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Another fascinating weekend of Six Nations rugby is in the books and the Grand Slam dreams of England and Ireland both live on.
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In contrasting fashion to the opening weekend, England snuck by Wales in a rain-soaked encounter at Twickenham, whilst an in-form Ireland side powered through the challenge of Italy in Dublin.
The other fixture of the week saw Scotland bounce back from their opening week horror show to beat France, 32-26, in Edinburgh.
We have selected our form XV of the round below.
- Mike Brown, England
It was an excellent performance from England’s unfashionable full-back and one suited perfectly to the testing conditions at Twickenham on Saturday. He was brave and reliable dealing with the high balls, ran hard at the Welsh line and didn’t put a foot wrong in his defensive duties.
- Keith Earls, Ireland
It seems fitting Earls pops up next to Brown, two players who are perennially underrated and the target of an unfair amount of vitriol at times from opposition fans. Earls turned in a polished, hard-working and ambitious performance for Ireland and whilst he was a constant threat going forward, it was his 60m run back down the field to put in a try-saving tackle which really summed up his efforts on Saturday.
8 – Keith Earls has scored 8? Test tries since the beginning of 2017, the most of any European player in that time, while only two tier one players have scored more overall in that period (I Folau – 12, R Ioane – 10). Form. pic.twitter.com/Xpt8tPjJoq
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) February 10, 2018
- Robbie Henshaw, Ireland
It was a shame to see Henshaw leave the field in the second half of Ireland’s game with Italy and though that could have consequences for Ireland later in the tournament, it was an outstanding performance from the Leinster centre. Running outside of Bundee Aki, Henshaw thrived in the less congested areas of the pitch, picking lines that the Italian defence just couldn’t deal with.
- Owen Farrell, England
Farrell’s long, raking grubbing kick to set up Jonny May’s first try was an exquisite piece of skill, whilst his cover tackle on Aaron Shingler saved an almost certain try. He also turned over a Welsh attack deep inside England’s 22 and made the key pass to Joe Launchbury, which set up May’s second score. It seemed that at all the key moments in the game, Farrell was present and having an influence.
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- Teddy Thomas, France
You wouldn’t go far wrong with either Jonny May or Jacob Stockdale here, but Thomas slides over from the right wing due to his all-round performance at Murrayfield. The Frenchman added two more blistering tries to his tournament tally on Sunday, as well as defending and covering well.
2 – Teddy Thomas is the first French player to score a brace in a @SixNationsRugby game since Yoann Huget against England in 2014, and the first to score twice away from home since Mathieu Bastareaud against Scotland in 2010. Double. pic.twitter.com/LnsgSZVvZP
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) February 11, 2018
- Gareth Anscombe, Wales
The Kiwi-born back moved up from full-back to fly-half when Rhys Patchell was taken off and helped spark a Welsh comeback that came incredibly close to knocking England off their perch. His play at full-back had been impressive up to that point, but the extra opportunities to influence the game really showed at 10 and Anscombe was unlucky not to engineer a Welsh win at Twickenham. He should have finished the game with a try to his credit, too, were it not for TMO intervention.
- Conor Murray, Ireland
Murray almost singlehandedly blew Italy away in the opening 20 minutes at the Aviva Stadium. He set up two tries with accurate passes away from the ruck when Ireland were camped on Italy’s try line and then scored one himself for good measure. Away from the tries, it was the standard immaculate controlling performance that we all expect of him.
- Mako Vunipola, England
Tackled and carried his guts out for England, as well as scrummaging well against Samson Lee. He played 76 minutes in the tense affair at Twickenham and was still making important one-on-one tackles in the open spaces right at the end of that shift.
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- Rory Best, Ireland
A clean, faultless performance from Best, capped fittingly with a try. There’s not too much else to say, the Ulsterman did everything well at the Aviva.
- Andrew Porter, Ireland
Came on very early against Italy with talismanic tighthead Tadgh Furlong leaving the field with an injury. Porter turned the screw well on Nicola Quaglio at the scrum and picked up the slack around the fringes in a role that was not dissimilar to the multi-dimensional one that Furlong regularly plays.
- Joe Launchbury, England
Another workhorse who stepped up for England, predominately as an attacking force in the first half, before emptying the tank in the second half defensive stands and making way for George Kruis. The Wasps lock’s carrying and breakdown work were big parts of England’s first half success as an attacking force.
- Jonny Gray, Scotland
The Glasgow lock played a pivotal role in Scotland’s narrow victory over France, delivering his trademark defensive efficiency, as well as constantly hitting rucks for 80 minutes. His teammate Grant Gilchrist went well, too.
5 – @Scotlandteam have won their last five home games in @SixNationsRugby, as many as they’d won in their previous 23 in the Championship (D1, L17). Revival. pic.twitter.com/vmjPlUxbxz
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) February 11, 2018
- Aaron Shingler, Wales
Shingler continues to shine in the absence of Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau in the Welsh back-row. His big break late on against England caught the eye, but it was his tireless work carrying, rucking and tackling that really set him apart at Twickenham.
- Yacouba Camara, France
Camara was the busiest forward in French colours on Sunday, showing no signs of the fatigue that often afflicts French sides late in the game. There was arguably no one area where he truly excelled, but he showed no weaknesses and was continuously positively impacting Les Bleus, even in a losing cause.
- Ryan Wilson, Scotland
A mention for Chris Robshaw, who was tireless at Twickenham and featured at both seven and eight, but Wilson helped push a positive Scottish performance over the top and delivered a much-needed win. He carried strongly, contributed to crucial turnovers and seemed to be at the forefront of the Scottish defensive line.
14 – @EnglandRugby have won 14 in a row at home in the Six Nations, their joint longest run in the Five/Six Nations. HQ. pic.twitter.com/SyzrZVdpSc
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) February 10, 2018
Comments on RugbyPass
What a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
38 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to comments