Bonus Points
Bonus points, or more accurately, the lack of bonus points on the opening weekend could potentially have the old guard screaming that their point has been made. We actually saw only two bonus points be awarded to Ireland and France for coming close in their defeats. So no attacking bonus points, across three games no team managed to score four tries.
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| Hogg & Scotland were full of attacking intent, but failed to pick up the bonus point. |
Despite this, no one can argue that there wasn't a greater emphasis by teams to attack and score tries. Scotland, especially, look like a totally different team than the one that existed five years ago. Gone is the battle for territory, and the taking of any points when on offer. Instead, we see a team kicking to the corner and pulling off trick lineouts, a team running the ball back when it's kicked to them, but most of all a team that wants to score tries. Ireland too have turned the corner from their kick based territory game into one with more flow and pace. Both teams scored three tries apiece and both should arguably have found a way to score a fourth.
France and England both struggled to get over the try line, but again were intent on keeping the ball in hand and alive. Wales also struggled in the damp conditions out in Italy to unleash the ball at high tempo. As teams begin to find their rhythm and conditions improve the tries will come, bonus points will yet play a huge role in the end.
France are on the verge
Let's state something, France should have won at Twickenham, but they never looked capable of actually putting England to death. For the last five years we've witnessed a France team devoid of expression, emotion and game plan. They played dull rugby, with depressingly poor skills, it was the death of a giant who should be competing for the title instead of trying to avoid the Wooden Spoon.
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| Scott Spedding had a great game from fullback, both counter attacking and kicking. |
What a change a year (and a new coach) makes, France now are team who are rediscovering what made them feared by even the All Blacks, aggressive bulldozing forwards who produce yards, combined with backs given the license to play and thrive. It's been so long since we've been able to enjoy the French backline, but now with the likes of Vakatawa, Fickou and Serin it is full of flair. Louis Picamoles is at his best breaking tackles and making yards with ease, alongside such behemoths like Vahaamahina and Antonio capable of dominating the gainline and the French pack may just have the fear factor they've been missing.
They're still rusty, these players are still stuck in a league which focuses on grinding out wins rather than flamboyance and skill, so being asked to play a far more expansive game while in the blue of France is a tall order. It was clear that France are struggling to score tries, they should have had three or four against England but lost their nerve in the red zone and couldn't break through. If France can learn how to finish the plethora of chances they create there are few teams in the world who will stand against them.
Itoje is not Robshaw
Maro Itoje, wonder kid and future world star was pressed into the void left by Chris Robshaw at blindside flanker. It is a general consensus that long term Itoje's position is in the backrow, if that's true he still has a lot of work to do. Spectators are used to hearing Itoje's named mentioned repeatedly during a match by commentators, but last Saturday he was barely mentioned. He struggled to impose himself on the game, there were no lineout steals, no turnovers and his ball in hand time was unproductive.
None of this was too shocking, asking a player to change from second row to back row is a tall order on the test stage, but it was hoped that someone of Itoje's ability would make a better stab at it. Robshaw did a lot of the unseen work, winning breakdowns, making tough carries, and tackling at the fringes. Itoje is not this kind of player, his is does the flashy stuff: turnovers, wide channel tackles; and athletic ball carries.
Rumours are that Eddie Jones is going to persist with this selection, so if Itoje is being asked to fill in for Robshaw it's never going to work in its current format, therefore a rebalancing of the backrow might be in order if his future is to be at 6.
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| Itoje seemed subdued from the backrow, unable to have as much influence as he usually has. |
Warburton thrives
In another country the blind-side flanker experiment proved successful. Sam Warburton moved from his usual openside to the six shirt to accommodate Tipuric, and it went perfectly. Warburton acted as asked, he did the hard yard carries - often making more than he should -, he did the brutal tackles and the ruck clear outs. On top of this, he carried bolted on his insatiable desire to turn the ball over. It was the complete performance from a converted openside and it really does look like the start of
something great for Wales, at times Warburton and Tipuric could be seen hunting as a pair thriving off each other's talents.
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| Warburton did the gritty stuff as any 6 should. |
Warburton sacrificed the captaincy this spring in an effort to rediscover his best form, so far the sacrifice has been worth it a sterner test is up next with England in Cardiff, but the last time the Warburton/Tipruic duo took to the field against England the results were beyond amazing. Warburton needs to put together a string of good performances if he hopes to prove his worth for the Lions this summer, but the early signs are promising.
Subs win matches
How many times have we heard coaches say that rugby is a 23-man game these days? The number of times players are referred to as "impact subs", expected to be a game-changer in the final half an hour, is massive these days. But so rarely do we actually see substitutes swinging the tide of a match so significantly as it did last weekend, England and Wales the primary benefactors.
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| Te'o had a scoring intervention from the bench. |
England were being dominated all over the park, their back row were getting beaten up by the French giants, their half-backs been outclassed by the French pair and the back three regularly beaten by their counter parts. Then on came Haskell, Care, Te'o and Nowell. England's physicality shot up seven notches, able to finally win the gain line battle Care was awarded with quick ball with which to unleash the backline. The French bench was unable to match the quality levels and ultimately it cost them the victory as England got one opportunity to swing the game.
In Rome, Wales' victory came from two moments. The injury to Dan Biggar on the stroke of half-time introduced Sam Davies to the field, a player more adept at attacking the line and bringing players into the game. The Welsh backline was able to exert their dominance over the Italians and finally get on the front foot. Arguably the bigger swing in the game was the introduction of Rob Evans and Tomos Francis in the front row. Wales had been under the cosh at the set piece up until then, with the change suddenly they had a weapon to utilise and a supply of penalties. It eventually provided a yellow card and while a man up Wales made it count and scored two tries.
Substitutes have always been considered important, but rarely have they created game changing shifts like they did.
Injuries taking their toll
The Six Nations is known for its attritional nature with the team that starts in week one rarely the team that's available by the end. Although 2017 seems to have taken this to a whole new level, with players unavailable before the tournament even starts, even coaches are taking a beating. England are scraping the barrel for back row options, France lost their star Fofana early on and Picamoles was carrying a knock at full time. Wales' starters took a battering with Biggar leaving at half time and North battling through despite obvious discomfort. Scotland had to turn to Ross Ford within the first quarter at hooker, Finn Russell had a HIA. Ireland were missing O'Mahony, Payne and Sexton against Scotland.
Injuries are a part of rugby, but the number there are already is significant and teams are going to be tested on their strength of depth before too long. This could favour teams like England and Ireland who have the player depth, while the likes of Italy and Scotland will be hoping they can avoid the worst of the curse and keep their first team fresh.
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| Biggar obtained damage to his ribs in the win over Italy and faces a race to be fit to face England in Cardiff. |
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