Status Quo

I have to admit its difficult to get motivated to write a blog in the aftermath of such a disappointing weekend. Only the French and Welsh can have really enjoyed the rugby, the latter team only for the second half.

Ireland v Italy was a dour game. Ireland looked so superior in the first half making line breaks, intelligent kicking. However they remind me more and more of England, beligerent forward play with unimaginative back's moves. Eddie has not made wholesale changes for round two. Though I think all would agree his tweaking looks positive. The Irish lineout was poor, so Jackman deserves his shot. At the end of the day though, the result for this weekend against France will come down to whether the French can continue to execute such stylish play. It all looks fantastic when it goes right, but when the passes stop going to hand or the kicks bounce the wrong way the wheels tend to come off in a hurry for the French.

England......what can I write. At half time I was a very happy man, not just because England were winning but because their style of play was keeping Wales on the back foot. The headless chickens that emerged in the second half played into the hands and the brains of Wales. I was most disappointed by the fact that so much young talent was ignored because "experienced heads" are required for international rugby (tell that to Mr Lievremont). Our experienced heads played schoolboy rugby and got their just deserts. Hats off to Wales for playing a game that forced the mistakes. As for this weekend, the ridiculous number of injuries will not help England against a pretty determined but unimaginative Italy. Half of the starting pack is out of the game, and Tindall will be missed for the rest of the tournament.

I was informed by Colleen during the Wales game that the metatarsal break that Strettle has is called a Jones fracture, rather ironic considering the opposition's favourite last name.

France have shown Eddie O and Ashton the way forward. Pick youth and let them play. France were great, of course this will be difficult to replicate on a consistent basis. But building a future on fast skillfull and winning play beats trying to build it on dull victories like Irelands and embarassing losses like England's.

As for Scotland, it looks like all of the ground they thought they had gained never really happened. Patterson should never have been left out, and while his inclusion against Wales will help them, ultimately they don't have the firepower to go on the road and beat a team who must be feeling pretty confident right now.

Winners for this weekend,

Wales
France
England