Well what a difference a week makes! Dull weather and even duller tactics meant that for the first time in an age it was Scotland who played the best rugby.

SCOTLAND 34 vs 10 ITALY
Saturday, February 9, 14:30 GMT, Edinburgh

The Scots surprised everyone with a complete turnaround in form and fortune at Murrayfield. Their defense was superb while four different backs crossed for tries in their most complete performance in some time. The Italian halfbacks, so prominent last weekend, looked completely lost and were unable to conjure much of anything despite dominating in the possession count. It’s anyone’s guess what next week might bring for these two sides.

SCORING
Scotland – G. Laidlaw 4c 2p, T. Visser 1t, M. Scott 1t, S. Hogg 1t, S. Lamont 1t
Italy – L. Orquera 1p, K. Burton 1c, A. Zanni 1t

CARDS
Scotland – G. Cross yellow

SCOTLAND
S. Hogg (M. Evans 72); S. Maitland, S. Lamont, M. Scott, T. Visser; R. Jackson, G. Laidlaw (H. Pyrgos 75); R. Grant (M. Low 59), R. Ford, E. Murray (G. Cross 70); R. Gray, J. Hamilton (A. Kellock 66); R. Harley, K. Brown (capt.) (D. Denton 70), J. Beattie.

ITALY
A. Masi; G. Venditti, T. Benvenuti, G. Canale, L. McLean; L. Orquera (K. Burton 48), T. Botes (E. Gori 48); A. Lo Cicero (A. de Marchi 59), L. Ghiraldini (D. Giazzon 59), M. Castrogiovanni (L. Cittadini 63); Q. Geldenhuys (A. Pavanello 59), F. Minto; A. Zanni, S. Favaro (P. Derbyshire 67), S. Parisse (capt.).

FRANCE 6 vs 16 WALES
Saturday, February 9, 17:00 GMT, Paris

A late try from George North propelled Wales to unlikely victory in an otherwise bland encounter at the Stade de France. The field conditions were poor and neither side seemed willing – or capable – of playing anything resembling quality football. The Welsh will take something from the win but France have somehow receded into mediocrity following their excellent November form.

SCORING
France – F. Michalak 2p
Wales – L. Halfpenny 1c 3p, G. North 1t

FRANCE
Y. Huget; W. Fofana, M. Bastareaud, M. Mermoz (F. Fritz 75), B. Fall (F. Trinh-Duc HT); F. Michalak, M. Machenaud (M. Parra 55); Y. Forestier (V. Debaty 50), D. Szarzewski (B. Kayser 50), N. Mas (L. Ducalcon 55); J. Suta (R. Taofifenua 65), Y. Maestri; F. Ouedraogo (D. Chouly 51), T. Dusautoir (capt.), L. Picamoles.

WALES
L. Halfpenny; A. Cuthbert, J. Davies, J. Roberts (S. Williams 78), G. North; D. Biggar, M. Phillips (L. Williams 70); G. Jenkins (P. James 38-40, 59), R. Hibbard (K. Owens 55), A. Jones (C. Mitchell 78); A. Coombs, I. Evans (L. Reed 78); R. Jones (capt.) (A. Shingler 78), J. Tipuric, T. Faletau.

IRELAND 6 vs 12 ENGLAND
Sunday, February 10, 15:00 GMT, Dublin

Another match affected by rain at the Aviva, and another match bereft of attacking play. Ireland came off second best at the set piece and suffered cruel injuries to Simon Zebo and Jonathan Sexton early on. England now look odds-on favourites to win the championship and appear to have a real shot at the grand slam.

SCORING
Ireland – R. O’Gara 2p
England – O. Farrell 4p

CARDS
England – J. Haskell yellow

IRELAND
R. Kearney; C. Gilroy, B. O’Driscoll, G. D’Arcy, S. Zebo (K. Earls 11); J. Sexton (R. O’Gara 31), C. Murray; C. Healy (D. Kilcoyne 75), R. Best (S. Cronin 75), M. Ross (D. Fitzpatrick 79); M. McCarthy, D. Ryan (D. O’Callaghan 65); P. O’Mahony, S. O’Brien (C. Henry 65), J. Heaslip (capt.).

ENGLAND
A. Goode; C. Ashton, B. Barritt, B. Twelvetrees (M. Tuilagi 47), M. Brown; O. Farrell, B. Youngs; J. Marler (M. Vunipola 58), T. Youngs (D. Hartley 50), D. Cole (D. Wilson 76); J. Launchbury (C. Lawes 47 {T. Waldrom 70}), G. Parling; J. Haskell, C. Robshaw (capt.), T. Wood.