Italy prove their point after snubbing the ruck
There can be only one talking point about Conor O’Shea’s side and whether their refusal to engage at the ruck was a masterstroke or a blight on the game requires a far lengthier discussion than this. What can be said without question, though, is that it turned what was expected to be a cakewalk for England into a unique spectacle. O’Shea’s side were eventually outclassed but, if his objective was to make those critics who have been calling for Italy’s relegation to think twice, then his mission has been accomplished. GM
Te’o grasps his England chance
It will be lost as barely a footnote to an England bonus-point victory but Ben Te’o went about his business on his first international start with no little class. He missed one tackle but made nine and took his try well. His direct running and quick hands, on the odd occasion England worked the ball to him, also caught the eye. Whether he keeps his place against Scotland is another matter but he can be pleased with his performance, which is not something all of his team-mates can say. GM
Russell heads Scotland’s long list of Lions pretenders
The shape of any putative Lions squad is starting to shift with each Six Nations weekend. Scotland have been the least represented country for some time, while Wales dominated the last tour. Scotland’s 29-13 victory over Wales suggests an evening-up of that disparity. Vern Cotter would not speculate on whose cases he thought had been advanced from his team. Or maybe that should read could not, because of the sheer number of them. “I think a performance like that puts everybody in line. Hopefully these boys can keep performing and put as much pressure on that selection panel as possible.” For starters it is fair to go with Finn Russell. Romantics have long been promoting him while cynics have remained suspicious of his hardness of mind. Not only was he a figure of authority on Saturday in the absence of his captain, Greig Laidlaw, but he landed every kick from all angles. Keep doing that and there will be no cynics left. MA
• ‘We can beat anyone,’ says Barclay as Scots eye England scalp
All is far from lost for Wales
There will be much hysteria about Wales’s performance but, if this is the best Six Nations ever, there must be repercussions — and one of those is that some good teams will have to lose more than they would like. Wales are nowhere near as bad as their more hysterical critics will make them out to be. The form of George North and Leigh Halfpenny, two of their biggest names, has long been a source of concern. Ross Moriarty’s levels dipped here but he was not helped by the hype surrounding his performance against England. Wales’s points of reference remain strong. Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton were the most influential members of Wales’s back row against England and remained so here, even if Warburton fell foul of the referee a few times too many. Rob Evans and Ken Owens are relentless in the front row and Rhys Webb is right back among the best scrum-halves in Britain and Ireland. They have plenty to work with. MA
Ireland’s lack of pace out wide could be telling
In a season when the talk has been of finishers, Ireland have been slow starters against Scotland and France, fortunate on Saturday not to be more than six points down when they stirred. They are not far from being a complete side, strong in the set pieces and the loose and resourceful at half-back while Garry Ringrose is maturing in the midfield. Their one deficiency is real pace out wide. PR
Novès is building something resembling the old France
There were times against Ireland when they looked like the France of old, off-loading with abandon and counterattacking with zest, and others when they resembled the misshapen team of recent years, losing their discipline and focus when the heat was turned up. They are, though, very much on their way back and need to keep patience with the head coach, Guy Novès. His impact may not have been as dramatic as Eddie Jones’s but he had to lay the foundation. PR
