Italy Scare Wales
The Azzurri ran Wales much closer than expected in Cardiff, coming within striking distance before a late Leigh Halfpenny penalty goal sealed the win.
The Azzurri ran Wales much closer than expected in Cardiff, coming within striking distance before a late Leigh Halfpenny penalty goal sealed the win.
Gaël Fickou enjoyed the most remarkable five minute cameo in recent memory, coming off the bench to score a sensational try and crush England’s hopes of victory.
After coming torturously close to toppling the All Blacks in November, Ireland start the next chapter against Scotland in Dublin on Sunday.
What better way to fire up the tournament than a good old fashioned crunch match right off the bat? For fans, there is none.
The Azzurri have the honour of welcoming the defending champions back the party, but they probably won’t be feeling too lucky come full time.
The muck and rain of Scotstoun did more to remind us why turf fields are likely the future than it allowed for any kind of decent rugby to be played.
No team in the history in the 120 year history of the tournament has ever won the title outright in three successive years. This could well be the first.
Let’s get this over with before any false hopes arise – Scotland are not going to win this year’s tournament. Worse, they’ll probably come dead last.
Sometimes all it takes is one defining moment to turn the cart around. For Ireland that came in 79 minutes against the world’s best team. We’ll forgive them the final two.
It can be tough to be a supporter of some sides, but it must be desperately so to be a French fan. Their form seems to rise and fall with the winds, as if they had a streak of bipolarity stitched into their team psyche.