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#1. Scotland vs France (16-20)
Week 2 Overview:
Week 2 was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, with its fair share of controversies that had us all on the edge of our seats. But amidst the storm, it was the awe-inspiring displays of unity and grit that stole the show.
So, grab your jerseys and paint your faces, because we’re about to dive headfirst into the electrifying highlights and unforgettable moments of the games. Hold on tight, because this ride is about to get wild!
Saturday 10th February 2024:
#1. Scotland vs France (16-20)
Scotland’s hopes were dashed in a nail-biting clash against France as the second weekend of the Six Nations unfolded in Edinburgh.
In a heart-stopping moment, Scotland’s Sam Skinner thought he had clinched a last-minute victory, but the TMO ruled out his effort. Louis Bielle-Biarray’s solo run after 70 minutes had given France the lead for the first time with less than 10 minutes on the clock.
However, Scotland rallied, with Skinner making a valiant attempt to cross the line as the clock ticked into the 80th minute.
The match officials deliberated for what seemed like an eternity, only to conclude that there was insufficient evidence to award the try, handing Les Bleus a narrow victory.
The second half was a disappointment for the Scots, with only a Finn Russell penalty adding to their score, a stark contrast to a promising start that saw Ben White crossing the line in the 8th minute. Russell’s two penalties and a conversion gave Scotland a 13-10 lead at half time.
France fought back in the first half with a try from Gael Fickou and five points from Ramos’ boot. However, the sin binning of Uini Atonio for a dangerous tackle put them on the back foot. Despite the setback, Les Bleus managed to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
As it happened:
What a thrilling Six Nations showdown it was on Saturday, February 10th, 2024! Murrayfield Stadium was buzzing with excitement as Scotland and France locked horns in a battle of rugby titans.
Scotland’s Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe, and the fresh talent Harry Paterson, despite facing initial challenges, set the pitch on fire early on, combining their efforts to send White over the line in the 8th minute.
But France wasn’t about to back down. Thomas Ramos stepped up in the 9th minute, bolstering Les Bleus’ defense with a successful penalty kick. Yet, Russell, with his laser-like precision, quickly countered with kicks in the 22’ and 29’, giving Scotland a significant edge in the first half.
France, however, began to flex their attacking muscles, gradually building momentum. Gael Fickou’s near breakaway try added a spark of excitement to the match.
Despite Van der Merwe’s heroic tackle, Fickou managed to breach the line just before halftime. Even with Uini Atonio’s sin-binning, leaving France a man down, Scotland couldn’t capitalize further.
As the match progressed, both sides battled fiercely for dominance. Scotland finally broke the deadlock with Russell’s conversion, exploiting France’s offside infringement. This proved challenging for the visitors, especially without their injured captain, Gregory Alldritt. The game hung in the balance, with defenses tightening and strategic kicking becoming crucial.
Then came a moment of sheer brilliance from France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey. With a deft chip over the ball, he gathered it and crossed the try line, shifting the momentum in France’s favor.
Ramos swiftly followed with his conversion, propelling France to a one-point lead with less than 10 minutes remaining. A subsequent penalty extended their advantage to four points.
As the clock ticked down, Scotland launched a determined assault on the French line, culminating in Sam Skinner’s apparent try as injury time loomed.
However, despite an exhaustive review by the Television Match Official (TMO), the lack of conclusive evidence upheld referee Nic Berry’s initial ruling of “held up,” sealing a heartbreaking 20-16 defeat for Scotland.
In a post-match interview with BBC Sport, Captain Finn Russell delivered his verdict:
“Personally, I believe that was a try at the end but that’s up to the referee to decide that. That’s what he’s there to do the job for, we’ve just got to take this defeat on the chin and we’ve got to get better for England.
“We can’t let the referee decide what happens in a game, that’s up to us to play better and make these matches a victory.”
While, Nigel Owens, the legendary Welsh Rugby Union referee had this to say:
“When the referee gives an on-field decision, you have to have clear evidence to overturn that decision.
“It’s a very, very difficult decision to make. It all comes down to if the TMO has clear evidence.
“It looks like it’s probably on the ground, is there enough for him to say 100 per cent it is good? Probably not.
“So it’s one of those really, really tough ones. But the ball looks like it is on the ground. I think they will be debating this one for a long time.”
#2. England vs Wales (16-14)
England triumphed over Wales last Saturday, after initially enduring a nine-point defecit before George Ford’s late penalty settled the scores 16-14 in England’s favour to secure their biggest ever second-half Six Nations comeback.
It was Wales who dealt the first blow with a penalty try, followed by Alex Mann touching down in the first half, with Ioan Lloyd adding insult to injury with his conversion for a considerble 14-5 lead.
However, despite a momentous first half that was leaning towards a Wales win, the second half proved difficult as the dragons failed to secure even a single point despite some hopeful opportunities, and the scrum penalties poised against them proved decisive of their fate.
Contrary to expectations, England emerged victorious. The tries were scored by No. 8 Ben Earl and centre Fraser Dingwall. However, the first half was not without its challenges, as Ollie Chessum and Ethan Roots were both sent to the sin bin for a high tackle and a maul collapse, respectively.
Ford’s contribution of two penalties to the scoreboard was instrumental in propelling England into the lead. Meanwhile, Wales’ Mason Grady was sent to the sin bin for a knock-on, providing some respite for the English side. Despite England’s narrow victory by 2 points, Borthwick’s team will need to elevate their performance if they hope to defeat Scotland in Round 3.
As it Happened:
From the get-go, the Roses were shrouded in a cloud of uncertainty. Their attempts to assert dominance within Welsh territory were met with a wall of disappointment as promising opportunities slipped through their fingers, failing to convert into points.
The atmosphere thickened when England’s Chessum was penalized in a controversial decision, sent off to the sin bin for a disputed shoulder-to-head contact during a tackle with Wales’ Kieron Assiratti.
England’s pursuit of control took a further hit when Wales capitalized on a lineout knock-on by England that was quickly followed by a scrum penalty. Wales seized this golden opportunity, strategically opting for a corner kick.
This decision proved to be a game-changer as the Welsh team powered over for a penalty try, with Roots being penalized and sin-binned for collapsing the scrum just shy of the try-line.
However, despite the clever decision-making, Wales’ formation began to crumble upon the restart. Their attempted attack from their own try-line was intercepted by Maro Itoje, leading to a pivotal turnover near the posts.
In the subsequent play, Ben Earl showcased exceptional agility, breaking through the Welsh defenders from the back of the scrum for a thrilling finish.
Yet, Ford’s conversion attempt was foiled. As he approached the ball, executing a sidestep, Wales took a legitimate opportunity to disrupt his kick, charging forward to knock the ball off the tee.
Despite a series of opportunities, Wales couldn’t add any further points onto the scoreboard before Roots returned from the sin bin, and their 25-phase attack on the edge of England’s 22 yielded no reward.
However, as half time neared, Wales’ flanker Tommy Reffel paved the way to set up scrum-half Tomos Williams into the clear. Williams then passed inside for Mann, who was in support, to sprint in and touch down.
Lloyd followed up with a conversion to settle the scores 14-5 in Wales favour by the break, however the return to the second half saw the dragons plagued with errors, and Ford monopolised with a penalty to reduce the gap.
Eager to widen the lead, Wales’ full-back Cameron Winnet showcased remarkable offensive skills, resulting in a break. He lined up to pass the ball to Josh Adams down the right. However, the inside offload from Rio Dyer resulted in the ball being knocked on during a tackle, just five meters shy of the try-line.
Two scrum penalties were conceded against Wales. The first occurred after Dyer’s opportunity, and the second followed an unfortunate knock-on by Adams.
These penalties advanced the Welsh team from one 22-meter line to the other. England then executed nine consecutive close-quarters attacks near the try-line. At the opportune moment, they expanded their attack to the wider field. Despite Elliot Daly’s stumble, he managed to offload the ball to Dingwall, who scored.
Ford’s wide miss left England trailing by a point. However, Wales’ lack of offensive action and a blatant knock-on by Grady provided Ford with an easy penalty opportunity. This allowed England to take the lead and ultimately secure the victory
Sunday 13th February 2024:
#3. Ireland vs Italy (36-0)
Last week, Ireland dominated the field with a resounding 36-0 victory over the Azzuri at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium! This second-round triumph not only showcases their formidable form but also ignites their Grand Slam dreams.
With the wind in their sails, the prospect of consecutive Grand Slam titles is within their grasp!
Spectacular tries from Jack Crowley, Dan Sheehan, Jack Conan, James Lowe, and Calvin Nash catapulted Ireland to the pinnacle of the leaderboard after two rounds, bagging maximum competition points from two bonus-point victories.
Italy, despite their valiant effort against England in Rome in Round 1, found themselves outmatched against the Irish. Their struggle for possession and territory was evident, and their plight worsened when Tommaso Menoncello was sin-binned in the second half for tripping Lowe.
Crowley, with his brilliant strategy and aggressive plays, added two conversions to the win, showcasing his prowess. However, a cloud on Ireland’s horizon was Hugo Keenan’s leg injury in the second half. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery!
As it happened
From the moment the whistle blew, it was clear that Ireland had come to play. Jack Crowley’s opening try in the first 7 minutes set the tone for what was to be a thrilling match.
Despite a few hiccups along the way, the Irish team, led by the indomitable Joe McCarthy, regained their footing by the 24th minute. They capitalized on a penalty in Italy’s half, with Crowley setting up a brilliant pass for Keenan, who made significant ground inside the Azzurri’s 22.
The crowd erupted as Crowley delivered a spectacular offload, enabling Henshaw to surge forward and pass the ball to Sheehan, who scored for the Shamrocks. Crowley, ever the professional, followed up with an excellent conversion, making up for his earlier miss.
By halftime, Ireland had established a commanding 19-0 lead, thanks to Conan’s forceful try. The second half saw Ireland continue their dominance, with Sheehan finishing an unstoppable maul drive for the bonus-point fourth try.
Even a minor setback with a ruled-out double-movement couldn’t dampen Ireland’s momentum. Lowe outmaneuvered Menoncello, leading to a remarkable score for Ireland’s fifth try.
In the final minutes, despite a series of knock-ons and penalties, Calvin Nash managed to score, following a series of passes from Crowley, McCloskey, and Gibson-Park.
As the final whistle sounded, Ireland had handed the Azzurri their first scoreless defeat in the history of the Six Nations – a feat not seen in the championship since 1987. What a match! Ireland’s Grand Slam dreams are well and truly alive! This was a game for the ages, a true testament to Ireland’s grit and determination.
What’s next?
As we march into the third week of the exhilarating 2024 Six Nations Championship, the question on everyone’s mind is – who will claim the crown?
While the sands of time will reveal the victor, for now, you can stay updated with all the action by checking out the schedule below for the time and venue of each thrilling match:
Saturday 24th February:
Ireland vs Wales –
Aviva Stadium, Dublin. 14.15
Scotland vs England –
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. 16.45
Sunday 25th February:
France vs Italy
Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneue-d’Ascq. 15.00
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