Six Nations 2021: Six Talking Points from Round 4
Maro Itoje’s late try handed England a 23-20 victory over France at Twickenham on Saturday
Credit: Getty Images
If we ever needed a reminder that the Six Nations never disappoints us, this weekend was it.
Despite dodgy refereeing, COVID-19 outbreaks and broadcasting rights engulfing the tournament in recent weeks, the Six Nations delivered one of its best weekend of matches in recent memory in Round 4.
The weekend kicked off in fairly undramatic fashion as Wales picked up the usual five points against a woeful Italy - battering the Azzurri 48-7 in Rome.
Just hours later, all hell broke loose at Twickenham as England narrowly defeated France 23-20 in a game for the ages. It was tit for tat in West London before Maro Itoje just about squeezed the ball down to hand the Red Rose victory.
On Sunday, Scotland against Ireland was another thriller as the pendulum swung this way and that in an absorbing and physical contest that will have kept supporters in Dublin and Edinburgh on the edge of their seats.
Ireland eventually won the game 27-24 thanks to a late penalty from the nerveless Johnny Sexton and end Scotland’s potential title hopes.
Here are the key points from a breathtaking weekend of Six Nations rugby.
Attacking England matched Gallic flair in a game that warmed the cockles
Considering this was arguably England’s best performance since defeating New Zealand at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, it got off to a fairly inauspicious start after the electric Antoine DuPont gathered Teddy Thomas’ chip through to open the scoring after just 65 seconds.
While many England fans will have immediately started groaning in front of their TV sets, again watching their side get off to a sluggish start, the men in white paid no notice of the setback and immediately got to work.
In a game where England enjoyed the majority of the possession and territory, they would still had to be at their very best in order to break down the blue wall that defence guru Shaun Edwards has built.
France got off the line time and time again, pressing and harrying England while making big gainline tackles in the middle of the pitch.
However, Eddie Jones’ men learned their lessons from the opening day defeat to Scotland, playing an expansive game that shifted the point of focus time and again.
They went wide repeatedly, bypassing the rushing French defence in an attempt to exploit space opened up on the wings.
A superb strike play led to their first try for Anthony Watson after Henry Slade made an initial break that, for a short time, looked like it might take him all the way.
The ball was recycled and George Ford, who was excellent all day and made the second most passes by an individual player in the game, threw a wonderful flat ball for Watson who dived over to level things up.
It’s no coincidence that Jonny May and Watson were first and second in the metre makers for England, given their expansive gameplan. Additionally, England completed ten offload in this game alonem having previously only managed eight in the whole tournament before this match.
Despite Damian Penaud’s wonder try pegging them back, England kept plugging away and resisted resorting to the boot as they fought to get back into the game.
Max Malins was assured on debut while Billy Vunipola made 18 bone-shuddering runs as he gave Ben Youngs - who outshone his opposite number in a brilliantly sniping display - and George Ford the front foot ball they craved.
Owen Farrell’s boot kept them in the contest but they still trailed 16-20 going into the 75th minute before Maro Itoje burrowed over to hand the men in white the win.
Eddie Jones deserves credit both in his tactical switch and selection. Malins, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Charlie Ewels, who all came into the team from the Wales game, gave them added much-needed dynamism around the park.
His decision to take on France at their own game was vindicated and it’s not hard to imagine that if England had played risk-averse rugby, they would have been picked apart by this exciting Les Bleus outfit.
Jones clearly instructed his players to retain the ball, starve France of the thing they craved most and would put England to the sword if they had too much of it.
Fans, robbed of seeing it in person as we all moaned with pure joy from our sofas at some of the ability on our screens, were treated to an absolute treat at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon. As the old cliche goes, rugby was the real winner.
France the ideal opponents for special rugby spectacle
Damian Penaud finishes a backline move for France’s second try at Twickenham
Credit: Alastair Grant/AP
The England victory at Twickenham will naturally dominate how the game is remembered in the public consciousness, and fairly so. It was a vital win and a vastly improved performance.
However, it is hard to imagine the game would have been the spectacle it was without the involvement of a French side that are not only not afraid of running rugby but openly thrives on it.
England visibly came out from the start looking to play attacking rugby, but before they even got their hands on the ball in any significant way France had already shown the way the game would be played with a delightful opening score.
The way they moved the ball from phase one, the top-drawer decision making in their backline and their willingness to attack space has made this France side into one of the most intimidating prospects in world rugby right now.
In their opening foray, there was no better example of this than Gael Fickou.
He twice had the foresight not to throw balls out wide that would otherwise have led in all likelihood to interceptions or lost yards, choosing instead to cut back and avoid the blitz defence in favour of making yards through the crowded middle.
But the other side of France mirrored it within the same passage, with his centre partner Virimi Vakatawa needing no second opportunity to recognise space on the outside and go for it.
The flair of Teddy Thomas and Antoine DuPont’s almost telepathic knack of being in the right place at the right time ultimately finished the early score, but it was a warning sign to England of what they were facing.
Much of the pre-match talk had focused on the return of Romain Ntamack to the bench for the French, but on the field, Matthieu Jalibert showed that, almost inconceivably, the Toulouse out-half has a job on his hands just to get his shirt back.
The Bordeaux 10 reeled off another superb performance full of threat and commitment, backing up his efforts in defence and with the boot.
The try finished by Damian Penaud before half-time was the culmination of what this outstanding France team are capable of when they attack.
It was not only the clear try of the tournament so far but a try that deserved 82,000 fans to see it.
The inch-perfect movement of the ball across the line had clearly been practiced in training but also showed the skillset that all the players in that backline possess and the ability they have to think on their feet and make good decisions - the latter being something previous iterations of this side often failed to do.
The French forwards, as has been their way, also refused to be overawed by a much-vaunted England pack and matched their physicality to a dime until England managed to get some breakdown dominance in the last ten to fifteen minutes.
Credit needs to go to the 18 tackles produced by Paul Willemse, with 13 more for Alldritt and 12 for Ollivon, the four players to top 30 run metres (the entire back row and hooker Julian Marchand) and away from the stats, the 12 penalties their breakdown work managed to eke from England despite their improved discipline.
It was one of the beautiful ironies of this game that defeated France still arguably managed to come out with their own reputation enhanced with the way that they played the game.
It’s not too controversial to say that if any other Six Nations side - with the possible exception of Scotland just because of the way they tend to play their rugby - had taken to the field against England on Saturday instead of France, it wouldn’t have been half the spectacle it was.
Part of that credit needs to be given to a French side that will no doubt continue to be the jewel of the Six Nations crown in the years to come and is, in The Flanker’s opinion, still the best side in the tournament.
Wales cruise through Italian job to set up Grand Slam tilt
It gets to a point where there is little to say when a side such as Wales goes over and puts Italy away by 40+ points - we don’t necessarily learn a lot about teams’ overall credentials from the experience any more.
However, Wales nonetheless completed the job very professionally, with their fans certain to be happy with their side carving out some good quality tries and not taking their foot off the pedal in the second half.
Highlights will include another step in the meteoric rise of Louis Rees-Zammit, with the flyer chalking up 144 metres off nine runs and four clean breaks, and the opportunistic double scored by Ken Owens inside the first half-hour that had the entire nation roaring for a hat-trick score.
Ken Owens crashes over for one of his two tries against Italy
Credit: Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty
There is no doubt, too, that Wayne Pivac will be satisfied with both a 91% tackle success rate and a perfect set-piece record - both aspects of their game that will need to be on top form next weekend.
However, the great significance of the weekend’s result means that Wales now have the opportunity to go out to Paris next weekend and claim one of the more unprecedented Grand Slams in Six Nations history.
Lacklustre performances in last year’s tournament and the Autumn Nations Cup had expectations at a near all-time low coming in for this Welsh outfit.
Even though they have had the rub of the green along the way, Grand Slams do not happen by accident and Wales are looking more and more confident as they go.
Every week their performance level has built, with this weekend no exception even though it was not the sturdiest opposition. England and Ireland have both encountered stickier situations against Italy, particularly early on, than Wales allowed to occur.
Their backline play looks transformed, with both Dan Biggar and Callum Sheedy starting to find the keys to their outside talent, and the pack that they take such pride in are rediscovering that stranglehold the great Gatland sides were renowned for.
Callum Sheedy scored his first try for Wales against Italy
Credit: Ben Evans/Huw Evans/Shutterstock
All of which makes the final showdown on Super Saturday next weekend a prospect of enormous proportions.
Wales will go to Paris genuinely believing they can win, which is something it is hard to believe many of their players or fans would have considered such a strong possibility even a couple of months ago.
The clash between Slam-chasing Wales and the only other team that can stop their title charge, France, promises to be a mouth-watering one - even more so than clashes between these two normally are.
Look at last year’s classic in Cardiff if you need reminding of how good these games can be.
Make no mistake, however, in going to Paris they will encounter the toughest task of the current Six Nations calendar.
They are up against a French side that showed in their defeat to England exactly the threats they still pose. Many will fairly say on another day, they would have walked away from Twickenham with a win that none could argue would have been underserved.
This France outfit will also be burning to set the record straight following that defeat, knowing that victory over Wales leaves them with a TBC showdown with Scotland, also at home, to avenge the defeat that cost them the Grand Slam in 2020 and bring home the title that looks to have been theirs for the taking since Head Coach Fabien Galthie took over.
Put that all in a pot, add a little salt and pepper to taste and leave to simmer until next Saturday, and you will find yourself with the most magnificent rugby feast imaginable.
The Flanker is not going to sit here and tell you that one or the other will win - with the Welsh revival as we have seen it, the form book is out the window and it will depend entirely on what happens between the white lines in Paris.
But we will make one prediction - you won’t want to miss it.
Step aside Nigel Owens, Romain Poite is rugby's new Celebrity Ref
Since wise-cracking Welshman Nigel Owens hung up his whistle in December after becoming the first referee to officiate 100 Test Matches, we have missed out on a “Celebrity Ref” in the international game.
The Celebrity Ref, part fun uncle, part “cool” Geography teacher, are very much a marmite phenomenon. Either you find it hilarious or cringe at their “banter”.
Although Luke Pearce and Wayne Barnes do their best David Brent impression in the English domestic game (entertainer first, referee second) Romain Poite put in a stellar audition to claim the mantle in the Scotland vs Ireland match on Sunday.
To start off his afternoon, the affable Frenchman was flattened by a bit of Scottish prime steak in the form of Rory Sutherland as he got too close to the action in the first half.
Next, he quite literally dug deep to confirm if Tadhg Beirne’s try was legal or not as the giant Irishman was underneath a pile of bodies.
If that wasn’t enough, Poite was on hand to provide soothing words of comfort to Ireland’s captain Johnny Sexton as the Leinster man was instructed to talk to his players over their penalty count.
Sexton, perhaps seeing a repeat of the Pascal Gauzere madness two weeks earlier, furiously asked the Frenchman not to call time on until the defensive line was set and he had been given the chance to deliver a message to his players.
Ahhh Romain - that was almost sensual. If only you were there to comfort The Flanker during the Wales vs England game and whisper sweet nothings to a wound-up Owen Farrell.
Finally, as if his day wasn’t eventful enough, Poite’s whistle decided to break which meant a kind helper had to scurry on to deliver him a new one in order for him to signal Hamish Watson’s game levelling try.
Despite him being an intelligent, engaging and proficient referee, he does have an Inspector Clouseau-type energy at times and it sure came to the fore this weekend.
Amid the massive hits, excellent tries and ferocious rucks, Poite added a bit of levity to what was an extremely tense and nailbiting game.
Arise Sir Romain, the new “Celebrity Ref” of international rugby.
Ireland nail basics to withstand Scotland
Johnny Sexton nails Ireland’s winner against Scotland. CREDIT: Jane Barlow/PA
Finally, after over a year in charge of the national side, Andy Farrell has the statement win he was so desperately looking for.
For the best part of 60 minutes Ireland became the side he has tried to mold into throughout his tenure. They were flat track bullies both in attack and defense and while they weren’t the most cunning they didn’t have to be.
The first score saw the gameplan perfectly in action. Johnny Sexton put up a high booming kick which Stuart Hogg knocked on and with the Scots out of shape Sexton stepped up again to deliver a pin point crossfield kick just a few phases later which was eventually dotted down by Robbie Henshaw.
Similarly their second try was built off an Exeter Chiefs-like display of forward play. It was no surprise that all of Ireland’s back row were involved in the score eventually finished off by the incredibly impressive Tadhg Beirne who has surely put himself in strong contention for a Lions spot.
It was everything Farrell wanted: power, precision and constant harassment of the opposition. Don’t let tighthead Tadhg Furlong’s twinkle toes tell you otherwise.
Sexton, who was impressive all afternoon, then showed his leadership to edge his team in front when they were really up against it. After falling short in tight affairs against Wales and France they finally got it right when it mattered most.
As for Scotland it is hard to tell how they would feel after the match. On the positive side the second-half comeback was incredibly impressive especially given replacement scrum-half Scott Steele played flanker for the last 20 minutes.
Previous Scotland teams would have folded and let Ireland run over them but they are made of stronger stuff these days and deserve great credit for hauling themselves back into a game they had no real right to be in.
They finally started firing and Huw Jones’ score will give hope for Scottish fans that the Glasgow centre is finally making his way back to his 2018 form.
But there were glaring holes in their performances, notably at the set piece. They won just 2 of their 8 line outs, far from ideal for a side which relies on a strong platform for its dynamic backline.
Similarly they conceded 16 turnovers as Ireland honed in at the ball seemingly at every break down (the legality of this has been disputed post game but as the old saying goes it’s not cheating if you don’t get caught.)
They also struggled against Ireland’s kicking game and never seemed to be in full control of the proceedings as they saw their title hopes dashed.
Some will look to Zander Fagerson’s red card three weeks ago as the catalyst for this mini nosedive but there is still a lingering doubt about whether this Scotland team is built for one off performances, like theirs at Twickenham, rather than whole tournaments
A much needed win should be forthcoming against Italy next before the chance to secure a first victory in France since 1999 a week after. Gregor Townsend would surely be disappointed with just the two victories after their opening weekend performances so the pressure is on for the rescheduled game.
As for Ireland their physical tactics will be tested against England, who will be in confident mood after their victory over Les Bleus.
Ireland are slowly building into this year’s tournament and a win over their fiercest rivals on Saturday afternoon would give Farrell hope his team are finally on the right course.
Reports on the death of Test match rugby have been greatly exaggerated
Eddie Jones and Billy Vunipola share a joke after England’s 23-20 win over France.
CREDIT: Dan Mullan/The RFU Collection/Getty Images
In the aftermath of the cobbled together Autumn Nations Cup, many pundits and former pros alike were lamenting the turgid rugby on display.
The poor conditions throughout the tournament led to many teams focussing on improving their defences and taking few risks which unfortunately led to some arm wrestles through the six weeks of action.
But the criticism of the playing style and the attritional games seems exaggerated in hindsight, especially after one of the most exhilarating Six Nations weekends in modern history.
The exception of course proves the rule. Wales' comfortable victory over Italy was a demolition in Rome and was merely the aperitif to a rich main course spread over Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
England v France was one of the highest-quality Test matches you are likely to see this year. The attacking play in the first half was world class from both teams. While Antoine Dupomnt was exceptional, Ben Youngs seemed to rise to his level and perhaps played his best rugby since the World Cup.
The second France try was a thing of beauty too with a near undefendable set piece off a line out splitting open one of the best defences in world rugby.
The quality spilled into the second half where the defensive prowess of both sides came to the fore. Both teams had dangerous spells in the opposition’s half but a big tackle or turnover kept the attackers at bay.
It was only by the barest of margins that England came out on top and on another day the match could have easily and deservedly switched to Les Bleus.
Sunday’s contest between Ireland and Scotland was an altogether different beast but just as enthralling. It was a real clash of styles with Scotland’s attacking flair and never say die attitude colliding with a brutal Ireland performance built on set piece and pressuring the opposition into mistakes.
After appearing to wrestle control of the match early in the second half Andy Farrell’s men faced one hell of a comeback and only got themselves out of trouble through their breakdown work which was so disruptive for the Scots all game.
All of this is to say that, funnily enough, rugby is a lot easier on the eye when it’s played in the spring rather than the dredge of winter. Playing styles are still heavily reliant on the elements and it should not have been a surprise to see teams play accordingly to the poor conditions during the autumn series.
But test rugby has finally flexed its muscles with two outstanding games, and it is all the more impressive given there are no fans in stadiums to roar their teams on.
With the previous summer showing southern hemisphere rugby more competitive than ever, it whets the appetite for a New Zealand vs France clash or this Scotland side showing what they can do against the world champion Springboks.
Test rugby is in a good spot right which given the state of the world we live in is not bad at all. Don’t let the naysayers tell you otherwise.
