A brief review of the most exciting opening weekend in the history of the Six Nations. All three matches featured enthralling end to end action and moments of individual brilliance.

WALES 22 vs 30 IRELAND
Saturday, February 2, 13:30 GMT, Cardiff

The tale of two halves at the Millenium Stadium as Ireland led by 30-3 only three minutes after the half. Wales were blown away by the pace of the game early but were rallied by the introduction of Justin Tipuric as they clawed back from the insurmountable lead. Rob Howley’s men were predictably dishevelled from the start but Declan Kidney will not be impressed that his men faded so dramatically in the second half.

SCORING
Wales – L. Halfpenny 1t 2c 1p, A. Cuthbert 1t, C. Mitchell 1t
Ireland – J. Sexton 3c 3p, S. Zebo 1t, C. Healy 1t, B. O’Driscoll 1t

CARDS
Ireland – R. Best yellow, C. Murray yellow

WALES
L. Halfpenny; A. Cuthbert, J. Davies, J. Roberts, G. North; D. Biggar (J. Hook 73); M. Phillips (L. Williams 63); G. Jenkins (P. James 67), M. Rees (K. Owens 13-21, 51), A. Jones (C. Mitchell 73); A. Coombs, I. Evans (O. Kohn 73); A. Shingler (J. Tipuric 44), S. Warburton (capt.), T. Faletau.

IRELAND
R. Kearney; C. Gilroy, B. O’Driscoll, G. D’Arcy (K. Earls 44), S. Zebo (E. Reddan 79); J. Sexton, C. Murray; C. Healy (D. Kilcoyne 73), R. Best, M. Ross (D. Fitzpatrick 68); D. Ryan, M. McCarthy (D. O’Callaghan 73); P. O’Mahony (C. Henry 51), S. O’Brien, J. Heaslip (capt.).

ENGLAND 38 vs 18 SCOTLAND
Saturday, February 2, 16:00 GMT, London

Owen Farrell produced his finest international performance to date, contributing 18 points and controlling the game superbly for England against an outmatched but competitive Scotland. Billy Twelvetrees scored in an impressive debut, while the forward pack set the platform with a dominant effort. Sean Maitland had a debut score of his own but the ball rarely found the Scottish outside backs who looked dangerous with every touch.

SCORING
England – O. Farrell 3c 4p, C. Ashton 1t, B. Twelvetrees 1t, G. Parling 1t, D. Care 1t
Scotland – G. Laidlaw 1c 2p, S. Maitland 1t, S. Hogg 1t

ENGLAND
A. Goode; C. Ashton, B. Barritt, B. Twelvetrees (D. Strettle 68), M. Brown; O. Farrell (T. Flood 68), B. Youngs (D. Care 57); J. Marler (M. Vunipola 57), T. Youngs (D. Hartley 53), D. Cole (D. Wilson 74); J. Launchbury (C. Lawes 68), G. Parling; T. Wood, C. Robshaw (capt.), B. Morgan (J. Haskell 45).

SCOTLAND
S. Hogg (M. Evans 78); S. Maitland, S. Lamont, M. Scott, T. Visser; R. Jackson, G. Laidlaw (H. Pyrgos 73); R. Grant, D. Hall (R. Ford 47), E. Murray; R. Gray, J. Hamilton (A. Kellock 56); A. Strokosch (D. Denton 14), K. Brown (capt.), J. Beattie.

ITALY 23 vs 18 FRANCE
Sunday, February 3, 15:00 GMT, Rome

Luciano Orquera inspired the Azzurri to a famous victory at the Stade Olimpico with the best Italian flyhalf display since the days of Diego Dominguez. The Italians threw everything at the French and their defense held strong in the final moments of the match proving their November effort against Australia was no fluke. Les Bleus looked listless and leaderless, and will now be forced to regroup without injured captain Pascal Pape.

SCORING
Italy – L. Orquera 2c 1p 1d, K. Burton 1d, S. Parisse 1t, M. Castrogiovanni 1t
France – F. Michalak 1c 2p, L. Picamoles 1t, B. Fall 1t

CARDS
Italy – D. Giazzon yellow

ITALY
A. Masi; G. Venditti, T. Benvenuti (G. Canale 72), A. Sgarbi, L. McLean; L. Orquera (K. Burton 64 {L. Ghiraldini 79}), T. Botes (E. Gori 55); A. Lo Cicero (A. de Marchi 55), L. Ghiraldini (D. Giazzon 55), M. Castrogiovanni (L. Cittadini 63); Q. Geldenhuys (A. Pavanello 71), F. Minto; A. Zanni, S. Favaro (P. Derbyshire 63), S. Parisse (capt.).

FRANCE
Y. Huget (F. Trinh-Duc 72); W. Fofana, F. Fritz (M. Bastareaud 63), M. Mermoz, B. Fall; F. Michalak, M. Machenaud (M. Parra 63); Y. Forestier (V. Debaty 52), D. Szarzewski (B. Kayser 52), N. Mas (L. Ducalcon 66); P. Pape (capt.) (R. Taofifenua 59), Y. Maestri; F. Ouedraogo, T. Dusautoir, L. Picamoles (D. Chouly 69).