 14 minutes to play.

Ireland were then back on attack, but Morgan managed to hack the ball free.  Shane Williams chased and Brent Cockbain was there to put pressure.  At a scrum Horan infringed seriously and Stephen Jones made it 32-13 with nine minutes left.

Those nine minutes were Irish as they flung attack after attack at the Welsh line which stood in the priority of Rorkes Drift.

Humphreys kicked a high diagonal towards little Shane Williams's wing.  Ireland won the air battle and Murphy went over for a try, Humphreys converted.  32-20 with seven minutes to go.

Those minutes passed like hours in Welsh hearts until Martyn Jenkins got the ball and hoofed it into the red-clad crowd, the final whistle went and Welshmen started rejoicing -- this day will last lifetimes.

Man of the Match:  It would be silly and unfair to single out a single Welsh hero on this wonderful day in Wales.

Moment of the Match:  There were many, but two stood out as a sign of Welsh intent -- one was a tackle by Tom Shanklin on Brian O'Driscoll.  The other occurred when Kevin Morgan footed through and Shane Williams chased.  The ball was on the ground about to come into contest when Brent Cockbain, swooped onto the ball.  They were fifty-fifty moments, which clearly meant more to Wales than to Ireland.

Villain of the Match:  Paul O'Connell and Robert Sidoli went in for some juvenile wrestling in touch, but worse than that was Gavin Henson's attempted trip on Denis Hickie.

The scorers:

For Wales:
Tries:  G Jenkins, Morgan
Cons:  S Jones 2
Pens:  S Jones 4, Henson
Drop:  Henson

For Ireland:
Tries:  Horan, Murphy
Cons:  Humphreys 2
Pens:  O'Gara

The teams:

Wales:  15 Kevin Morgan, 14 Mark Taylor, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Gavin Hanson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Michael Owen (captain), 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Brent Cockbain, 3 Adam Jones (John Yapp, 67), 2 Mefin Davies (Robin McBryde, 69), 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Unused replacements:  18 Jonathan Thomas, 19 Robin Sowden-Taylor, 20 Mike Phillips, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Haldane Luscombe.

Ireland:  15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Girvan Dempsey, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Kevin Maggs, 11 Denis Hickie, 10 Ronan O'Gara (David Humphreys, 51), 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Anthony Foley (Eric Miller, 59), 7 Johnny O'Connor,6 Simon Easterby, 5 Paul O'Connell (Donncha O'Callaghan, 63), 4 Malcolm O'Kelly, 3 John Hayes, 2 Shane Byrne ( Frankie Sheahan, 63), 1 Reggie Corrigan (Marcus Horan, 59).
Unused replacements:  20 Guy Easterby, 22 Gavin Duffy.

Referee:  Chris White (England)
Touch judges:  Joël Jutge (France), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Assessor:  Ian Scotney (Australia)
Television match official:  Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)

France finish with a Roman flourish

Les Bleus still in with a shout

Two sudden tries in the last three minutes stretched France's victory over Italy at Stadio Flaminio in Rome to 56-13, giving them a points difference of 42 and still the possibility of retaining the RBS Six Nations title.

It may have looked at one stage in the first half as if France were going to break records in running away with the match, but Italy were not going to be milk cows, and in the end the margin of victory may just have flattered the French.

Under blue Italian skies Gert Peens of Italy kicked off to get the last weekend of the RBS Six Nations under way.  Yann Delaigue kicked out and Fabien Pelous barged at the first line-out.  With the breeze at his back Peens goaled the long kick.

Italy led 3-0 after three minutes and the crowd chanted:  "Italia!  Italia!"

Delaigue broke well but passed to an Italian, but when the Italians were marched on 10 metres at a penalty Dimitri Yachvili levelled the scores.  All square after seven minutes.

A ghastly pass then rolled behind the French centres.  Christophe Dominici stayed behind to gather and looked in terrible trouble as three Italian warriors bore down on him.

But with astonishing strength and verve the small wing burst away from them and down the field to give a pass to Yannick Nyanga and the young flank burst over for this first try for France.  Yachvili converted from touch.  10-3 to France after ten minutes, and the crowd chanted:  "Allez les Bleus!  Allez les Bleus!"

Just after this Italy skipper Marco Bortolami took out Pelous's support in the line-out bringing the French captain crashing to earth.  For this Bortolami was sent to the sin bin.

Dominici set up the next try when he beat Kaine Robertson and stayed on his feet to pass to Yannick Jauzion who swivelled over Alessandro Troncon's tackle for the try, which Yachvili again converted.  17-3 after 16 minutes.

Back came the French on attack and back came Bortolami from the sin bin just in time to witness an astonishing try.

Delaigue was going left and switched to pass infield, but the pass found Italy's Kaine Robertson who sprinted some 80 metres down the field for a try that caused much joy to echo around the Seven Hills of Rome.  Peens converted.  France led 17-10 after 25 minutes.

Just after this Delaigue had a kick charged down, Andrea Lo Cicero went on the burst and then the Italians had a passage of brilliant, quick handling which ended when the referee penalised Martin Castrogiovanni for holding on, and catcalls echoed around the ground.

Then came a horrible incident.  Dominici was running off to his right, drawing the Italians to allow room for Yachvili.  Bortolami shoved a shoulder into him from the front and Salvatore Perugini drove into him from behind with a swinging arm -- both actions fractionally late.  There was a long hiatus while Dominici was brought back from unconsciousness and taken off on a stretcher-car to be taken to the San Pietro Hospital for observation and treatment for shock.

The French got their third try as they came right and Dominic Traille, a replacement for Dominici, drew two defenders to send Nicolas Laharrague running free down the wing for a try in the corner.  Yachvili converted.

They nearly scored again before the break but Delaigue's pass to Yannick Nyanga was forward.

At half-time France led 24-10.

Peens kicked his second penalty to make it 24-13 and then the French settled down to attack.

Yachvili passed under pressure and centre Simon Picone intercepted and went off, but he lacked Robertson's speed and was hunted down by Traille.  The ball went loose and Cédric Heymans footed it back towards his own line, gathered it and cleared.

To catcalls Yachvili then kicked two penalty goals as the French were intent on scoring points.  They led 30-13 with 28 minutes to play.

Heymans nearly scored when he set off down the left touch-line but a fragment of the outside of his left boot touched a sliver of the white line and a line-out ensued instead of the try.

The French patiently built up an attack in midfield.  David Marty, on debut, picked up a bouncing ball, and sped 45 metres down the middle of the field for a try, an echo of Benoît Baby's against Ireland the week before.  Yachvili converted.  37-13 to France with 14 minutes to go and substitutions streamed onto the field.

The French made a line-out a maul and drove at the Italian line.  Scrum-half Pierre Mignoni broke away and fed Grégory Lamboley who plunged over.  Michalak converted.  44-13 with nine minutes to play.

Traille did a switch with Laharrague and the French went off with sharp, short passes -- Traille to Jauzion to Serge Betsen to Pierre Mignoni and then to Marty who raced over for this second try in a good position but Michalak missed the conversion.  39-13 with three minutes left.

France came back, but their handling broke down.  Italy heeled at the pressurised scrum and Mignoni picked up and raced 50 undeviating metres to score.  Michalak converted and France had a lead of 42 points.

Man of the Match:  Christophe Dominici was an early candidate, but he was forced out of the game with injury.  Italian candidates were Alessandro Troncon and Sergio Parisse.  But out choice is Yannick Nyanga, the tall young flank who scored the first try, did so well in the line-out, won ball, carried ball and made tackles.

Moment of the Match:  Kaine Robertson's intercept and long run as the French scurried back.

Villain of the match:  Italian skipper Marco Bortolami for the yellow card.  There is also a case for the action that destroyed Christophe Dominici.

The scorers:

For Italy:
Try:  Robertson
Con:  Peens
Pens:  Peens 2

For France:
Tries:  Nyanga, Jauzion, Laharrague, Marty 2, Lamboley, Mignoni
Cons:  Yachvili 4, Michalak 2
Pens:  Yachvili 2

The teams:

Italy:  15 Gert Peens, 14 Paul Kaine Robertson (Roberto Pedrazzi, 65), 13 Andrea Masi, 12 Simon Picone (Roberto Pedrazzi, 55-60), 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Alessandro Troncon (Paul Griffen, 57), 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 David Dal Maso (Silvio Orlando, 70), 6 Aaron Persico, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Santiago Dellape (Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3-9, 60) , 3 Salvatore Perugini, 2 Fabio Ongaro (Carlo Festuccia, 55), 1 Andrea Lo Cicero (Martin Castrogiavanni, 28).
Unused replacement:  21 Roland De Marigny

France:  15 Julien Laharrague, 14 Cédric Heymans, 13 David Marty, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Christophe Dominici (Damien Traille, 32), 10 Yann Delaigue (Frédéric Michalak, 60), 9 Dimitri Yachvili (Pierre Mignoni, 69), 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Yannick Nyanga (Grégory Lamboley, 66), 6 Serge Betsen, 5 Jérôme Thion, 4 Fabien Pelous (Pascal Papé, 71), 3 Nicolas Mas (Pieter de Villiers, 41), 2 Sébastien Bruno (William Servat, 59), 1 Sylvain Marconnet.

Referee:  Donal Courtney (Ireland)
Touch judges:  Tony Spreadbury (England), Rob Dickson (Scotland)
Television match official:  Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)

England put six tries past Italy

World champs clinch first win of 2005

England got their RBS Six Nations campaign off the mark with a six-try 39-7 win over Italy at Twickenham on Saturday.  Italy have yet to win a match -- with the daunting prospect of facing France in their final match.

Saturday's match had sparkling moments but by and large it was ragged, not aided by the use of uncontested scrums.  Italy lost their hooker Fabio Ongaro in the first half, and then in the second half prop Salvatore Perugini and replacement hooker Giorgio Intoppa.  They had, they said, no suitably trained player to play hooker and the scrums became uncontested.

England scored ten points in the first nine minutes and 12 points in the last four minutes and not much else happened in the first half.  In the second half they scored their first points after 20 minutes, the next four minutes later, and the last in the last movement of the match.

It was a match England were never going to lose.  Perhaps with contested scrums they would have got a more complete grip on the game but lots of it was ragged.

Italy scored a neat try was they attacked and attacked, and then late in the game their backs showed enterprise, especially from Andrea Masi and nippy wing Ludovico Nitoglia.

England looked best when Iain Balshaw was running but after the initial flourishes he had little running -- until near the end when he produced the blooper of the season.

Italy were best in doing ordinary things well -- getting and keeping possession but they lack a game-breaker -- any game-breaker, which mean that regardless of how close they got and how many phases they went through the ardent Azzurri were not a threat to England's defence.

When Marco Bortolami was penalised at a tackle, the very first penalty of the match, Charlie Hodgson goaled.  3-0.

Italian fly-half Luciano Orquera kicked a long way downfield to his left and away from the forwards.  Balshaw got the ball and started running.  He beat two Italians and gave to Jamie Noon.  The centre handed to mark Cueto and the wing had a straight run to the posts.  Hodgson converted.  10-0 to England after nine minutes.

The floodgates then creaked close and not even a huge England scrum near the Italian line produced a score.

Hodgson missed an easy penalty but Gert Peens, the Italian fullback, kicked the drop-out straight out.  England attacked from the scrum, Joe Worsley doing good work, until eventually big hooker Steve Thompson was forceful in the tackle and got the score.  Hodgson converted.  17-0 after 36 minutes.

On half-time England attacked again and Mark Cueto accepted a run-in on the left wing for England's third try.  22-0 to England at half-time.

Italy had the better of the first part of the second half and scored first.  They had a good maul off a line-out and hammered at the England line until scrum-half Alessandro Troncon picked up, handed off Graham Rowntree and enjoyed scoring.  Gert Peens, who had hit the woodwork with a penalty in the first half, converted.  22-7 after 45 minutes.

Italy attacked but lost the ball in the England 22.  England kicked downfield, chased.  Italy missed the ball which Cueto picked up.  His pass to Josh Lewsey was forward, as the touch judge suggested, thus preventing a try.

Italy were penalised eight times in this half, seven times at the tackle/ruck.  England turned one into a five-metre line-out which they lost.

A massive maul stuttered, gained momentum and was then stopped under the use-it-or-lose-it law just when a try was certain.

It was at this stage that scrums were eviscerated.

From a scrum five metres from the Italian line, England moved the ball the width of the field.  Balshaw came in and scored in Nitoglia's tackle.  27-7 after 60 minutes.

Four minutes later England again went wide, this time from a line-out.  Again Balshaw came in, this time freeing up Cueto for his hat-trick try.  32-7.

Replacement hooker Andy Titterrell had a great break in the manner of a class centre, and then Orquera and Masi did clever things to get within three metres of the England line.

Time was up when -- from broken play -- replacement Andy Hazell was given a run at the line for his first points for England.  Andy Goode was on for Hodgson for his first cap and he capped the occasion by converting the try, his first points for England.  39-7 -- and the final whistle went.

Man of the Match:  Martin Corry, captaining England for the first time, was all things strong, noble and committed.  Iain Balshaw did much to provide sparkle.  But our man-of-the-match is Alessandro Troncon of Italy.  In a losing side the veteran showed great skill, determination, strength and fine judgement.

Moment of the match:  There was one which will be remembered.  From deep in England territory with Italy on attack, Iain Balshaw kicked a long, long ball down towards the Italian corner.  As the ball rolled towards the Italian line, Balshaw easily outstripped all Italians.  He caught up with the ball as it slowed down.  Half a metre from the line, with no Italian in sight, Balshaw waited carefully.  The ball stood up gently -- and went back through Balshaw's legs!  Without the ball he crashed on his face in the Italian in-goal.

Villain of the match:  Iain Balshaw -- see above!

The scorers:

For England:
Tries:  Cueto 3, Balshaw, Hazell
Cons:  Hodgson 2, Goode
Pen:  Hodgson

For Italy:
Try:  Troncon
Con:  Peens

England:  15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Jamie Noon (Ollie Smith, 66), 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Josh Lewsey, 10 Charlie Hodgson (Andy Goode, 74), 9 Harry Ellis (Matt Dawson, 51), 8 Martin Corry (captain), 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Joe Worsley (Andy Hazell, 74), 5 Ben Kay, 4 Danny Grewcock (Steve Borthwick, 62), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Steve Thompson (Andy Titterrell, 66), 1 Graham Rowntree (Duncan Bell, 66).

Italy:  15 Gert Peens, 14 Roberto Pedrazzi, 13 Matteo Barbini (Walter Pozzebon, 28) 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Alessandro Troncon, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 David Dal Maso (Silvio Orlando, 40), 6 Aaron Persico, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Salvatore Perugini (Martin Castrogiavanni, 53), 2 Fabio Ongaro (Giorgio Intoppa, 20 -- Mario Savi, 62), 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Unused replacements:  19 Santiago Dellape, 21 Paul Griffen.

Referee:  Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges:  Nigel Williams (Wales), Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
Assessor:  David Kerr (Scotland)
Television match official:  Rob Dickson (Scotland)

France shatter Irish dreams

Dominici claims a brace of tries

Two tries from Christophe Dominici helped France to beat Ireland 26-19 at windy Lansdowne in the Six Nations on Saturday, leaving Irish dreams of Grand Slam glory in tatters.

The clean sweep is now out of the question, but Ireland could yet win the championship -- as could France.  That will all be decided next week.

France showed their hand right at the start.  They ran the first ball they got with fullback Julien Laharrague in the backs.  They mauled their first line-out and rushed it forward.  It was a complete performance.  They dominated up front and they dominated out wide.

Their long line of defence was far more impenetrable than the Maginot line ever was, except for one glorious O'Driscoll moment that kept Ireland's hopes alive.

Wind at their backs, Ireland scored first when Sébastien Bruno was penalised at a tackle, and Ronan O'Gara goaled.  3-0 to Ireland after seven minutes.

When Simon Easterby was penalised at a tackle, France made it a line-out.  They made that a maul -- a running maul metres down the field.  The ball came back to Yann Delaigue who kicked a dropped goal.  3-3 after ten minutes.

When Delaigue tackled high, O'Gara kicked the goal.  6-3 to Ireland after 18 minutes.

Three minutes later Easterby was penalised for being off-side and Yachvili kicked a longish goal into the wind.  6-6.

Bruno infringed but O'Gara's place-kick faded away.  When Marconnet was penalised, the kick swung but this time got inside the upright.  O'Gara then became the highest points' scorer in Ireland's rugby history.  9-6 to Ireland after 24 minutes.

That was Ireland's bundle for the first half, but not France's.

Laharrague had almost worked an overlap for Cédric Heymans but a hand got in the way.  Then as France went right he passed inside to Heymans whop gave outside to Christophe Dominici who handed off Denis Hickie to score in the corner.  France led 11-9 after 28 minutes.

Surprisingly France were giving Ireland a tough time in the line-out.  Yannick Nyanga pinched an Irish ball, palming it back quickly.  Jérôme Thion gave to Yannick Jauzion who gave to debutant Benoît Baby just inside France's half.

The young centre pinned back his ears and simply ran the 52 metres to score a sensational try.  Yachvili converted.  18-9 to France and they were full value for their lead, wind or no wind.

In the second half Ireland were into the wind and outscored France, but it was just not enough.

O'Gara kicked a penalty when Baby was guilty of a ridiculous headbutt.  18-12.  But at this stage O'Gara was kicking into the wind a great deal and for no profit.

With 19 minutes to go Yachvili kicked a goal for a tackle infringement.  21-12 to France.

To their credit and honour, Ireland were not done and were attacking more now, eschewing kicks at goal in search of tries but finding a way through hard against the blue defence.

Then Paul O'Connell won an Irish line-out.  He won it in the No.2 position which gave field width but also room for loose forwards to defend.  Forget all that.  Brian O'Driscoll tucked the ball under an arm and raced past replacement Frédéric Michalak whose attempted tackle had no force.  O'Driscoll swept past Heymans and scored under the posts.  O'Gara converted.  21-19 to France with seven minutes.

But those seven minutes belonged to France as they kept Ireland pinned in their own territory.  At a tackle/ruck the referee told Peter Stringer to play it.  Instead Serge Betsen homed in on the ball.  Brave Malcolm O'Kelly managed to recover the ball but Betsen got the ball off him and smuggled it to Sylvain Marconnet.  The big prop gave the pass to Dominici who had a free run  for the line.  That made it 26-19 to France with two minutes to play.

France played those two minutes well in Irish territory.

Man of the match:  Brian O'Driscoll scored a great try, and so did Benoît Baby but he later blotted his copybook.  Yannick Nyanga won valuable line-out ball for France.  One of his wins provided the ball for Baby's try.  But our choice is between hyperactive, calm, relatively new man Julien Laharrague and, our eventuaL choice as man-of-the-match -- darting, wholehearted Christophe Dominici.

Moment of the Match:  There were two -- Benoît Baby's try and Brian O'Driscoll's try.  O'Driscoll's try required greater effort and is our choice.

Villain of the Match:  It was well-mannered match at a well-mannered ground, which made Benoît Baby's action on O'Driscoll all the sillier.

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Try:  O'Driscoll
Con:  O'Gara
Pens:  O'Gara 5

For France:
Try:  Baby, Dominici
Con:  Yachvili
Pen:  Yachvili 3
Drop:  Delaigue

The teams:

Team:  15 Julien Laharrague, 14 Christophe Dominici, 13 Benoit Baby, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Cédric Heymans, 10 Yann Delaigue (Frédéric Michalak, 69) 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Yannick Nyanga, 6 Serge Betsen, 5 Jérôme Thion, 4 Fabien Pelous (Pascal Papé, 71), 3 Nicolas Mas (Pieter de Villiers, 41), 2 Sébastien Bruno (Dimitri Szarzewski, 77), 1 Sylvain Marconnet.
Unused replacements: 20 Pierre Mignoni, 22 David Marty.

Ireland:  15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Girvan Dempsey, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Kevin Maggs, 11 Denis Hickie, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Anthony Foley (Eric Miller, 70), 7 Johnny O'Connor, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Malcolm O'Kelly, 3 John Hayes, 2 Shane Byrne, 1 Reggie Corrigan (Marcus Horan, 70).
Unused replacements:  16 Frankie Sheahan, 18 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Guy Easterby, 21 David Humphreys, 22 Gavin Duffy.

Referee:  Tony Spreadbury (England)
Touch judges:  Paul Honiss (New Zealand), Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Assessor:  Ian Scotney (Australia)
Television match official:  Roy Maybank (England)

Ireland deny England in Dublin

World champs edge closer to wooden spoon

An inspired performance by Ireland subjected England to a 19-13 defeat at Lansdowne Road on Sunday -- the world champion's third loss of the 2005 RBS Six Nations.  It was a seesaw match in which the lead changed seven times.

After the Welsh victory over France on the Saturday, this Sunday match meant so much for Ireland's hopes.  The championship title remains a possibility for Ireland, but not by much.  England's disappointing run persisted, also not by much.

Picking a winner beforehand was possibly easier than deciding afterwards who deserved to win.  There was a try apiece and in the end kicks counted.

Ireland had more chances to score as the penalty count was 10-3 inch their favour.  Ironically, in view of the events at Twickenham in the England-France match, Hodgson did not miss a kick at goal while Ronan O'Gara of Ireland missed three kicks at goal.

The Irish line-out generally functioned smoothly, the English one iffishly.  The England scrummaging was stronger.  The tackle-ball for both sides was generally on the slow side.

Ireland played into the breeze in the first half but ended it leading 12-10, thanks to four Ronan O'Gara kicks.

For the first part of the half, Ireland dominated and had better opportunities, but in the end England were on the surge.

Ireland were close early on when Brian O'Driscoll, who had his thigh rubbed in public before the match, flipped a pass to Shane Horgan who grubbered down towards the corner-flag on England's right.  Jason Robinson saved but went into touch doing so.

That gave Ireland a fiver-metre line-out but they turned it into a shambles.  They recovered and O'Gara dropped a soaring goal.  3-0 to Ireland after four minutes.

Then came a surprising try.  The referee was playing advantage in England's favour.  Lewis Moody charged and went down in a heaped tackle area.  Suddenly Martin Corry picked up and charged 35 metres, straight ahead, unchallenged.  Charlie Hodgson converted.  7-3 to England after six minutes.

The try was not without its talking point as the opening for Corry seemed to have been created when Danny Grewcock tackled O'Gara who was stationed in defence.

John Hayes charged after England had yielded a turnover.  England went off-side in front of their posts.  O'Gara goaled.  7-6 to England after eight minutes.

O'Gara set up and scored.  He dummied, broke strongly.  Steve Thompson went into the side of the tackle/ruck and O'Gara kicked an easy goal.  9-7 to Ireland after 12 minutes.

The sucrose refused to settled down.  Hodgson kicked a wobbly diagonal to Mark Cueto who played back to Jason Robinson.  Ireland survived.  But England had their chance when Simon Easterby did illegal things with his hand at a tackle/ruck and from the half-way line, admittedly in front of the posts, Hodgson easily cleared the crossbar.  10-9 to England after 24 minutes.

England had a half chance when Foley lost the ball in a heavy tackle but a penalty took Ireland to a five-metre line-out.  Again they messed it up and again O'Gara dropped for goal.  From the left, the ball hit the right upright and bounced inwards and over.  12-10 to Ireland after 32 minutes.  There was a a clever little interplay by Harry Ellis and Josh Lewsey.  Hodgson kicked diagonally for Cueto who got ahead but was called for being ahead of the kicker.

Ireland led 12-10 at half-time.

England started the second half with a rumble.  A Hodgson grubber produced a six-metre line-out to Ireland.  Ireland cleared.

Ellis obstructed but O'Gara missed the kick.  Ireland had as good patch of attack till a long, long kick by Hodgson made Ireland throw in at a line-out five metres from their line.  Ireland survived but now it was England's turn to attack.  Jamie Noon broke sharply and got to three metres from the Irish line.

Hodgson dropped high for goal.  It bisected the uprights.  13-12 to England after 56 minutes.

Ireland got back into the England half and then came splendour.  Denis Hickie, from the left wing, broke at outside centre going right.  Geordan Murphy sold a convincing dummy to Hodgson and then got a pass to O'Driscoll who was on the tight touch-line.  It was not a comfortable pass but O'Driscoll put a left hand back and hauled the ball in to surge over in the corner and round for the try.  O'Gara converted.  19-13 with 22 minutes to play.

There was heaps of hectic activity in those 22 minutes but not a single score.

Hodgson kicked a diagonal for big Ben Kay, but he slapped it ahead and Anthony Foley was unhand to clear the Irish line.

O'Driscoll set Ireland on the attack with a long kick downfield and then Ireland drove a maul a long way towards the England line.  O'Gara dropped with his left foot -- and missed.

Hodgson charged down an O'Gara clearance in the Irish 22, but Murphy saved and Ireland cleared.

Hodgson kicked his third diagonal kick.  Cueto caught.  Hickie tackled Cueto.  Cueto popped the pass back to Lewsey.  Hickie tackled Lewsey.  Lewsey gave to Cueto.  Murphy tackled Cueto as Irish reinforcements arrived.

There was a defining moment with six minutes to go.  England made a penalty into a five-metre line-out which they made into a maul which they nudged at the Irish line where things fell down.  The ball was buried in a heap, and the referee awarded a scrum to Ireland five metres from their line.  They cleared.

England went sweeping down on the right with long passes and at speed but there was a forward pass.  Ireland won the scrum and Peter Stringer hoofed the ball into the crowd.  The final whistle went.

It was a breathlessly tense match.

Remarkably there were only two substitutions in the match -- Matt Dawson for Harry Ellis and Marcus Horan for Reggie Corrigan.

O'Gara's third kick took him to 500 points in Test rugby.

Man of the Match:  Not easy.  Mark Cueto had strong and eager moments.  Charlie Hodgson gave his side every chance to win.  But Martin Corry was the Englishman who really stood out.  There was Geordan Murphy, strong on defence, creative on attack.  There was the bustling power of Anthony Foley.  Denis Hickie made a try and saved a try.  But our choice is Ronan O'Gara -- two dropped goals, some great clearances especially into the wind in the first half, pin-point passing and one clean break.

Moment of the Match:  There the sight of Martin Corry galloping bewilderingly off towards the line.  There was Brian O'Driscoll's try.  There was the England maul that stopped at the Irish line with the subsequent scrum to Ireland.  But our moment of the match was provided by Denis Hickie as twice within seconds he saved a certain try with two decisive tackles.

Villain of the Match:  There were tiny moments of emotion and some grimaces of disapproval but composure did not slip into villainy.  No award.

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Try:  O'Driscoll
Con:  O'Gara
Pens:  O'Gara 2
Drops:  O'Gara 2

For England:
Try:  Corry
Con:  Hodgson
Pen:  Hodgson
Drop:  Hodgson

The teams:

Ireland:  15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Girvan Dempsey, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Shane Horgan, 11 Dennis Hickie, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Anthony Foley, 7 Johnny O'Connor, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Malcolm O'Kelly, 3 John Hayes, 2 Shane Byrne, 1 Reggie Corrigan (Marcus Horan, 67).
Unused replacements:  16 Frankie Sheahan, 18 Donncha O'Callaghan, 19 Eric Miller, 20 Guy Easterby, 21 David Humphreys, 22 Kevin Maggs.

England:  15 Jason Robinson (captain), 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Josh Lewsey, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Harry Ellis (Matt Dawson, 69), 8 Martin Corry, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Joe Worsley, 4 Danny Grewcock, 5 Ben Kay, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Graham Rowntree.
Unused replacements:  16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Duncan Bell, 18 Steve Borthwick, 19 Andy Hazell, 21 Andy Goode, 22 Ollie Smith.

Referee:  Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges:  Joël Jutge (France), Eric Darrière (France)
Assessor:  Michel Lamoulie (France)
Television match official:  Huw Watkins (Wales)

Wales stun France in Paris

The Williams and Jones show leaves Paris open-mouthed

Wales recorded one of the greatest victories of their illustrious history in Paris on Saturday, producing a stunning fightback to beat France 24-18 at the Stade de France -- and remain on course for the 2005 RBS Six Nations grand slam.

Rugby matches do not come more gripping!  It was a splendid match at magnificent Stade de France on Saturday evening as Wales continued on their merry way.

Wales simply turned the match on its head in the second half with one of the greatest fightbacks of recent times.  It was a great display of character and skill.

It was thrilling, gripping, adventurous -- the best of rugby football.  Forget the half-time score, France were all over Wales in the first half.  They were all over Wales for much of the second half but when Stephen Jones turned his back on the French and booted the ball over his own dead-ball line to end the match Wales were the winners.

Not allowed to wear the beer brand BRAINS on the jerseys, Wales wore BRAWN instead.  There was brawn -- and a lot besides ... like brain, sinew and heart.

It was a great day for rugby football and all that is best in the game.

What a start!  The speed and the intensity of that first half were high and France ran left and right and all over the field.

Suddenly the French were the French that everybody, especially the French, want the French to be.  They ran onto icy Stade de France and were on fire from the start.  Had their opponents been lesser mortals than the Welsh the score would have been lots, lots more than 15-6 at half-time.

The revelation was fullback Julien Laharrague, usually a wing for Brive.  He is 26 and making his very first appearance for France.  A secret weapon kept in reserve for just such an occasion.  He was fast and skilled and caused the Welsh defence much anxiety.

Laharrague was part of an attack down the left wing that came back towards the right.  The ball came back quickly to Dimitri Yachvili who dummied to pass right, swivelled and came left, sold another dummy and just swept through for a try which he converted.  7-0 after four minutes.

And the French kept on attacking.  Yann Delaigue was playing a more varied game than he had managed in the first half.  He ran to his right on the break and gave to Jauzion who slipped past a falling Gavin Henson.  He gave to big, strong, fast Aurélien Rougerie who stormed ahead and managed to twist and force his way over as three Welshmen sought to stop him.  12-0 after just eleven minutes!

It looked as if a hiding was on the way,

Wales were being destroyed in the scrum.  Rougerie and Laharrague and Traille and Jauzion were running free, but somehow the Welsh kept plugging the holes, till they had a chance to break out down the right.  Rougerie was forced to kick a grubber out.  From the line-out Sylvain Marconnet was off-side and Stephen Jones made it 12-3.

Traille had a great run but Gareth Thomas stomped him dead in full flight.

Yachvili goaled a penalty.  15-3 after 25 minutes.  A French victory seemed a formality.  Their forwards and backs attacked again and again with Serge Betsen and Yannick Nyanga prominent.  Marconnet just put a left foot into touch as he went over in the corner.  Rougerie thumped off Shane Williams but Wales countered off a French knock-on and surged into French territory.  When Jérôme Thion did wrong things at a tackle, Stephen Jones made it 15-6.

Two different teams came out for the second half.  The players wore the same names and clothes, but they were changed.

Now the Welsh were the ones running free, and it started when France seemed to be doing a de rigeur attack.  The ball went loose and Stephen Jones raced 50 metres down the field to the French 22 on the right.  Back the ball came left to Shane Williams on the left wing.  He darted and played inside to Martyn Williams who crossed far out and then ran round to the posts.  Stephen Jones converted.  15-13.

Shane Williams sparked the next Welsh rush and Wales moved the ball from touch-line to touch-line.  France were penalised seven metres from their line.  Wales tapped and charged.  France were penalised five metres from their line.  Wales tapped and charged and Martyn Williams reached out a telescopic arm to score in the corner.  Wales led 18-15 and a phoenix miracle was on the cards as they carried on with their marvellous madness.

In their own 22 they tapped a penalty and ran till they knocked on on the French 22.

The French were not finished and attacked hotly till Frédéric Michalak kicked the drop that made it 18-all with 19 minutes to play.

Three minutes later Betsen was penalised and Stephen Jones made it 21-18.  The thrill of it!

France got a penalty in their 22 and ran.  Rougerie bumped off Kevin Morgan and replacement Imanol Harinordoquy surged ahead but fell wrongly and Wales turned the ball over.  Madly, they did not kick.  Instead replacement scrum-half Gareth Cooper broke.  The Welsh ran.  A grubber.  Rougerie scrambled it out.  A line-out.  A drop -- and the drop bisected the uprights.  24-18, and all the druids and choirs must have been singing from Paris via the Rhondda to eternity.

There were still nine minutes to play, and France attacked for every one of those 540 seconds.

A scrum collapse led to a line-out six metres from France's line.  The French bashed.  William Servat was stopped three metres out.  Jean-Philippe Grandclaude was stopped by the length of his name from the Welsh line.  Grégory Lamboley was stopped three metres out.  Servat was stopped three metres out, and the ball became unplayable.

The scrum was five metres from the Welsh line.  Wales were penalised.  France opted for another scrum.  Wales were penalised.  France opted for another scrum.  But this time Harinordoquy failed to control the ball and Cooper scrambled it away.  But back came France with every weapon in their amoury till Grandclaude lost the ball.  Scrum to Wales -- a fragile scrum which somehow they won.  Cooper gave to Stephen Jones who turned his back and kicked it dead.

Man of the Match:  Shane Williams sparked things, Aurélien Rougerie was endlessly threatening, young Yannick Nyanga was skilful -- but our man-of-the-match was calm, effective Stephen Jones who did more than anybody else to win the match.

Moment of the Match:  There were glorious moments -- more than the tries but probably the moment was when Stephen Jones turned his back and booted the ball high into the stand behind his dead-ball line.  Then joy!

Villain of the Match:  Nobody.  All those people on the field should be enshrined forever.  They were the way the game should be conducted and played.

The scorers:

For France:
Tries:  Yachvili, Rougerie
Con:  Yachvili
Pen:  Yachvili
Drop:  Michalak

For Wales:
Tries:  M Williams 2
Pens:  S Jones 3
Con:  Jones
Drop:  Jones

The teams:

France:  15 Julien Laharrague, 14 Aurélien Rougerie, 13 Yannick Jauzion, 12 Damien Traille (Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, 46), 11 Christophe Dominici, 10 Yann Delaigue (Frédéric Michalak, 49), 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Julien Bonnaire (Imanol Harinordoquy, 59), 7 Yannick Nyanga, 6 Serge Betsen, 5 Jérôme Thion (Grégory Lamboley, 74), 4 Fabien Pelous (captain), 3 Nicolas Mas (Olivier Milloud, 49), 2 Sébastien Bruno (William Servat, 41), 1 Sylvain Marconnet.
Unused replacements:  20 Pierre Mignoni.

Wales:  15 Gareth Thomas (Rhys Williams, 41), 14 Kevin Morgan (Ceri Sweeney, 53-67), 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel ( Gareth Cooper, 67), 8 Michael Owen, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Ryan Jones (Jonathan Thomas, 77), 5 Rob Sidoli, 4 Brent Cockbain, 3 Adam Jones (John Yapp, 67), 2 Mefin Davies (Robin McBryde, 65), 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Unused replacements:  19 Robin Sowden-Taylor.

Referee:  Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Touch judges:  Alain Rolland (Ireland), Dave Pearson (England)
Assessor:  Jim Irvine (Ireland)
Television match official:  Carlo Damasco (Italy)

Scotland bore Italy into the ground

Paterson kicks Azzurri to death

Scotland recorded their first RBS Six Nations win since 2003 by recording a 18-10 victory over Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday, thereby relinquishing the wooden spoon that they picked up last season.

Italy had the better of the first half on a cold afternoon of drizzle, Scotland of the second -- but it was a match of much kicking which would not have been out of place at Celtic Park.

Chris Paterson scored all Scotland's points with six penalty goals.  Italy got a try with a minute to go but their pursuit of victory was frustrated by missing three penalty goals and a comfortable dropped goal.

Scotland came into meaningful Italian territory three times in the first half and led 6-3 at the break.

Partly this was Italy's fault.  They missed two kicks at goal from penalties and one from a wayward drop attempt.  Partly it was Scotland's good play as they defended against the waves of Italian attack on their line, close-quarters, bashing stuff.

On the first two occasions Italy were penalised in the half -- when Marco Bortolami and then Martín Castrogiovanni infringed at tackle/rucks -- Chris Paterson scored from penalties.

In between Roland de Marigny managed to get one over when the Scottish backs went off-side a few metres from their line.  This followed a massive Italian attack after Paterson had dropped a high ball and Andrea Lo Cicero led the attack.

The Scots started off running wide to the wings, and then meekly subsided into kicking.  The Italians kicked as a first principle.  Their second principle was a maul, reminiscent of the ancient Roman arm's tortoise formation, the testudo.

At half-time Scotland led 6-3.

There were light moments in the second half.  Dan Parks ran for the only time in the match and broke sharply till his confidence deserted him.  The Scots stole an Italian line-out on their left and spun it wide for big Sean Lamont to bash his way over the line ... only to be called back for a forward pass.

With nine minutes left Paterson made it 15-3 and then 18-3 with five minutes left.  Italy put pressure on, and big Sergio Parisse charged down an attempted clearance by replacement Gordon Ross.  Andrea Masi dived on the ball in the Scotland in-goal.  De Marigny converted.

There was a minute left.  Scotland were penalised.  Italy tapped and went but lost the ball and then Scotland looked as if they wanted to score a try but were tackled out at the right corner.

The final whistle went.

Man of the Match:  There were two players who tried to run with the ball -- Sean Lamont of Scotland and Andrea Masi of Italy.  Sean Lamont did it better and is our man-of-the-match.

Moment of the Match:  It had to be the charge-down by Sergio Parisse and the try by Andrea Masi.

Villain of the Match:  Nobody, unless it was an overused boot.

The scorers:

For Scotland:
Pens:  Paterson 6

For Italy:
Try:  Masi
Con:  De Marigny
Pen:  De Marigny

The teams:

Scotland:  15 Chris Paterson, 14 Simon Webster, 13 Andy Craig, 12 Hugo Southwell (Ben Hinshelwood, 71), 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks (Gordon Ross, 73), 9 Chris Cusiter (Mike Blair, 78), 8 Allister Hogg, 7 Jon Petrie, 6 Simon Taylor (Jon Dunbar, 75), 5 Scott Murray (Nathan Hines, 75), 4 Stuart Grimes, 3 Gavin Kerr ( Bruce Douglas, 73), 2 Gordon Bulloch (captain), 1 Tom Smith.
Unused Replacements:  16 Robbie Russell.

Italy:  15 Roland de Marigny, 14 Mirco Bergamasco (Kaine Robertson, 73), 13 Christian Stoica (Roberto Pedrazzi, 58), 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Luciano Orquera (Paul Griffen, 68), 9 Alessandro Troncon, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 David dal Maso, 6 Aaron Persico, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Santiago Dellapè (Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 63), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Salvatore Perugini, 63), 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Unused replacements:  16 Giorgio Intoppa, 19 Silvio Orlando.

Referee:  Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges:  Chris White (England), Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assessor:  Jim Bailey (Wales)
Television match official:  Geoff Warren (England)

France overhaul England in London

Yachvili's boot trumps two tries from the hosts

What a thriller!  What a sea change!  The boot beat the tries at Twickenham, and this time it was not the boot of Jonny Wilkinson but the boot of Dimitri Yachvili that gave France an unexpected 18-17 Six Nations victory at Twickenham after England's had led 17-6 at half-time.

The narrow victory kept France on course to retain their Six Nations title, setting up fascinating encounters with Ireland and Wales.

At half-time France were rudderlessadrift and heading for the rocks of defeat.  Then in the second half coach Bernard Laporte made three changes and France burst into life.  Gone was hesitance and gone was the ill-discipline that conceded many penalties.

In the first half France were penalised eight times to six.  In the second half France were penalised three times to seven.

England scored two wonderful tries but the penalty kicks were wayward.  In all they missed six penalties.  With three minutes to go and France leading 18-17 England had a five-metre scrum after Jamie Noon had forced Christophe Dominici's to carry over.  England bashed Charlie Hodgson to a comfortable position in front of the posts but his drop-kick attempt was not near.

As time ran out, England were back near the French line after Jason Robinson had kicked long to his left, but France won the line-out and Yachvili, the man with the Midas boot, slapped a kick into touch, and the final whistle went -- to set the French cheering, dancing, hugging and singing.

It had rained all over Britain -- heavy rain with nasty winds -- and Twickenham barely disguised its muddy base.  Divots came loose and players' garb was soon blackened.

One would then expect a match of many stoppages but in the first half there were only five scrums and 11 line-outs.  Much of this was thanks to the positive enthusiasm of the England side.  The forwards got stuck in, the kicking was clever and the attempts to play with the backs creative.

France had little of the half as their hands were shaky and their defence wonky.  Without Serge Betsen they would have made precious few tackles.  A one-tackler team?  That one tackler certainly had the deadly measure of Jason Robinson.

If England's goal kicking had been better they would have been even further ahead at the break than their encouraging 17-6 lead.  Charlie Hodgson and Olly Barkley each missed two penalty kicks at goal.

France got the first score.  Betsen won a turnover and Jimmy Marlu chased a long grubber.  Mark Cueto, not far from his goal-line, hung on.  Dimitri Yachvili goaled from an awkward angle.

England kept charging, changing angles, looking for chances.  Ben Kay had a great charge and then England got a try.

They got scruffy ball from a scrum but Jamie Moon came in for a short pass and burst clean through.  He drew Pépito Elhorga and gave Barkley a straight run to the posts.  Hodgson converted.  7-3 to England after 20 minutes.

Yachvili missed scoring from a long kick when it bounced off an upright, but when Damien Traille was penalised at a tackle, Hodgson made it 10-3.  Yachvili goaled when England were penalised for a harsh obstruction.  10-6.

England bashed and bashed and bashed on the left.  Then they went wide on the right and back on the left where Josh Lewsey cut and swerved and scored.  Hodgson converted.  17-6 after 36 minutes.

The first change for France in the second half was a debutant -- Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, a burly three-quarter who came on for injured Jimmy Marlu.  France did all sorts of shuffling.  Grandclaude went to centre, Damien Traille to fullback and Elhorga, who had looked rickety, to left-wing.  And then they brought on Frédéric Michalak and had a lively flyhalf who varied play and passed the rugby ball instead of one who stood back and either kicked or flung the rugby ball.

Then came the three effective substitutions and suddenly William Servat, on for stodgy Sébastien Bruno, charged with a purpose.  Suddenly France had life, but it was not the life that ever looked like giving birth to a try, not against England's watertight defence.

Instead it was the left boot of Yachvili that brought them higher, higher -- and over.

When Lewis Moody held on, Yachvili made it 17-9.  When Moody used hands at tackle time, Yachvili made it 17-12.  When Moody, went off-side at a poor kick by Harry Ellis, Yachvili made it 17-15.

Just after that Yachvili tried one from the half-way line when Robinson held on.  The kick rose high and true but dropped just under the bar, and a lot of Twickenham said "Whew"!

Then England were penalised at a maul when Graham Rowntree went in at the side, not an easy kick on Yachvili's right and 37 metres out and wide, but the kick was true, and France led 18-17 with 11 hectic, frantic minutes still to play.

Man of the Match:  Has any player ever in the history of the game tackled more often and more effectively than Serge Betsen did on Sunday?  But our man-of-the-match has to be Dimitri Yachvili of the cool boot -- the scrum-half who did not get a starting place the week before.

Monument of the Match:  There was Jaime Noon's sharp break for Olly Barkley's try but probably the moment -- cruel as it may seem -- was the missed dropped goal with three minutes to go.

Villain of the Match:  Nobody really.  In a match of such intensity nobody has time to be nasty, though Martin Corry, for a charge on Pépito Elhorga after the whistle for a mark, and Elhorga himself for throwing the ball into touch were perhaps fortunate to avoid spending time watching rather than playing.

The scorers:

For England:
Tries:  Barkley, Lewsey
Cons:  Hodgson 2
Pen:  Hodgson

For France:
Pens:  Yachili 6

The teams:

England:  15 Jason Robinson, 14 Mark Cueto (Ben Cohen, 70), 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Josh Lewsey, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Harry Ellis (Matt Dawson, 73), 8 Martin Corry (Andy Hazell, 61-67), 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Danny Grewcock, 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Graham Rowntree.
Unused replacements:  16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Andy Sheridan, 18 Steve Borthwick, 21 Henry Paul.

France:  15 Pépito Elhorga, 14 Christophe Dominici, 13 Damien Traille, 12 Brian Liebenberg, 11 Jimmy Marlu (Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, 43), 10 Yann Delaigue (Frédéric Michalak, 67), 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Sébastien Chabal (Yannick Nyanga, 49), 6 Serge Betsen, 5 Jérôme Thion, 4 Fabien Pelous (Grégory Lamboley, 80), 3 Nicolas Mas (Olivier Milloud, 49), 2 Sébastien Bruno (William Servat, 49), 1 Sylvain Marconnet.
Unused replacements:  20 Pierre Mignoni.

Referee:  Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
Touch judges:  Alan Lewis (Ireland), Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Assessor:  Jim Bailey (Wales)
Television match official:  Huw Watkins (Wales)

Ireland muscle past Scotland

Visitors maul the Scots out of the game

Ireland smashed Scotland 40-13 at a mud-smudged Murrayfield in Round Two of the 2005 Six Nations after Scotland had started the match with much hope until the Irish pack took over and simply mauled their hosts to pieces.The Irish maul descended on the Scots like salt upon a snail and they shrivelled.

Scotland had two patches in each half of the match when they ran with ball in hand and the world looked promising for them, but really its was the Irish pack that took control in all phases, but above all through the maul and when the ball was on the ground.

Before the match at the line-up, there were 22 little Scots in front of their players to just one young Irish girl with her team.  Those almost seemed the odds for the first 12 minutes of the game as the Scots attacked with width and enthusiasm as they fed off quick ball.  Then they scored a try and seemed to think that they had done enough.

After that try which gave them an 8-0 lead, the Irish pack simply mauled them into the ground.  The Scots got no more ball and Irish muscle produced two tries and an 18-8 lead at the break.  But the Irish tries had nothing of the splendour of the Scots'.

On the muddy field with the wind at their backs the Scots attacked.  They eschewed an early penalty chance in search of a try, which did not come.  The second time they took the penalty and Chris Paterson scored.  3-0 after 8 minutes.

The try was majestic.  Not far out from his 22 and in midfield Paterson gathered a kick and set off down the field.  Irish defence opened like the Red Sea for Moses and on the Scottish fullback sped.

At the Irish 22 he looked to his right and a pass found centre Hugo Southwell on the right wing.  The sturdy centre sped for the corner and went over.  8-0 after 12 minutes.

Ireland's comeback in the match started quietly when Ronan O'Gara kicked a penalty after Tom Smith had held on in a tackle.

Scotland were still all right, but Stuart Grimes grabbed Malcolm O'Kelly's collar in a line-out.  That penalty became a line-out ten metres from the Irish line.  The offended O' Kelly caught the ball in the line-out and his pack mauled him over to celebrate his 70th cap for Ireland, Ireland's most capped player ever.  O'Gara converted.  10-8 to Ireland after 24 minutes.

Ireland came close again when O'Gara chipped and Shane Horgan lost the ball in the act of scoring.

O'Gara goaled a penalty when Jason White used his hands when he should not have.  13-8 after 36 minutes.

Ireland attacked.  Scotland had a line-out five metres from their line.  A knock-on became a five-metre scrum to Ireland.  That became a free kick which Anthony Foley tapped, and eventually the Irish pack mauled Paul O'Connell -- captain for the day -- over.  O'Gara surprisingly missed the easy conversion.  18-8 at half-time.

In the second half Scotland won a difficult scrum five metres from their line.  Allister Hogg drove but Jonny O'Connor won a turnover and the Irish were off to the left.  Horgan was felled but got the ball back and O'Gara threw a basketball pass to Denis Hickie who scored.  O'Gara converted from touch.  25-8.

O'Gara kicked a penalty and after 48 minutes Ireland led 28-8, at which stage Scotland starting playing with the ball in hands and looked like the team that had done so well early in the match.  They were rewarded with a clever try.

A penalty made a five-metre line-out.  Scotland won the ball and formed a maul which drove but the maul was a decoy and instead Jon Petrie, peeling from the back, took a little popped pass, turned left and drove through Shane Byrne and Peter Stringer to score as O' Kelly tried to stop him.  28-13.

At this stage Scotland were running but then a penalty became a line-out 15 metres out and Ireland put on the maul again.  Frankie Sheahan drove infield and then the ball came back towards touch where O' Kelly gave a sympathetic pass to massive John Hayes who scored in the corner, a try his laughing side enjoyed as teams always do when props score tries.  33-13 with five minutes to play.

As time ebbed away, Scotland knocked on -- a gross knock-on.  Horgan picked up and ran down the left.  He gave a perfect pass to young replacement Gavin Duffy who scored a try in his first Six Nations match.

David Humphreys -- on for O'Gara -- converted from far out and the final whistle went.

Man of the match:  There was one Scottish candidate -- Chris Paterson who looked so full of running and produced the best individual run of the match, but really the heroes were Irish, starting with Geordan Murphy at fullback.  Really the pack deserved the accolades from the ground scavenging of Johnny O'Connor to the imperious line-out play of Malcolm O' Kelly.  The Irish pack was the collective man-of-the-match.

Moment of the Match:  Chris Paterson's startling run that led to Hugo Southwell's try.

Villain of the Match:  Although referee Joël Jutge got in the way of a promising Scottish move, we'll let him off.  No award -- all in all, a very well behaved match.

The scorers:

For Scotland:
Tries:  Southwell, Petrie
Pen:  Paterson

For Ireland:
Tries:  O'Kelly, O'Connell, Hickie, Hayes, Duffy
Cons:  O'Gara 2, Humphreys
Pens:  O'Gara 3

The teams:

Scotland:  15 Chris Paterson, 14 Simon Danielli, 13 Andy Craig, 12 Hugo Southwell, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Chris Cusiter (Mike Blair, 5-17, 71), 8 Allister Hogg, 7 Jon Petrie, 6 Jason White, 5 Scott Murray (Nathan Hines, 71), 4 Stuart Grimes, 3 Gavin Kerr, 2 Gordon Bulloch (captain), 1 Tom Smith.
Unused replacements:  16 Robbie Russell, 19 Jon Dunbar, 21 Gordon Ross, 22 Ben Hinshelwood.

Ireland:  15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Girvan Dempsey (Gavin Duffy, 75), 13 Shane Horgan, 12 Kevin Maggs, 11 Dennis Hickie, 10 Ronan O'Gara (David Humphreys, 75), 9 Peter Stringer (Guy Easterby, 75), 8 Anthony Foley, 7 Johnny O'Connor (Eric Miller, 66), 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Malcolm O'Kelly, 3 John Hayes, 2 Shane Byrne (Frankie Sheahan, 72), 1 Reggie Corrigan (Marcus Horan, 72).
Unused replacements:  18 Donncha O'Callaghan.

Referee:  Joël Jutge (France)
Touch judges:  Steve Walsh (New Zealand), Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Assessor:  Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)
Television match official:  Nigel Owens (Wales)

Wales put six tries past Italy

Welsh conquer Rome

Wales gave Italy a lesson in running rugby in Rome on Saturday, running in six tries as they notched up a 38-8 Six Nations victory at the Stadio Flaminio.

Wales had too much speed and finesse for Italy, the local forwards did well enough but their back were outplayed.

It would have been a drab match indeed had it not been for the electricity of Wales wing Shane Williams.

There was a happy atmosphere in Stadio Flaminio on an overcast day that threatened to melt into rain.  There was a group of spectators dressed as Roman legionnaires -- singing Land of My Fathers!  Mind you the team that sings its anthem best may just be Italy, cosmopolitan though they be as a team.

The first score of the match started with a moment of brilliance by Shane Williams.

Andrea Masi, the Italian centre grubbered ahead.  Williams picked it up, shuffled, darted and accelerated from just out side his 22.  Tom Shanklin took it on.  Wales won from a tackle on their right and net left.  Michael Owen bowled a long pass to Jonathan Thomas who scored far out.  Stephen Jones converted.  7-0 after five minutes.

Gareth Thomas nearly set up a try soon afterwards when he latched onto an Italian knock on, raced away from defenders and chipped.  But nippy Ludovico Nitoglia saved.

The knock-on may have had a bad effect on Italy as their backs were not nearly as creative as against Ireland.  Instead they resorted to kicking and kicking and kicking -- till late in the match.

Then Gavin Henson gave intimations of his humanity.  He beat two Italians with great strength and then chipped -- and Italy scored.  The little Italian fly-half Luciano Orquera charged the kick down just inside his half, picked up the ball and ran half the length of the field to shake off Shane Williams's pursuit and score far out.  7-5 after 11 minutes.

Ten minutes later, Shanklin broke.  Hauled down, Wales won the ball on their right.  They went left and Henson chipped high to his left where Tom Shanklin was taller than Nitoglia and scored in the corner.  12-3 after 21 minutes.

As against Ireland last weekend, Italy's goal-kicking in the first half just did not manage.  Roland de Marigny missed with two kicks which would have made a difference in the more competitive of the halves.

On the stroke of half-time Wales scored a good try which the crowd judged unfair and muttered loudly about.  From a shabby line-out Wales tidied up, Haldane Luscombe broke strongly through Masi and gave to Martyn Williams we ho drove at the goal-posts as De Marigny grabbed him.  Falling and turning Williams managed to press the ball against the base of the posts.  The television match official confirmed that it was a try.  Stephan Jones converted.  19-5 at half-time.

De Marigny got one over to make it 19-8 early in the second period.  Then Mirco Bergamasco chipped and put pressure on.  Wales cleared badly and Nitoglia cut through in the best Shane Williams fashion.  Italy attacked right.  They came back left and were going right again when prop Martin Castrogiovanni knocked on.

Wales then put the ball through phase after phase and suddenly Shane Williams did his dart dance.  The ball went right and big Brent Cockbain cut back through De Marigny for the try which gave the welsh most joy.  Stephen Jones converted.  26-8.

When Gareth Thomas counter-attacked Wales scored a brilliant try.  He cut through and gave to Martyn Williams who gave to Kevin Morgan, on for hamstrung Luscombe.  Morgan gave to Shane Williams, who darted over to score.  Stephan Jones converted 33-8.

At this stage there was much coming and going of replacements and substitutions and the match gained an air of unreality.

Wales got one more try when Shane Williams danced, Ceri Sweeney supported and gave to Robert Sidoli who scored in the left corner.

Land of our Fathers sounded over the Seven Hills of Rome -- an irony, for the land of Sidoli's fathers was Italy!

Just after this De Marigny fell awkwardly and had to be helped off -- in old-fashioned style between two medical men -- and Robin Sowden-Taylor came on for his first cap.

Man of the Match:  The two candidates were welsh -- industrious Martyn Williams and, our choice, Shane Williams for lifting the match out of mediocrity.

Moment of the Match:  Shane Williams picked up Andrea Masi's grubber and magic happened.

Villain of the Match:  Nobody, all good clean fun!

The scorers:

For Italy:
Try:  Orquera
Pen:  De Marigny

For Wales:
Tries:  J Thomas, Shanklin, M Williams, Cockbain, S Williams., Sidoli.
Cons:  Jones 4

The teams:

Italy:  15 Roland de Marigny (Matteo Barbini, 79), 14 Mirco Bergamasco, 13 Walter Pozzebon (Paul Kaine Robertson, 54), 12 Andrea Masi (Matteo Barbini, 21-24), 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Alessandro Troncon (Paul Griffen, 57), 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Mauro Bergamasco (David Dal Maso, 23), 6 Aaron Persico, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Santiago Dellapè (Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 58), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Salvatore Perugini, 58),

Wales:  15 Gareth Thomas (captain), 14 Hal Luscombe (Kevin Morgan, 54), 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones (Ceri Sweeney, 61), 9 Dwayne Peel (Gareth Cooper, 57), 8 Michael Owen, 7 Martyn Williams (Robin Sowden-Taylor, 75), 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Brent Cockbain (Ian Gough, 62), 3 Adam Jones (John Yapp, 62), 2 Mefin Davies (Robin McBryde, 62), 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Referee:  Andrew Cole (Australia)
Touch judges:  Stuart Dickinson (Australia), David Changleng (Scotland)
Assessor:  Colin High (England)

Ireland struggle to subdue Italy

Favourites go top of the table

A 28-17 victory over Italy in Rome on Sunday puts Ireland at the top of the Six Nations table, but the visitors didn't have it all their own way at Stadio Flaminio, and were forced to dig deep for their win.  During the anthems, the Italians sang about Italia with passion while the man beat the big drum.  For much of the match Italy played with passion and beat the drum.

Ireland took their chances and deserved the result, but it may just have been a bit of a Pyrrhic victory for Ireland as both their centres were helped off the field.

A hobbling Gordon D'Arcy was helped off after 28 minutes.  And at the end Brian O'Driscoll was also escorted off the field.  Ireland would rather play Scotland with those two stars next weekend.

There was a good crowd at Stadio Flaminio for a match which started in sunshine.  There was a lot of Irish support and The Fields of Athenry echoed round the Seven Hills of the Eternal City.

Ireland scored three tries to Italy's one, but Italy had a lot of the match.  They made fewer errors than Ireland and played their rugby with enthusiasm and creativity, but they just lucked the speed of O'Driscoll, Geordan Murphy and Denis Hickie.

The Italian pack gave the Irish pack a tough time.  When Ireland had a five-metre line-out their defence was firm.  When they had a chance to maul they made metres.  And they had the scrum of the first Six Nations weekend.  Ireland had a scrum five metres from their lone and Italy destroyed them.  The Irish managed to keep the ball but it was tough.

Early in the match it looked as if Italy were about to do what Scotland had done to France the day before.  In fact they could have been up at half-time had their goal kicker been of reasonable standard.  Fly-half Luciano Orquera missed three penalty attempts out of four, and so Italy gave their next kick, the hardest of the half, to Roland de Marigny who slammed it over.

Most of the half belonged to Italy who kept Ireland looking jittery and scored first when Orquera kicked a penalty from in front.  On 20 minutes Ireland attacked for the first time and when Italy went off-side Ronan O'Gara goaled to make it 3-all.

Up until then O'Gara's kicking out of hand had been wayward and contributed to Ireland's nervousness.  Five minutes later Brian O'Driscoll dummied to a decoy runner and broke on the outside of Gonzalo Canale, drew De Marigny and gave to Geordan Murphy.

Speedy Ludovico Nitoglia hauled him in but in the tackle, on his back, he placed the ball behind his head for the try, which the TMO confirmed.  An early chance gave O'Gara two shots at the conversion, but he missed both.

Half-time came with Ireland leading 8-6.

In the second half De Marigny scored first with a penalty for a tackle/ruck infringement.  That gave Italy a 9-8 lead.  Oh, for the missed trio of penalties!

Then O'Driscoll again sped past Canale.  He fed Hickie who gave to Shane Horgan.  Alessandro Troncon was about to bundle Horgan into touch when the big wing, used as a midfield punch for much of the game, flung the ball back over his head and straight into the arms of Peter Stringer who scored.  O'Gara converted to make it 15-9.

The try will be disputed for Horgan may well have got a toe onto the touch-line before throwing the ball infield.

O'Gara and De Marigny kicked penalties and it was 21-18 with 20 minutes to go.

Murphy then had a good break, but Italy came closer moments later.  Troncon chipped, the ball bounced, and speedy, small, young Nitoglia nipped in and grabbed the ball as Murphy and Girvan Dempsey tried to grab him.  Nitoglia tried to get the ball down with his right arm but a centimetre or less above the ground he lost the ball.  That gave Ireland a scrum and they survived.

From their battered scrum Ireland cleared the ball but Italy came back with a massive maul that got close tot he Irish line.  Ireland held firm and then De Marigny ended the attack with a missed drop.

O'Gara kicked another penalty, and then Ireland got a quick turnover and Murphy got a quick switch of a pass to Hickie who traced past Troncon to score.  O'Gara converted and it was 28-12 with four minutes left.  The score flattered Ireland.

The enthusiastic Italians came back and battered at the Irish line for burly prop Martín Castrogiovanni to score a try which delighted all of Italy.

Man of the Match:  Roland de Marigny, Alessandro Troncon, Andrea Lo Cicero and Mauro Bergamasco did well for Italy.  For Ireland there were star performances from Peter Stringer, Simon Easterby and, above all, Malcolm O' Kelly, but the man who made the difference, our man of the match, not for the first time, was Brian O'Driscoll.

Moment of the Match:  Peter Stringer's try made possible by that speculative throw back over his head by Shane Horgan.

Villain of the Match:  There was none.  There was not even nearly one.

For Italy:
Try:  Castrogiovanni
Pens:  Orquera, De Marigny 3

For Ireland:
Tries:  Murphy, Stringer, Hickie
Cons:  O'Gara 2
Pens:  O'Gara 3

The teams:

Italy:  15 Roland de Marigny, 14 Mirco Bergamasco, 13 Gonzalo Canale (Paul Kaine Robertson, 71), 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Alessandro Troncon, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Aaron Persico (David Dal Maso, 78), 5 Marco Bortolami(captain), 4 Santiago Dellapè (Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 66), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Fabio Ongaro (Giorgio Intoppa, 78), 1 Andrea Lo Cicero (Salvatore Perugini, 78)
Unused replacements:  20 Paul Griffen, 21 Walter Pozzebon.

Ireland:  15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Denis Hickie, 10 Ronan O'Gara (Girvan Dempsey, 29), 9 Peter Stringer (Munster), 8 Anthony Foley (Eric Miller, 77), 7 Denis Leamy, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Paul O'Connell (Donncha O'Callaghan, 77), 4 Malcolm O'Kelly, 3 John Hayes, 2 Shane Byrne (Frankie Sheahan, 77), 1 Reggie Corrigan (Marcus Horan, 61).
Replacements:  20 Guy Easterby, 21 David Humphreys.

Referee:  Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
Touch judges:  Tony Spreadbury (England), Roy Maybank (England)
Assessor:  David Kerr (Scotland)
Television match official:  Dave Pearson (England)

France toil to subdue spirited Scots

Great Scot, they almost did it!

It was a defeat that was a victory!  France won the opening match of the Six Nations when they beat Scotland 16-9 at Stade de France on a gloomy Parisian Saturday afternoon.  France scored more points but Scotland won everything else.

The pundits had them trounced, the 2004 wooden spoonists against the 2004 Grand Slammers.  But the wooden spoon came within seven minutes of outdoing the sceptre.  It was an heroic occasion, part of the glory of sport, the unpredictable.

The brave Scots shucked off their boardroom squabbles, the spate of injuries and the prophets of gloom to turn in a performance worthy of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace.

There were two decisions in the late stages of the match which will be debated long and with sad anger on dark Scottish evenings for years to come.

The Scots were leading 9-6 when Ali Hogg went running down the right-hand touch-line.  He broke free of the clutches of the French and went racing off to "score", but the touch judge decided that some miniscule part of his right heel had touched a fragment of the touch-line.

The Scots were leading 9-6 when Brian Liebenberg started an attack and Sylvain Marconnet won the ball back some four metres from the Scottish line.  France launched a hectic attack but the Scots defence was stern.  Then the referee gave Jon Petrie a yellow card for deliberately infringing, a crucial decision.

France tried winning from scrums but the seven-man Scots pack was honest and brave, and eventually Yann Delaigue capitulated and settled for a dropped goal.

That made it 9-all with seven minutes to play.

In those seven minutes Scotland had the first chance to score -- a remote chance.  Paterson's penalty attempt from inside his own half was straight but short.

The French, with bolstered loose forwards, suddenly had their liveliest period of play, winning turnovers for the first time in the match from the tired Scots and then came a heartbreak error.

Hugo Southwell was in the fullback position and kicked to clear.  Replacement Grégory Lamboley charged down the kick with two team-mates nearby.  Big Damien Traille got the ball and surged over for the try which won the match, as the TMO confirmed.  Frédéric Michalak, who had replaced Delaigue converted.

Traille's try was the first try of the 2005 Six Nations.

There were just under two minutes to play, a lively time but leaving the French winners.

There was a team in white in the first half.  They were labelled France, but it was hard to believe that they were as they did hardly a thing right, while the dogged Scots hung in there and had the better of the half, ending it with a great defensive victory as the French attacked in wave after wave.  Scotland led 6-0 at half-time, which was signalled by a referee's whistle and universal Gallic disapproval.

The only really good thing France did in the match was scrum.  That was also the worst thing the Scots did and they were penalised four times for scrum infringements.

In the first half, France had three kicks at goal, Yann Delaigue missed two simple ones with his left foot and Damien Traille missed from in front with his right foot.  Chris Paterson missed one but he nailed two, one when Jérôme Thion tackled and stuck to the tackler, and one when hirsute Sébastien Chabal went off-side.

For the rest it was the Scots.  Their line-outs were excellent, they won the turnovers, they had a simple game plan which involved Dan Parks leaning to his left and kicking to his right, and they tackled like killers.

In that half France put the ball into only two scrums while the fumbling hands of the French produced nine scrums for the Scots.  French handling was of a poor standard, starting with the service from Pierre Mignoni.

The good moments in the first half were a break by Andy Craig in the centre that led to the penalty against Thion, a big French attack which ended when Sean Lamont tackled Christophe Dominici out just short, a Scottish attack when Ali Hogg won a turnover, a Scottish pick-'n-drive, two brilliant bits of fielding by Paterson off French grubbers, a massive Jason White tackle on Brian Liebenberg and a Chris Cusiter break.  The best break of the second half was by Delaigue but a Cusiter tackle ended the threat.

It was not a great match but it was made gripping by the tenacity of the Scots, the closeness of the score and the possibility that the impossible would become a reality.

Man of the Match:  Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter.  There it is.  He outplayed his older opponent, his judgment was excellent, his passing crisp, long and sure, his determination unwavering and he managed a great break.  Close behind him was big Ali Hogg of the almost try.

Moment of the Match:  That almost try by Ali Hogg which will be watched over and over in slow motion.  It was a defining moment in the match.

Villain of the Match:  We suppose it was Jon Petrie for leaving his men a man short in those last seven critical minutes during which the French scored 10 points, but it was not malicious enough to be labelled villainy.

The scorers:

For France:
Try:  Traille
Con:  Michalak
Pens:  Delaigue 2
DG:  Delaigue

For Scotland
Pen:  Paterson 3

The teams:

France:  15 Pépito Elhorga, 14 Aurélien Rougerie (Ludovic Valbon, 17 -- Sébastien Bruno, 79), 13 Brian Liebenberg, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Christophe Dominici, 10 Yann Delaigue (Frédéric Michalak, 74), 9 Pierre Mignoni (Dimitri Yachvili, 79), 8 Patrick Tabacco (Yannick Nyanga, 64), 7 Sébastien Chabal, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Jérôme Thion (Grégory Lamboley, 70), 4 Fabien Pelous (captain), 3 Pieter de Villiers (Olivier Milloud, 51), 2 William Servat, 1 Sylvain Marconnet.

Scotland:  15 Chris Paterson, 14 Simon Danielli, 13 Andy Craig, 12 Hugo Southwell, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Allister Hogg, 7 Jon Petrie (Jon Dunbar, 80), 6 Jason White, 5 Scott Murray (Nathan Hines, 65), 4 Stuart Grimes, 3 Gavin Kerr (Bruce Douglas, 55), 2 Gordon Bulloch captain, 1 Tom Smith (Gavin Kerr, 75).
Unused replacements:  16 Robbie Russell, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Gordon Ross, 22 Ben Hinshelwood.

Yellow card:  Jon Petrie (69).

Referee:  Nigel Williams (Wales)
Touch judges:  Chris White (England), Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Assessor:  Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)
Television match official:  Simon McDowell (Ireland)