Firstly, Scotland faced Wales in a game that promised to be a close encounter with Scotland’s new-found form, masterminded by the new head coach, Scott Johnson. The first half was a penalty strewn affair, with Scotland keeping within touch of Wales, despite the Welsh side having most of the possession and chances. Laidlaw and Halfpenny exchanged penalty kicks, with Halfpenny missing three penalties in quick succession, keeping Scotland in the game. Hibbard went over for a try before half time for Wales, after an incisive run from George North, who laid the ball off to Hibbard who was helped over the line by his forwards. A successful conversion from Halfpenny put Wales in a solid position in the game. The home side were unlucky, with Richie Gray being taken off after a serious injury, being replaced by Al Kellock. It was Scotland however, who were to go into half-time in the lead, or rather it would have been had Jim Hamilton not conceded a silly penalty right in front of the referee in the 39th minute. Hamilton entered the ruck at the side, obviously and cynically, and Halfpenny converted in due course, with Wales going in at the break 13-12 up. Both teams came out in the second half feeling the game was there to be won, but this half, Wales too suffered an injury. Captain Ryan Jones sustained a shoulder injury and is in doubt for the England game next week. Tipuric came on for the injured captain, not a bad replacement to have, with Tipuric shining at club level. The second half was again full of penalties aplenty, Scotland clearly irritated at Craig Joubert’s fussy officiating. Laidlaw kicked over two penalties for Scotland, but Halfpenny was the hero for Wales, notching up an 87% conversion rate, kicking a further five penalties for the Welsh, the score finishing 18-28 to Wales.
The second game of our penultimate week of the Six Nations championship was at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Ireland played host to a French side that has looked appalling all tournament, having won 0 points, but this was about to change. Ireland themselves have looked out of all sorts, an O’Gara howler contributing to their downfall against Scotland the round before. The wind was up, the rain lashed down and the crowd were treated to a game not dissimilar to the scrappy match versus England a few weeks ago; Ireland thrived early on, Heaslip going over for a try with Paddy Jackson converting. Jackson added two further penalties in reply to Michalak’s one to put the Irish in front at half-time with a less-than-commanding lead of 13-3. The second half was full of change, Jackson missed a drop goal attempt, as did Rob Kearney shortly after, whereas the French were having more luck against the Irish. Morgane Parra assumed control of kicking after Michalak spurned opportunities in the first half, and converted a penalty to bring the away side back into contention. Louis Picamoles, a rose between fourteen thorns then went over for the try for France, bringing them within two points of the Irish. Michalak returned for the conversion, and slotted home from a tight angle to bring the sides equal at 13-13. Almost instantaneously, the Irish responded, the crowd getting nervy at Ireland’s lack of any points in the second half. After a fantastic grubber kick, Keith Earls was through for a try, though was quite clearly taken out off the ball by Debaty. The decision went to the TMO, who bizarrely chose not to give Ireland a penalty at the very least, instead awarding the 22 drop out. The game ended 13-13, with the match potentially being Brian O’Driscoll’s last home game in the Ireland jersey. Certainly a lacklustre finish at home for an Irish side that never got going; as for France, Saint-Andre’s P45 is in the post as we speak, the wooden spoon being a very distinct possibility.
Finally, England met Italy at Twickenham in a game which many deemed a straight-forward match for the in-form home side. The result was far from it. Both sides put together some great running rugby in the first half, but with said running rugby came embarrassing mistakes. England had two separate opportunities for almost certain trys, the first with a seven man overlap to Italy’s three defending players. Goode handed the ball short to Toby Flood who was the only player that the defenders could have conceivably tackled, and the ball was held up. Controversially at the other end, Italy broke free from the England defence, with referee George Clany overruling touch-judge Nigel Owens, giving the decision that Italy had knocked on. They hadn’t. Parisse, clearly furious, quickly checked his temper, remembering that he was only participating in this match after an appeal against a ban for abusing officials. England went in with four penalties to Italy’s one, leading 12-3 at the break. The second half began with John Inverdale rather tragically announcing ‘we all know who is going to win this one’, which carried an ominousness to it throughout the second half. England never got going, their attacking line was flat, the Italians rush defence dealing with England with ease and with a Luke McClean try for the Italians shortly into the second half, the game was on. Danny Care botched his box kick for England which Zanni swept up, off loading to Orquera who rather with rather a ‘Ronan O’Gara-esque’ finish, chipped the ball behind the England defence onto an oncoming Luke McClean who finished incisively. Flood kicked a further two penalties for England, but Orquera reclaimed one for Italy also; the gap narrowing to 7 points from 9 in the first half. The game was a close encounter as the match got closer to its climax, and with the Azurri storming the England defence for the remaining 10 minutes, but England held out for a nail-biting 18-11 win to secure a final round play-off against Wales.