1) Six Nations in desperate need of some polish
Forty minutes to go until the halfway point of the competition and it is still yet to catch fire. Perhaps inevitable so soon after the World Cup but not even the Friday night lights could ignite a Six Nations that at present will not live long in the memory. It was another close scoreline at half-time in Cardiff but there is a huge difference between tension and excitement, even if the paying public do not really seem too bothered by it. Wales’s lack of imagination coupled with France’s lack of ambition and a willingness by the referee Wayne Barnes to interrupt play whenever the occasion presented itself was never going to make for a spectacle and the crucial moment – George North’s second-half try – had more than an element of farce about it. Yesterday was also the opening day of the Super Rugby competition: in the three matches there were 23 tries and one had a winning margin of two points, the other a margin of one point. The northern hemisphere take note, it is possible to have close matches without sacrificing quality.
2) Wales still prioritising power over precision
Never afraid of naming his team early, Warren Gatland is not really a coach who keeps much up his sleeves – statements of intent are more the Kiwi’s thing. And the message sent to France was obvious. Bradley Davies’s inclusion was due to an injury to Luke Charteris but the selections of Alex Cuthbert and Dan Lydiate was as clear a Warrenball warning as possible. The problem however, is that for all the piano-shifting performed by Jamie Roberts, there remains a glaring lack of incisiveness in the Wales backline. Gareth Davies is among the more lively scrum-halves but this was largely the side who failed to break down 13-man Australia during the World Cup and again they were heavily reliant on the kicking of Dan Biggar from both tee and hand. Wales dominated both territory and possession but they will have to be more enterprising in their next outing at Twickenham. The problem with Warrenball is that while an absence of subtlety is one of its great strengths, it is also among its weaknesses.
3) Knives out for Novès but France coach needs time
For all that France were feeding off scraps, it is unfair to constantly compare them to their swashbuckling predecessors. They were too lateral, sorely missing the ball-carrying of Louis Picamoles, they seemed a little panic-stricken with the few opportunities they had and Jules Plisson had another evening to forget in Cardiff. But France were solid in the scrum and the breakdown and forceful in defence and their captain, Guilhem Guirado, was excellent. Guy Novès seems to be on a hiding to nothing – expected to restore France to past glories immediately and do it with panache. Instead he is building from a defensive platform while giving a few youngsters their chance. He seems to be pilloried for it but don’t forget Stuart Lancaster was lauded for much the same thing.
4) North’s return to scoring form a welcome sight
No one can really begrudge the large slice of fortune that came North’s way for his try. It was just over a year ago that, against England, again on a Friday night, two shocking bangs to the head raised serious question marks over his long-term well being. Another concussion soon after the competition had ended, for Northampton, led to a lengthy lay-off and while he returned for the World Cup he was not at his brutal best throughout. There were signs of the old North (he is still only 23 but this was his 61st cap) returning against Scotland after a run of five Tests without a try and a torrid time in a struggling Northampton side. There is no doubting that North is at his best when he is scoring tries. The confidence it gives him is palpable and a return to form after his much-publicised fitness problems is a welcome sight indeed.
5) Faletau again shows his undoubted class at No8
The make-up of Wales’s back row seems to be a constant source of debate but for all that Justin Tipuric is an openside of considerable talent, it is clear that his strengths are more suited to the quicker tracks in the southern hemisphere – in the Six Nations Wales look so much more balanced with Sam Warburton in the No7 jersey and Dan Lydiate beside him. Taulupe Faletau’s possession of the No8 shirt however, is not up for debate. Coming into the match having made 33 tackles without missing any he was similarly immaculate against France – one failure to gather a difficult pass in the second half aside – and he is such a canny operator at scrum-time, so often picking up and giving Gareth Davies quick ball as he did shortly before half-time. It is just a shame that we did not get to see him square off against Picamoles but while England’s Billy Vunipola looks improved under Jones his cousin Faletau is comfortably the premier No8 operating in Europe – he just does not seem to have bad games.
