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Since its debut back in ’84, the Nike Tiempo boot has been an unwavering symbol of performance, prestige, and innovation. With stars like Owen Farrell, Jonathan Davies, and Sam Underhill proudly repping the famed Tiempo, it’s not just us saying it โ their trust speaks volumes!
But wait, there’s more! Now it’s the kickers’ time to shine as the Tiempo 10 takes the grand stage, rising to become the ultimate choice for the new season! Get ready for kicking excellence like never before!
Say farewell to K-leather as Nike embraces sustainability! The Tiempo 10 introduces ‘Fly Touch Plus,’ a calf leather tailored for kickers like you, with the perfect blend of softness, durability, and precision to elevate your game.
It’s time to bid farewell to K-leather, as Nike takes a sustainable stance!
By the end of 2023, they’ll no longer be using kangaroo leather. Instead, they’re introducing ‘Fly Touch Plus’ โ a calf leather specially tailored for kickers like you. It’s got the perfect blend of softness, durability, and precision to elevate your game.
Worry no more! The Tiempo 10’s synthetic upper is water-resistant, keeping you in control with its All Conditions Control technology, ensuring an unwavering grip that allows you to dictate the game’s pace with absolute confidence.
And that’s not the end of it; these boots are built for speed and agility like never before.
Comfort is King!
Comfort is a top priority for Nike. The Tiempo 10’s signature Fly Knit material ensures the perfect fit, allowing you to move naturally while staying stable during those game-changing kicks. Say goodbye to break-in blisters – the innovative cut-out in the heel takes care of that for you!
The Tiempo 10 is all about precision with its micro-dots, giving you that second-skin feel for those accurate kicks. Plus, those fully conical top 6 studs offer excellent manoeuvrability, keeping you balanced in the scrums and ready for the perfect shot.
The sleek white upper with the striking black outline of the Nike Swoosh, paired with vibrant crimson detailing on the Flyknit collar, creates a modern and stylish look.
So, don’t miss out on the ultimate kicker’s boot โ the Nike Tiempo 10. Head over to Lovellsoccer.co.uk to score your pair and stay updated with the latest Rugby News, Guides, and Boot Launches at The Full 80
First up, we have Scotland’s tantalizing return of their signature Tartan in heritage dark blue, and it’s clear to see why it’s a fan favourite!
Where previous jerseys, such as the 2019 RWC Scotland Home Shirt incorporated subtle glimpses of tartan in their design, the 2023 Home Shirt goes all out to make a statement, featuring the iconic Scottish Rugby Union Tartan on each side panel, adding a touch of classic Scottish heritage.
Pair this with their tartan shorts and they’re on to a real winner with what we feel to be one of the most iconic kits to grace the world stage in years!
We can expect to witness the Home Shirt in all its glory when Scotland kicks off their RWC 2023 campaign against defending champions South Africa in Marseille on Sunday, 10th September.
Next up, we have the tried and tested England jersey, lovingly supplied by none other than Official Technical Kit partner , Umbro.
Designed to embody the spirit of English rugby, this authentic home shirt exudes tradition and modernity. With its confident and regal aesthetic, it pays homage to the rich legacy of the sport while embracing the dynamic future of the game.
Thanks to its cutting-edge features, the shirt boasts “contoured anatomical knit panelling” that moves seamlessly with the players’ bodies, empowering them with a sense of strength and self-assurance on the field.
While some fans dig the minimalistic and sleek design, representing England’s fresh start in France for the Rugby World Cup, we can’t help but think that Umbro could’ve added a little something extra…
Those missing red bands on the sleeves leave us wanting a touch more colour and flair to truly amp up the excitement!
As the hosts of this year’s tournament, it’s only right that France have a revamped kit that oozes style and confidence, and kit supplies Le Coq Sportif don’t disappoint!
While their previous Home Shirts, like the 2019 jersey, showcased a two-tone signature blue colorway rising from the hem to the chest, the 2023 kit takes a fresh approach.
It nails the perfect balance between a captivating aesthetic and tradition, with the two-tone colouring now beautifully accentuating the shoulders, collar, side panels, and sleeves.
As three-time Rugby World Cup champions, the New Zealand All Blacks rightfully deserve a kit that matches their sensational playmaking and embraces Maori tradition, and adidas have delivered just that.
The design process for the All Blacks jersey took an impressive three years, with adidas working closely with the New Zealand Rugby organization and the talented French artist, Fey The Wolf. The result is a jaw-dropping head-turner, where the dominating iconic fern makes a powerful statement across the entire jersey.
In our exclusive interview with adidas Category Director Matt Fielding and Vice President of Design Ben Harath, we gained fascinating insights into the tremendous effort the kit supplier put into engineering a shirt that truly embodies the essence of All Blacks Rugby.
Fey The Wolf, the talented French artist, played a crucial role in the creation of this exceptional jersey. With the opportunity to meet the team and collaborate with numerous others involved in the process, he ensured that every element of the design resonates with the All Blacks’ remarkable journey.
The result? A masterpiece that goes beyond mere aesthetics, capturing the very essence and codes of All Blacks Rugby.
Prepare to be captivated by the exquisite design of Macron’s Italy Home Shirt for this year. Adorned with stylized laurel wreaths, it beautifully pays respects to the team’s rich heritage.
The front displays boast dye-sub graphics, while the back showcases embossed graphics, including the iconic Capitoline Wolf.
These thoughtful details are bound to instill feelings of national pride in every fan of the Azzuri. Don this impressive jersey and feel the passion and tradition of Italian rugby come to life!
Step aside, world, because Chile is making their grand Rugby World Cup debut as Americas 2 qualifiers, and they’re bringing the heat with a kit that’s nothing short of spectacular!
Thanks to the creative masterminds at Umbro, this sizzling jersey proudly showcases the vibrant colors of the country, exuding pure pride from every thread.
Showcasing a sea of fiery red adorned with bold blue accents on the cuffs, sides, and collar, the Chilean jersey an absolute showstopper that demands attention. It’s like a burst of energy on the rugby stage, setting hearts ablaze with its captivating contrast!
Umbro Chile RWC 2023 Home Shirt – ยฃ80 at Lovell-rugby.co.uk
As they prepare to compete in Pool D of the Rugby World Cup, this distinctive kit will be displayed in all its glory when Chile takes on rugby giants Argentina, England, Japan, and Samoa.
But this jersey is more than just sportswear; it symbolizes Chile’s rugby legacy and serves as a powerful source of inspiration for players and fans alike. With its eye-catching design and meaningful symbols, this jersey truly reflects the heart and soul of Chilean rugby. Get ready to witness the passion and pride of Chile as they ignite the world stage with their unstoppable spirit!
Like what you see? Let us know in the comments your thoughts about the all-new Rugby World Cup Shirts and who you’ll be supporting for 2023. We’d love to hear from you! In the meantime, be sure to stay in the loop with the latest Rugby News, Guides & Boot Drops at The Full 80.
Speed is paramount in rugby, and adidas recognizes the ever-evolving nature of the sport.
With referees cracking down on time-wasting and rule changes prioritizing uninterrupted play, the focus on speed is evident. Enter the adidas Adizero RS15, a boot that redefines the essence of “Speed” in the game.
Prepare to witness the pinnacle of adidas rugby innovation as the Adizero RS15 merges a storied legacy of triumphs with cutting-edge advancements.
Embrace the touch of prestige this new silo brings and elevate your game to new heights. Lace up your boots, step onto the field, and embrace the future of fast-paced rugby with the adidas Adizero RS15.
Whether you’re making swift sprints down the field or executing precision moves, the Adizero RS15 ensures every step is supported, cushioned, and optimized for performance.
Every detail of this game-changing boot is a testament to adidas’s relentless pursuit of excellence and their commitment to providing athletes with the tools they need to succeed.
To kick things off, the RS15 most noticeably stands out for its innovative lightweight tooling system.
This cutting-edge system not only introduces a modern and dynamic element to speed but also guarantees improved comfort and support, tailored to the specific requirements of rugby players dealing with heavier loads.
The RS15’s medial 3 stripe placement, combined with the asymmetric lacing system, takes performance to the next level. This strategic placement optimizes kicking prowess, ensuring a precise and seamless connection with the ball. Players can execute their moves flawlessly, maintaining control and accuracy on the field.
The addition of a sticky print enhances ball control even further in wet conditions, allowing athletes to maintain their dominance regardless of the weather.
Designed to enhance smooth mobility, the RS15 incorporates state-of-the-art Fastech technology in the forefoot and midfoot sections, guaranteeing seamless transitions as athletes progress through different phases of gameplay.
This seamless transition effortlessly blends into a supportive ripstop heel, ensuring stability and minimizing the risk of injuries. Athletes can confidently navigate the field, knowing their boots offer unwavering support.
In this exclusive interview, Matt Fielding (adidas Category Director) and Ben Herath (VP Design) share insights into the design process and discuss why this year’s Rugby Jersey is the most sought-after.
“What specific technological advancements or innovative features have been incorporated into this shirt to enhance performance?”
Ben Herath
“First and foremost the jersey is a performance item, it needs to work on best players in the world at top of play. Working hand in hand with the players, the first criteria was strength. The material needs to be strong and withstand all of the forces, the rigours that players are going to put it through.
We took that right down to a yarn level, looking at the strength of the yarns, and the strengths of the seams. Once we had this strong material, the next thing the players asked for was lightweight.
But what they really meant, I think, was what we termed ‘right weight’, not lightweight, by getting the right weight for the jersey, which is the right strength to weight ratio.
The jersey ended up with the material weighing 229 grams, which again was quite an achievement, it’s lighter than the previous world cup jersey.
And so, after being lightweight, players were after comfort- how this feels, so we were able to engineer into the fabric this elastane yarn that helps the fabric to stretch around the body, so we need to accommodate all sorts of body shapes and sizes with the jersey.
This was quite a challenge aswell, and so we engineered this woven fabric that was able to do that. Hold up with strength, be lightweight, aswell as stretch to the body.”
“Are there any unique materials or fabric technologies used in the construction of the shirt?”
Ben Herath
“I think from a performance aspect, that’s critical at the top of our ambitions too is that the jersey has to perform well. Every millimeter is considered, down to the tapering of the fabric. If you look carefully at the seams, they are triple stitched, reinforced on the backside with a herringbone tape. We looked from the data where the stress points of the jersey were and anchored those.
There are aspects of this too, which we have fully engineered too, to make sure it performs at the highest level and that was from day 1. One of the key criteria, is that the jersey has to perform well.”
“One of the aspects we’re quite proud of is the high amount of recycled content for this jersey, which meant we had in the beginning, almost 3 years ago, 5 different materials under testing aswell, the moment we had the material we would quickly sample it and get it onto players, get it tested. One by one, those materials, 4 out of the 5 failed as we went through and one made it through the process, and that one is on the jersey today, and that material is 89% recycled content. The 11% is the elastane stretch that we needed in the jersey, that’s the performance aspect, but for 89% of the jersey, it’s recycled.
It’s the first time ever we’ve managed to do that, to bring recycled content onto a jersey on this field of play, so for us, doing the right thing by the planet is a key ambition we have as a brand, which again is something we’re proud of with the jersey.”
“Are the shirts made bespoke for each player – or how hard is it to get a fitted shirt across all the different shapes and sizes of the players?”
Ben Herath
“I think the key ask from the players is something that feels like an extension of the body, almost something where when they put it on they don’t feel it, but feels part of them.
That really means designing it for all the movements of rugby- the explosive sprints, the twists and turns, the scrum action, the force and all of this which goes on with the jersey. The key feature of the jersey then became this ergonomic side panel that’s underneath the arm, so that when players raise their arm, the jersey stays in place.
With this, it allowed us to engineer the jersey again so that it moves with the body for all the different movements.”
“What are the main differences between the players version and the replica?”
Matt Fielding
“I think it’s possibly the first time we’ve approached it this way and it’s part of the storytelling Fey was able to bring to the design and this was an opportunity for us to bring something for the players, and that’s for them.
We had this specific design of the ferns all pointing inwards, 14 ferns plus the crest for the players and then for the fans we’re offering something that’s really unique.
It’s built around the sustainable element aswell and how we can reduce the amount of wastage that we’re doing with every jersey. We sell a lot of All Black jerseys and so it’s important that all of them are cut from the same cloth, the same amount of fabric. What this means is that there is a repeated pattern of the fern, so that it is the same beautiful fern that Fey has designed, but is actually produced on a roll of fabric that can be produced on the front, back and the sleeves.
We’re also using up a lot more of the material, so we’re throwing away a lot less. That’s the difference, but gives each supporter a unique World Cup experience that’s slightly different from the next. We though this was a powerful way to bring the jersey to everybody.”
Ben Herath
“To build on that, we like this idea that we’re uniting all fans, but also giving them something that’s unique, so united and unique and no two replica jerseys will be the same.
Each fan will be able to have their own piece of art, that is one of its kind and unique.”
“How many iterations of the shirt are there before the final article is produced?”
Ben Herath
“I think we built around 10-12 different jerseys throughout those three years across 4 or 5 different materials we tested aswell.
It was a huge undertaking and exploration to make sure that the final jersey is what it is and really that’s everything we can do to make sure we’re leaving the jersey in a better place.”
Matt Fielding
“To add to that from a more emotional level, the jersey we worked on it for 3 years, this is an always on production, we’ve been building on what we’ve done on past jerseys, keeping the best elements of it, building upon those areas where we need to improve and then adding the latest innovation. It’s something we always keep true, in terms of listen, test, modify, where we’re always improving on what’s gone before and then bringing in the new innovations we can bring to the jersey.
“Are there specific requirements from the RWC that you must have within the shirt in comparison to a normal year of rugby?”
Matt Fielding
“From a design and performance view, there is no difference. We always put everything we’ve got into the jersey.
The fact it’s a world cup is a beautiful landmark for the sport and a great coming together of all rugby fans and all nations, and a great opportunity for all nations around the world to see the All Blacks – they are the most revered yet respected team in rugby and maybe in world sport.
It’s a great opportunity for everyone to come and have a look at how the All Blacks play and so for us, it’s business as usual, bringing the most innovation we can and the most relevant information and making the jersey as strong and as good as we can make it for whichever tournament, whether it’s Rugby Champs, whether it’s autumn internationals, World Cup is obviously a huge moment for sport. So, from a performance level I would say definitely, business as usual.”
Ben Herath
“Firstly our expectation at performance level is always at the super high level. However, we know at the World Cup, it is a moment when the world is watching, it’s a heightened moment for rugby and for us, it’s a chance for us to align the lifecycles of the jersey so we’re able to launch something special as a special moment.
For us, this moment is really a culmination of three years of work and that constitutes roughly the life cycles of World Cup where once we get through one, the learnings build to the next and then the next.
This relationship with All Blacks has been 20 plus years of partnership, and every World Cup builds onto the next, and the learnings feed and feed and feed. What we’re seeing from a design point of view when we come round to the World Cup is a higher expectation level from a design point of view and to ensure that we’re continuing to contribute to the legacy that’s there.”
What players are involved in testing & providing feedback before the launch?”
Matt Fielding
“In the initial stages we worked with the core of the leadership group within the All Blacks, so players who had been playing for some time who understand what it is fully to respect the legacy of the journey and hand it through. So it was important that Fey spoke with them and got grounded.
Throughout the process we worked with the team and the squad throughout the testing so that all players could input and add their insights into how the jersey is progressing throughout those three years.
It took a long time, but we had a great meeting with the fall players, including Ardie, Aaron, Boden and Sam.”
“How long did it take to design & complete this RWC Shirt?“
Ben Herath
“It was a long process – almost 3 years in the making! We work not just with the players but with the New Zealand Rugby organization aswell. There is a lot of history and legacy within the team, so it was important Fey met with them and as many people as we could speak so we could really understand the values of the jersey. “
“With the All Blacks being such and iconic team in the world of rugby do you feel added pressurewhen looking to redesign and produce a new All Blacks Shirt?“
Matt Fielding
“The design process behind the All Blacks Jersey and the Black Ferns jersey aswell, there’s an immense weight. This is the pride of the nation of New Zealand.
This is one of the iconic, if not the most iconic teams in rugby and in the world, so there is a great deal of seriousness we take into each and every design phase, to build on what has gone before.
But the insight that we can get from the players, the people of New Zealand and the consumers that we can talk to. I don’t think we’ll ever fully understand what it’s like to put on the All Blacks’ jersey, so all the information that we get, we can reimagine how that might feel and build that into the jersey. But there is a significant weight I think, on every design that we do.”
“The 2023 shirt features a fold over collar- what was the reasoning and thought process behind this?“
Ben Herath
“One of the key parts for us is that the jersey is an icon, it’s an iconic jersey and we wanted to create something that was truly an icon for the All Blacks, but also for Rugby.
We wanted to make sure that we were reaching into Rugby DNA and the codes of rugby and bringing those back.
So we looked at the rugby collar, and this is something that players have asked for, fans have asked for, and so we looked at the collar and wanted to bring the collar back, but right for performance and also in a contemporary modern way.
We are able to create this collar in an entirely new construction, it’s built actually as a one piece. If you look inside there is a seam around the neck, that’s never been done before. We’re proud of engineering this. All the way this is anchored to the rest of the jersey is through a hidden seam that’s underneath the collar.
We then used a double layer material around the collar to give it the stance, structure and support and then we stitched it down so during play it retains its stability. So there is a huge amount of work and engineering that went into the collar to make sure that we’re doing something that’s right for performance, but is a modern take on a rugby collar aswell.
At the end of the day too, we wanted something was bespoke and beautiful and something that the players are gonna feel proud wearing and we feel we’ve achieved that with this new design.”
Whether you’re a heavy Forward, mobile Forward, fast Back or kicking Back, there is a specific category of boots designed for each playing position.
As each position requires different playing styles, you’ll want to get clued up on which boot is which so you can take your playmaking to the next level!
Find out which boots you should wear for your next game by selecting your position below.
Housing an interchangeable 8-stud soleplate configuration, Front Row boots are made for gaining traction in key contact areas, especially in the scrum in the Front Row.
Not only this, but Front Row boots come complete with a stiff soleplate, so that when you’re pushing off there is no energy lost, allowing the player to access as much power as possible.
Finally, the upper is comprised of a thick layer of material to protect key contact areas.
#2. Second Row/Back Row
If you’re a Second Row/Back Row player you’ll likely prefer a slightly different option.
A Forward boot in nature, the Genesis Elite provides the sweet spot for Second Row players as it offers greater mobility thanks to the boot construction, with a lighter option of a synthetic midfoot and heel area to reduce the weight but still offers leather toe box protection.
The result? Players will benefit from greater comfort when covering all those meters in the Back Row, whilst the flight beam soleplate provides traction in the contact area to give you a firm and rigid surface to push off.
Whilst not as strong as the 8 stud configuration of a Front Row boot such as the Kakari above, the Phoenix Elite offers more traction than a Back’s boot alternative.
For a boot that provides protection without weighing you down, look no further than the Canterbury Phoenix Genesis Elite!
#3. Inside Back
Next up, we have the Inside Back category.
As an Inside Back, it’s undeniable that kicking will be a major part of your game.
The adidas Predator Maliceis an excellent example of an Inside Back boot and features unique rubberized diamond detailing on a large surface area and an asymmetric lacing system to give you optimum clearance on the ball, making it ideal for drop-kicks, punts and place-kicks.
Where the Forward boots we discussed previously aren’t designed for kicking, the Predator Malice has been created specifically for that purpose.
To the soleplate, Inside Backs are likely to find a stud configuration tailored towards gaining momentum on the pitch.
Fewer studs mean less weight and allow you to move freely. Conical studs such as those featured on the Predator Malice allow you to be more agile in tight turning spaces when you’re trying to overcome defenders with your footwork.
To maintain its lightweight profile, the materials used are thinner than those of Forward and Second Row boots so whilst you don’t have as much protection, if you’re an Inside Back you’re less likely to find yourself in those contact areas.
Alternative Inside Back Boots
An alternative boot for an Inside Back that provides a different kicking surface is the Nike Tiempo Legend.
Considered by players to be a very versatile boot, the leather construction of the Tiempo Legend means you can see some players in the Front Row wearing these because of the added protection it provides, however it’s ideal for Fly-Halfs due to the cushioned feel of the ball upon impact.
The leather is also flexible and adapts to your foot over time, making it a highly versatile boot that delivers exceptional comfort no matter which position you play.
#4. Outside Backs
Lastly, we have Outside Backs.
Boots for the Outside Backs all share one thing in common- speed.
Due to their light weight and aggressive stud patterns, boots such as the Mizuno Morelia Elite 3 and the adidas Adizero RS7 are perfect for helping you in those wider spaces, whether accelerating, decelerating or changing directions, making it more responsive whilst giving you the edge in those wider channels.
The predominant focus for outside backs boots is to help you become faster, quicker and more agile.
Rugby Boot Recap
Check out our in depth review of the best boots for your preferred playing position below!
In the meantime, be sure to let us know which boots you’re planning on taking to the pitch, we’d love to hear from you! Stay in the loop with The Full 80.
Housing a total of 8 studs, the Monarcida is a synthetic leather stalwart made for Forward players looking to get more bang for their buck.
Mizuno Monarcida Soft Ground Rugby Boots – NOW ยฃ40 (Was ยฃ74.99) at Lovell-rugby.co.uk
Utilizing synthetic leather on the toe box, the Monarcida boasts exceptional comfort alongside a roomy toe box and added protection in key contact areas to see you through the full 80.
With a design reminiscent of their more premium Morelia Neo 3 MIJ SG boots, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more sleek Mizuno alternative for the price!
Mizuno Monarcida Soft Ground Rugby Boots – NOW ยฃ40 (Was ยฃ74.99) at Lovell-rugby.co.uk
Perfect for players situated on the back row or for the more agile second rower, the Canterbury Phoenix Team rises in the ranks for its premium quality and affordability.
Characteristically lighter than traditional rugby boots, the Phoenix Team comes complete with a synthetic leather upper and PU leather toe box for added protection and comfort in the mid and forefoot.
Thanks to its lightweight profile, the Phoenix Team allows players to benefit from greater freedom on the pitch, making quick starts and side-stepping rivals effortless.
The kicker’s boot of choice, the adidas Malice makes waves within in the rugby world thanks to its sleek profile, bold colourway and host of features that puts players ahead of the competition.
Complete with a robust A-symmetric lacing system and 3D rubber elements to the forefoot, the adidas Malice opens up the sweet spot on the instep of your foot for cushioned contact for punts, drop-kicks and place kicks!
adidas Malice Soft Ground Bootsย – NOW ยฃ57 (Was ยฃ69.99) at Lovell-rugby.co.uk
To the base of the boot, conical studs make for an improved running game, boosting players agility out on the pitch whilst making side-stepping your opponents a breeze as you break for the try line.
Reminiscent of the pricier Predator Malice, as worn by Scotland’s Finn Russell, the takedown Malice boots not only look the part, but play it too!
adidas Malice Soft Ground Bootsย – NOW ยฃ57 (Was ยฃ69.99) at Lovell-rugby.co.uk
A legend in its own right, the Nike Tiempo Legend Academy is undeniably one of the most versatile boots to grace the world stage.
Donning a unique profile reflective of its 29-year legacy, the Tiempo is adorned for its versatility on the pitch and is worn by players across all positions, from Front Row to the Back Field.
Nike Tiempo Legend Academy FG Football Boots – ยฃ73 at Lovell-rugby.co.uk
Thanks to its synthetic leather construction towards the mid and toe box, the Legend Academy is considered one of the most comfortable boots you can wear and will keep you protected against your rival’s pesky studs when rucking, mauling or in a scrum.
Nike Tiempo Legend Academy FG Football Boots – ยฃ73 at Lovell-rugby.co.uk
Adorned by players for over 25 years, the Mercurial Vapor is a winger’s dreamboat silo.
Lightweight, super-thin, and built for speed, the Nike Mercurial Vapor dominates the pitch every time, and with its latest launch of the Academy boot, player’s on a budget can now benefit from top-tier performance in an affordable form factor.
Nike Mercurial Vapor Academy FG Football Boots – ยฃ75 at Lovell-rugby.co.uk
With an aggressive stud pattern featuring on the base of the boot, locking and detaching from firm and soft-ground pitches has never felt so effortless!
After all, if you’re looking to get ahead of the competition, every second counts!
Nike Mercurial Vapor Academy FG Football Boots – ยฃ75 at Lovell-rugby.co.uk
Like what you see? Let us know in the comments which takedown boot you’ll be taking to the pitch! We’d love to hear from you! In the meantime, be sure to stay in the loop with the latest Rugby News, Boot Launches & Guides at The Full 80.
Italy’s Tomasso Allan was the first to put Italy on the board.
Having failed his first attempt at placing the ball between the posts in the first 03′, the Fullback readjusted his previous wide ball, placing the Azzurri in the lead within just 7 minutes of the game’s start.
12′: 5-3 Van der Merwe Try
With Italy dominating the opening exchanges of the game, it wasn’t long until Scotland retaliated and pushed back to regain possession inside the Azzurri’s 22 through Van der Merwe‘s sensational corner try clincher.
Despite an attempt from Italy’s Fly Half Garbisi to apply the pressure on the Winger’s break for the try line, Merwe delivered a gravity-defying touchdown of the ball.
With concerns raised as to whether or not Merwe touched down the ball inside the line, a quick review by TMO confirmed the touchdown successful, and Merwe secured his 17th Try for Scotland, placing his record on par with head coach Gregor Townsend.
Now desperate to obtain an advantage over Scotland, Italy’s Tomasso Allan restored Italy’s lead in the 15′ by one point- A score that would not see any change for quite some time.
30′: 12-6 (Kinghorn Try, Yellow Card Riccioni)
Falling short of passing over Italy’s line until the 29′, Scotland struggled to wear down Italy’s defence and a succession of scrum penalties given against the Azzurri saw Marco Riccioni fall victim to the sin bin.
Desperate to break free from the shackles of a deadlock, Scotland began to apply the pressure and found their silver lining through Kinghorn.
Exhibiting exceptional playmaking, Kinghorn used his wit to perform a dummy line out from Sione Tuipulotu that placed his side ahead by six points.
With Scotland’s Finn Russell having damaged his knee ligament against Ireland last weekend in Round 4, Fly-Half Blair Kinghorn followed up with a conversation to bring his side 6 points ahead.
43′: 19-6 (Kinghorn Bulldozes Azzurri Defence)
Just minutes into the second half, Scotland returned with the same dedication they exhibited at the start.
It was none other than Kinghorn who bulldozed the Azzurri’s side to drag the Azzurri defenders over the line with him as he touched down to secure their 19-6 lead over Italy.
61′: 19-11 (Italy Bite Back)
Dominating the lead, it seemed almost certain that Scotland were to walk away with a landslide victory over the Azzurri, however a slowed tempo in the final quarter had Scotland put through their paces.
Taking advantage of a break in Scotland’s defence, Paolo Garbisi‘s astonishing low grubber ball saw Garbisi to the try line.
Despite missing his conversion, Garbisi came to Italy’s rescue four minutes later.
His electrifying penalty closed the gap to 5 points between the two teams within 4 minutes.
80′: Kinghorn ‘The Hat-trick Hero’
Having been awarded a series of penalties, Italy were within inches of the line, however an unfortunate knock-on saw the nerves get the better of them, and Scotland regained possession.
Bounding out of the Scrum, Van der Merwe bolted down the left wing, entering Italy’s half before performing an inside pass to Kinghorn, who slipped through the clutches of the Azzurri defenders and over the Try line.
In a nail-biting start to the game, France succumbed to pressure following a series of penalties awarded to Wales that saw the Dragons gain territory on Les Bleus’ turf.
Rhys Webb‘s wide pass to North saw the Winger place the Dragons on the board as he sliced through Les Bleus defenders, desperate to make ground and only inches from the Try line.
Romain Ntamack escaped the clutches of Nick Tompkins‘s attempted tackle and ran toward the Welsh defence with next to no support.
With all eyes now set on the Winger, Ntamack followed with a dummy pass to draw in the defenders, whilst buying time for Dupont to follow behind.
Now making its way into the hands of Dupont, the French Captain was outnumbered and launched the ball wide with unrelenting power toward Penaud waiting on the right wing and followed through with a touchdown.
While a fantastic try, the pass from Dupont was remarkable!
25′: 13-7 (Wales Fail to Release Ball- Ramos Penalty)
Wales exhibited a long-awaited sense of freedom and hair-raising playmaking that has been missing from their championship campaign thus far.
However, despite Wales assessing France’s defence, Les Bleus soon camped in the Wales half thanks to Centre Danty‘s kick passing over the halfway line.
With a breakdown shortly following, France were awarded a penalty opportunity. Ramos banked on his 89% success rate to boot the ball over the posts, placing France firmly in the lead.
33′: 20-7 (Danty Try)
Continuing the onslaught, Les Bleus Captain Dupont applied pressure, meandering down the pitch before landing inside Wales’ 22.
Wales clambered to regain possession of the ball, however the French Forwards slipped down toward the left before going wide to the right-hand side to see Danty launch himself over the try line.
Ramos soon converted, and France propelled themselves into the lead with a spectacular 13-point lead, bringing the score 20-7 in favour of Les Bleus.
43′: 27-7 (Atonio Try)
As the second half commenced, France displayed a newfound readiness that was absent at the start of the first half.
It wasn’t long before they earnt a penalty inside the Welsh 22…
Taking advantage of a scrum, instead of being awarded three points for a penalty, France cashed in their luck, utilising Atonio waiting on the wing to bound over the try line and secure his first Test Try.
Ramos soon converted to bring his side 20 points up against Wales.
48′: 34-7 (Fickou Try)
A quick succession of passes continued to have Wales dazed in the 48′, and it was becoming clear that Les Bleus were more concise in their playmaking, exhibiting greater accuracy and possession of the ball.
Fickou‘s bonus-point try continued to widen the gap, slipping through Wales’s grasp and rolling over to touchdown the ball on the try line.
A conversion from Ramos soon followed to secure France a 27-point lead with just over 30 minutes left on the clock.
55′: 34-14 (Roberts Try)
Now seeking to bridge the gap, Wales fought back soon after in the 55′ with a turnover from Justin Tipiruc inside the French 22, which opened up the opportunity for Roberts to bound over the try line.
Biggar followed moments later with a conversion to bring the score to 34-14.
65′: 34-21 (Williams Try)
With a newfound spring in their step, Wales continued to apply the pressure-Rees-Zammit weaving past Les Bleus’ defenders before a kick from Tomos Williams forced Ethan Dumortier to bring the ball back over his side.
A breakdown soon followed, however the exceptional playmaking of Peato Mauvaka prevented the onslaught, but it wasn’t long until Wales took up yet another opportunity to bridge the gap in the scores.
Rhys Williams‘s monumental try brought hope to Wales, breaking for the try line from close range following on from Wainwright‘s determined charge.
Biggar again converted, and France were 13 points down.
76′: 41-21 (Penaud Try)
As the game drew near to the close, France weren’t showing any signs of conceding and crossed the try line to secure their fifth try of the match from Penaud, who was positioned out wide to deliver his second try.
Ramos soon converted, totaling a 16-point contribution toward the 41-21 score, and his 84th point scored in the Championship- a momentous feat that stands second to Jonny Wilkinson‘s record and all within a single campaign.
79′: 41-28 (Rio Dyer Try)
While France were ready to walk away victorious, Wales sought to make the most of the countdown- devious Dyer avoiding the clutches of Les Bleus’ defence, bounding over the right-hand corner.
Leigh Halfpenny followed with a touchline conversion to end the score at 41-28 to France.
An outstanding match, where despite having conceded numerous tries, saw Wales exhibit unhindered dedication towards the game, their ambition unrelenting.
After a fantastic start from England, having gained greater possession of the ball inside Ireland’s 22 within the first ’07 it was Farrell who placed England on the board in the seventh minute with his impressive chip shot.
However, it wasn’t long until Ireland were on form. Sexton‘s astonishing tap and go of the ball from the five-metre line embodied Ireland’s joint ambition to secure the Grand Slam, however England’s defence was upheld.
14′: 0-6 (Penalty Farrell)
Ireland’s exasperation to push past England’s 22 continued, with a succession of passes not making contact, combined with a pair of knock-ons.
England kept their cool. Farrell stepped up to secure another penalty for his side, catapulting England into the lead by 6 points.
18′: 3-6 (Penalty Sexton)
Ireland continued to be rattled by Borthwick‘s best, however a response from the Shamrocks soon came from Sexton in the 18′ in the form of a penalty thanks to a breakdown error following on from Keenan‘s break midfield.
Sexton had placed Ireland on the board, and became the all-time Championship points scorer by penalty.
32′: 10-6 (Sheehan Try)
As the game progressed, with each side desperate to secure their first Try, Ireland found a newfound hope in hooker Sheehan.
Leading from a lineout in England’s 22, Sheehan delivered the ball to Ryan before passing to Josh van der Flier. Combining exceptional playmaking with a keen eye for utilizing space, the flanker broke off from the maul, rushed toward England and threw an inside pass to Sheehan before crossing the try line.
In an unfortunate exchange between Freddie Steward and Hugo Keenan, Steward was given a red card just before half-time, his elbow making illegal contact with Hugo Keenan’s head.
Both players had to leave the pitch, Keenan for failing his head injury assessment and Steward for the contact made.
Was the red card justified? Let us know in the comments your thoughts!
50′: 10-9 (Farrell Penalty)
With Ireland entering the second half with a man down, following Steward having been sent off, England were undoubtedly at an advantage.
Now dominating the Ireland half, a scrum penalty in the 50′ saw Farrell execute his third successful penalty of the match from 30 metres to bring England only 1 point behind their competitors.
61′: 17-9 (Henshaw Try)
Twenty minutes into the second-half of the match, and speculation permeated the stands as to whether Ireland would emerge victorious as Grand Slam winners.
With Peter O’Mahony having knocked on following a lineout, things weren’t looking too great until Robbie Henshaw delivered his exceptional finish in the 61′ following Akii‘s well-calculated pass to the Centre.
Sheehan was up next in the 68′, touching down a try in the corner, following on from Jack Conan‘s pinpoint precision in making a seamless pass to Ireland’s hooker.
Sexton converted in the 69′ to place Ireland 15 points in the lead. A momentous second half from the Shamrocks- securing 14 points in just 7 minutes!
72′: 24-16 (Jamie George Try)
Continuing to close the gap against Ireland’s 15-point lead, England’s Jamie George added an additional 7 points onto the scoreboard following a conversion from Farrell.
But whilst a courageous effort, it would become a consolation prize for England.
76′: 29-16 (Herring Try)
With victory in grasp for the Shamrocks, one last push came from Ireland’s Robert Herring peeled off the maul to dive over the Try line and conclude the game at 29-16 to Ireland.
The try to put the icing on the Grand Slam cake ๐คฉ
And so it came to be, Ireland dominated all five rounds, earning the title of ‘Grand Slam Champions‘ at the 2023 Six Nations Championship! Congratulations to Ireland!
Italy sought to dominate the Dragons last weekend in what many would consider a sensational effort from Wales.
With both sides stepping out onto the pitch with neither team having emerged victorious in their games thus far, Wales clinched the win over Italy with their exceptional playmaking.
In an early exchange between the two sides, each thirsting toward emerging victorious, it was Owen Williams who got the ball rolling, his routine penalty putting Wales into a 0-3 lead within the first 06′.
08′: 0-10 (Rio Dyer Try)
Rhys Webb was next in the 08′ to deliver an astonishing box-kick for Wales that would secure them their first try of the match.
Azzurri’s Pierre Bruno clambered to defend his side, with budding defender Tommy Allen almost gaining possession of the ball.
But to both players’ and fans’ surprise, a second bounce of the ball on the Azzurri side saw the ball come back infield, and Wales Rio Dyer raced down the wing, the ball seamlessly landing into Dyer’s arms before breaking to the try line.
Italy, considerably shaken until the 15, saw brief moments of compromised playmaking from Ignacio Brex‘s knock-on, Paolo Garbisi not lining up his kicks correctly and a hopeful attack formation breakdown with Menoncello placing too much power into his pass that escaped the clutches of Padovani.
But while rattled, Tommaso Allan‘s penalty in the 15’ was what placed the Azzurri on the board.
17′: 3-15 (Liam Williams)
Just minutes later, Wales were to extend the lead over their unsuspecting rivals, with Williams scooping up the ball of Faleau‘s bounce pass, leaning head first into the jaws of the Azzurri defence, biting down on the try line.
Italy would have soon followed with a try from Brex had the Centre not been ruled out for his unfortunate knock-on ball.
33′: Penalty Try Wales
Owen Williams was back yet again to take another penalty for the dragons, but his long-distanced penalty attempt went wide, denying Wales an additional 3 points onto their 12-point lead.
But in true Wales fashion, it didn’t take long before the dragons were back on form.
A penalty try for the visitors in the 33′ saw Wales achieve a significant 22-3 lead, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of Italy, especially as the hosts of the game.
To make matters worse for Italy, Lorenzo Cannone followed up with a yellow card for illegally stopping a rolling maul moments later.
A frustrating first half for the Azzurri!
42′: 10-22 (Negri Try)
Desperate to tighten the gap , Italy found their silver lining through Flanker Sebastian Negri two minutes into the second half.
Fastening his grip onto the ball, following a daring chip shot from Allan, the Flanker dived over the Try line, with none other than the man who made it all possible, Tommaso Allan, following with a conversion to bring the score to 10-22.
But whilst in high spirits at closing the gap, luck was not on the Azzurri side as Bruno soon became penalized for his contact with Wyn Jones‘ neck bringing Italy down to just 14 members.
49′: 10 -29 (Faletau Try)
In what can only be considered a heated start to the second half, Winger Josh Adams almost saw an immediate advantage over the Azzurri before being denied his try thanks to Stephen Varney‘s showstopping tackle.
But whilst denied yet another opportunity to put one past Italy’s defence, Rhys Webb‘s set-up for Taulupe Faletau saw a bonus point secured for Wales.
Owen Williams‘ soon-after conversion brought Wales to a 29-10 lead just moments later.
67′ : 17-29 (Brex Try)
In true Azzurri fashion and with the support of fans cheering on the hosts in the stands, it wasn’t long until Italy fought back.
With a sensational offload from Bruno, it was Centre Brex who stepped up to secure yet another try for the Azzurri, but whilst a valiant effort to claw it back for his side, time was not on their side despite several opportunities to follow through in the Welsh 22, Wales held their own.
France dominated England last Saturday (11th March) to secure Les Bleus their first Championship win at Twickenham since 2005, delivering England a record home defeat- the scores concluding a 10-53 victory to France.
By nature, Les Bleus don’t waste much time to put one past their competitors with quick starts.
Having already secured a try within only five minutes of their matches against Italy in Round One and Scotland in Round Three, Les Bleus soon followed suit against England within the first minute of the game.
Rushing up the field and evading England’s Jack Willis, Flament passed the ball to Ethan Dumortier on his left side to create distance from England’s defence.
Supporting on the wing, Ramos soon emerged alongside the Winger before receiving the ball and breaking for the try line.
๐ฃ " France in the guise of Toulouse puncture England within two minutes" @andNickMullins
Ramos was back again within the 6′ to secure a penalty for his side that would bring France 10-0 up, but the onslaught was only just getting started…
25′: 0-17 (Flament Bulldozes England to the Try Line)
A second try later followed in the 26′, with thanks due to no other than Les Bleus’ Captain, Antoine Dupont and his electrifying box-kick that saw France dominate England’s side and break through their defence and rush toward the try line.
A superb lineout routine from Les Bleus, and one that saw Flament bound over the try line thanks to a swift short pass from Dupont.
33′: 3-17 (Penalty Smith)
Now desperate to uphold their reputation following a series of wins against Italy in Round 2 and Wales in Round 3, England needed to get on the board soon to stand a chance at seeing a positive outcome.
It was none other than Marcus Smith who spliced through the posts with his penalty to put the Red Roses on the board.
35′: 3-20 (Penalty Ramos)
But in true Les Bleus fashion, it wasn’t before long that Ramos re-instated his side’s 17-point lead to bring the score 3-20 to France.
40-42′: 3-27 (Ollivon Try)
Whilst Les Bleus love quick starts, it’s clear their mentality toward making every second count rings true in also how they finish too (at least within the first-half).
Following on from a scrum inside of England’s 22, France drove forward toward the blindside, resulting in Flanker Ollivon paving his way over the try line to secure a third try for Les Bleus that would be later converted by Ramos to bring Les Blues 22 points up.
๐ฃ "England in tatters, the French in full sail"
As the second half commenced, England came back with what seemed like a game plan, having been obliterated for the first-half of the match.
Placing Alex Mitchell at Scrum-Half and Owen Farrell toward the inside centre alongside Smith, it was clear a brief strategy plan with Borthwick was enough to shake up the score.
Now putting their plan into action, Mitchell‘s pass to Steward saw England close the gap to just 17 points.
Just what England needed! ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Whilst ambitious to come back in full force in the second half, Fullback Steward‘s inability to take control of Dupont‘s drop ball inside his own 22 saw Ntamack outjump Steward and palm the ball back toward Flament who raced to the Try line for his second try in the match.
Minutes later, a drop-ball from Ollivon saw Marcus Smith hunt down the ball in a frenzied panic as England’s defence faltered and the Fly-Half sought to fall back to protect their side from further disappointment.
With Smith now losing ground, Ramos and Ollivon continued to push the Fly-half back, with England defenders scrambling to support the 24-year-old.
Now losing contact with the ball, Ollivon saw his opportunity and secured the touchdown for his side by reaching over.
A valiant effort from Smith, but no match for Les Bleus!
71′: 10-48 (Penaud Try)
To make matters worse, Penaud soon landed a try in the right corner following a cross-kick from Gael Fickou, outpacing England’s Alex Dombrandt.
74′: 10-53 (Penaud doubles down)
Just minutes later, Penaud signed off France’s already eye-watering lead over England with an astonishing try following a lineout to bring the score 10-53 to Les Bleus.
Ireland secured their fourth consecutive win at the Six Nations Championship last Sunday as they embarked on securing a Grand Slam with their 22-7 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield.
Kickstarting the game at a frenetic pace, Scotland displayed early signs of intent with their attacking formation, but the Ireland defence proved strong.
In putting his boot to the ball, Finn Russell broke through the Ireland defence, but his attempt soon proved futile as the ball met Hugo Keenan.
A disappointing result for an attack that seemed hopeful, but Ireland’s Johnny Sexton encountered a similar problem with his grubber finding the touchline.
Scotland came back with a lineout, but Ireland’s Caelan Doris was at the receiving end of the throw.
Ireland was soon over Scotland’s side, but their hopes were dashed as the lineout had been taken with a different ball.
12′: 0-3 (Penalty Sexton)
None other than Ireland’s Sexton was the first to put Ireland on the board with his penalty to bring the side up by 3 points.
But whilst a valiant effort, an opportunity was missed for the Shamrocks only moments later when Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe executed an astounding try-saving tackle on Hansen.
16′: 7-3 (Huw Jones touches down for Scotland).
Having dominated the Scots territory for most of the start, Scotland soon bounced back with a 15-phase attack that put Ireland through their paces.
Unable to prevent the onslaught, Scotland raced and slipped through the grasp of the Shamrocks Forwards before a wide ball to the Backs found its way into the arms of Centre Sione Tuipulotu and then to Huw Jones who bolted over the Try line.
Just like that, Jones secured his fourth try of the Championship – electrifying!
Russell soon converted in the 17′ to secure a 4-point lead.
27′: 7-8 (Hansen Try)
Fueled with a newfound fire, Mack Hansen soon brought it back for his side as he slipped the clutches of Van der Merwe to place Ireland in the lead following an impressive touchline pass from Keenan.
A fantastic tackle from Merwe – just a second too late…
28′-40′ (Standstill)
Scotland regrouped and it was Jones that threatened Ireland’s 1-point lead.
Just inches from securing a try for his side and doubling his try tally, Scotland’s Keenan kept the score in Ireland’s favour with his staggering tackle, followed by a turnover from Josh van der Flier that put the brakes on Scotland’s attack.
A disappointing blow for Scotland in the first half.
56′: 7-13 (James Lowe Try)
With both sides now fighting to gain traction in the other’s territory, James Lowe broke the stalemate 16 minutes into the second half.
Following on from a missed pass from Jamison Gibson-Park, the Winger slipped past Steyn to secure his third try at this year’s Championship.
Sexton again converted in the 62′ to widen the gap with their 15-point lead.
62′ -80′: (One Last Push)
Now dominating the pitch, Ireland was in pursuit of securing a bonus point in the closing stages of the match.
Gibson-Park bolted down the left side of the pitch to meet with James Ryan situated on the inside, but failed to sustain momentum as the Second Row stumbled forward, the try line in view.
As full-time was called, Ireland walked away victorious, securing four points, a score enabling them to continue in their pursuit of winning the Grand Slam against England in Round 5.
Round 4 Summary:
A fantastic fourth round! Congratulations to Wales, France and Ireland as they emerge victors of Round 4.
With Round 5 set to take place on the weekend, we canโt wait to see how the teams fare as they make their way to the final. Will Ireland secure their Grand Slam? Time will tell…
For now, thatโs it from us here at The Full 80. Let us know in the comments your opinion on the round. Perhaps youโve got predictions on how the teams will fare in the final round? Weโd love to hear from you!
The Shamrocks certainly weren’t letting up last weekend as they secured a sensational 20-34 victory against the Azzurri in what can only be regarded as some of the best playmaking to grace the pitch this Championship.
As the match commenced, it wasn’t long until things began to get heated…
James Lowe dominated the left flank, slipping through the traps set by Les Bleus following a pass from Keenan, but with Ange Capuozzo hot on his tail, the pressure saw Lowe’s ball slip from his grasp – a Try denied moments later.
02′: 0-3
But in true Ireland fashion, the luck of the Shamrock soon came into its own just a minute later.
Paving their way through the Azzurri defence, Bundee Aki‘s well-timed offload to Winger Lowe saw James Ryan put Ireland on the board.
Italy came back strong, entering Ireland’s 22 in the 6th minute, Paolo Garbisi sending a missed pass into the clutches of eagle-eyed Lorenzo Cannone, bulldozing his way to the 5-meter line.
Seconds later, Scrum-half Stephen Varney allowed no time for Ireland’s defence to settle, and dashed to the try line to secure his first Try in the Championship.
A proud moment for the Scrum-Half and one that saw an additional 2 points given for their side following Garbisi’s conversion.
12′: 10-12
With the Azzurri now leading, the phenomenal playmaking from Keenan and his frenetic footwork saw the Full-Back slip through the shackles of Les Bleus defenders to bring Ireland 7-10 up following Byrne’s conversion in the 13′.
The Azzurri again responded with a penalty to close the gap at 10-12 in the 18′, but Ireland’s Aki was soon back in full force to keep their distance.
Following on from a sensational pass from Lowe to Aki, the Ireland Centre made a break for the left-hand corner to propel the Shamrocks 9 points ahead with a score of 10-19 following a conversion from Byrne.
35′: 10-24
Ireland’s Winger Mack Hansen continued to drive the score home with his side ploughing down Les Bleus’ defence at the 5 metres line, Craig Casey seeking his opportunity to set up a missed pass into the arms of Stuart Mccloskey who beautifully set up the Winger to score.
’40: 17-24
With Ireland dominating the lead and with half-time on the horizon, Azzurri’s PierreBruno was the next player to put one past the unsuspecting Shamrocks.
Delivering an outstanding interception of Ireland’s ball seconds before half-time, Bruno made a break from 65 metres and bolted to the Try line, outpacing Van Der Flier in the process, securing a nail-biting 17-24 score following Garbisi’s second conversion.
A momentous feat for the Azzurri that would later be followed in the second half with another penalty from Garbisi in the 55′ to close the gap against Ireland.
With Italy’s sights set on breaking a spout of bad luck having lost nine times in a row against Ireland, Aki’s denied Try in the 57′ was a welcome sigh of relief for the Azzurri side.
70′: 20-32
With a vision to arise victorious, Ireland’s Mack Hansen was next to score a Try on the shoulder of Connor Murray, with a conversion later followed by Byrne that would conclude the game’s end, resulting in a 20-32 victory to Ireland.
But while Italy suffered a loss, a newfound respect for the Azzurri permeated the stands as their playmaking at this year’s Championship went leaps and bounds beyond last year’s efforts that saw a substantial 57-6 loss against Ireland in the 2022 fixture.
Since the welcomed return of Wales’ ex-Head-Coach Warran Gatland, it’s safe to say the Dragons were determined to secure their first win against England under the management of their new coach last weekend.
However, whilst Wales showed excellent playmaking at certain points in the match, in particular within the second half, it wasn’t enough to prevent the onslaught from Borthwick‘s best…
Commanding the first 10 minutes of the match, England maintained exceptional control and possession of the ball against their rivals, however a moment of opportunity came from Wales’ Taulupe Faletau.
Hunting down Jack van Poortvlet‘s drop-kicked clearance, Faletau charged down the ball, but was beaten by England’s Freddie Steward within reach of the try line.
Minutes later, England sought to take the lead as Farrell followed through with an exceptional 45-meter penalty that came from Wales after not rolling away- a mistake that saw England secure a 3-point lead in the first 10 minutes of the match.
18‘: 0-8
With a newfound spring in their step, England’s attacking formation was later executed seamlessly, as cracks in Wales’ defence started to show.
Full-Back Anthony Watson was waiting on the wing as the Roses quickly moved the ball through their hands following an England Scrum 10 metres into Wales’ half.
It was Captain Farrell who sparked the beginning of their onslaught. Wales’ Scrum-Half Van Poortvliet failed a pass to Tomos Williams that ended up in the hands of Fly-Half Farrell.
With Malins flying to Farrell’s aid on the inside shoulder, a perfectly executed pass enabled an opportune moment for the Winger to bolt away in the midfield.
Now embarking on his opportunity to pass to Lawrence, Wales’ Mason Grady sought to stop the centre in his tracks, however England weren’t letting up and quickly regained possession.
A series of passes immediately followed, and a miss pass from Alex Dombrandt saw Watson touch down a try for his team- his first England start in almost two years.
Some of the finest playmaking from England at this year’s Six Nations!
21′: 3-8
With just under 60 minutes left, England continued to exhibit an impenetrable line of defence, however it wasn’t until the 21′ did we see Wales get placed on the board.
It was none other than Wales’ Halfpenny who secured 3 points for the team.
40′: 8-10
Whether a stroke of luck or a newfound confidence in feeling they could win against England, the Dragons soon relit their dwindling fire with the flawless interception of England’s ball from Louis Rees Zammit.
Regarded as one of the fastest players to grace the pitch at this year’s six nations, Reese Lightning’s athleticism was one England couldn’t quite match (or catch).
Having undergone recent injury complications following an ankle injury he suffered at Christmas, Zammit was a welcome reminder of Wales’ dedication to the sport, securing a 9th Try from Zammit since his injury complications.
— Welsh Rugby Union ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 25, 2023
As if that wasn’t enough to drive the dragon home, Halfpenny‘s conversion of the ball put Wales back on the map at half-time, resulting in an exceptional 8-10 lead to Wales.
44′: 15-10
Coming back in full force after the break, it was a battle of the giants as England crossed the 5-meter line inside Wales’ half.
Despite a strong line of defence from Wales, Sinckler landed the ball over the try line after bulldozing the dragons in a contest for the ball that saw England again placed in the lead.
Farrell converted soon after, now boasting a 5 point lead against their rivals.
74′
The struggle for Wales to enter England’s half ensued for the majority of the second half, but whilst successful in their attempts to apply pressure inside the Wales 22, England struggled to extend their lead.
With Farrell missing a second penalty and Ludlam missing a pivotal turnover just meters from the try line, it was none other than Henry Slade‘s astounding pass to Ollie Lawrence following a break in Wales’ defence at the try line that concluded the score.
France secured an electrifying win against Scotland on the weekend. Despite having broken their consecutive winning streak of 14 games for the first time in 18 months against Ireland in Round 2, it didn’t take long for France to get back on form.
Just 4 minutes into the match, France’s Fly-Half Romain Ntamack was ready to repeat history with his astonishing try, to cross the try line similarly as he did on his first Test start against the Scots in 2019.
A touchdown soon followed with a conversion by Ramos in the 5th, resulting in a 7 point lead for France.
๐ซ๐ท๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Superbe dรฉbut de match du #XVdeFrance qui marque dรจs les premiรจres minutes ๐
With France dominating the first 5′, Scotland would soon see themselves at an even greater disadvantage as Grant Gilchrist‘s dangerous tackle to Anthony Jelonch saw the Lock receive a red card.
7′: 12-0
Now one man down and 7 points behind, it wasn’t long until Scotland faced their third tribulation.
Whoever said ‘bad things come in threes‘ might be onto something…
Following on from a magnificent long pass from Dupont, the white jerseys showed no signs of stopping as Ntamack received the wide ball to set up Dumortier’s second try within just 8 minutes.
Just look at how Dupont executes his bullet pass and earns the ‘Play of the Week‘:
Dupont taking advantage of a 14-man Scottish defence:
With 10 minutes on the clock, it wasn’t long until France saw their luck begin to change.
Mohamed Haouas‘s direct head contact with Ben White saw the Prop make history as the first-ever player to be sent off twice in the Six Nations Championship, the first time for punching Jamie Ritchie in the 2020 fixture.
The sides were again level, standing at 14 vs 14.
18′ 19-0
Now desperate to get onto the scoreboard, Scotland were ready to break into France’s half with what initially appeared to be a flawless attacking formation.
However, as the Six Nations Championship teaches us, nothing is set in stone…
France’s Full-Back Thomas Ramos poached the ball away from Russell with his stunning interception and made a break to clear the ball over the try line.
Now 17 points ahead, it wasn’t long before Ramos signed off with a conversion to add a further 2 points onto their score.
Ramos was soon back to clinch a penalty for his side following on from Matt Fagerson being off his feet at a ruck, which gave France the edge with an additional 3 points to conclude the half-time score at 22-7.
48′: 22-12
Standing at a considerable disadvantage, Scotland needed to be the first to score after half-time if they were to have any chance in closing the gap against Les Bleus.
Making their way toward the 5-metre line, Jones secured a further 3 points for his side despite Dupont‘s efforts to stop the onslaught, and in true Russell fashion, a second conversion was made for his side.
France were back again in the 57′ with an additional penalty from Ramos following on from Scotland going off their feet at a breakdown, earning an additional 3 points for their side.
67′: 25-21
Just 10 minutes later, Scotland again replied using the scrum to their advantage. A penalty was given, and Price set up Russell for a remarkable try.
A third conversion from Russell in the 68′ brought the scores to a nail-biting 25-21, a score that left Les Bleus quaking in their boots.
Determined to not lose for a second time at this year’s Six Nations, Fickou clinched it for France by making a break for the Try line as the Scots’ defences began to weaken and crack.
Ramos followed again for a third conversion to conclude the scores at 32-21 for full-time.
What a fantastic third round to take place at the Principality Stadium. Congratulations are in order for Ireland, England and France as they emerge victors of Round 3.
With Round 4 set to commence on the 11th of March, we can’t wait to see how the teams fare as they take to Twickenham.
For now, that’s it from us here at The Full 80. Let us know in the comments your opinion on the round. Perhaps you’ve got predictions on who will emerge victorious in Round 4? We’d love to hear from you!
In the meantime, why not check out our predictions for the outcome at this year’s championships here.
France sought to acquire their 15th consecutive win against Ireland last Saturday (11th Feb), having won against Italy in Round One. However, Ireland dashed the dream of Dupont & co with their outstanding 32-19 lead.
France kicked off to a fantastic start (quite literally) when Ireland’s Andrew Porter embarked on securing a turnover, while Taghg Beirne was lying on the ball, which resulted in a penalty for Les Bleus.
Thomas Ramos stepped up, a penalty was scored, and speculation began to circle the stands as to who would emerge victorious.
That was, until the 8th minute of the match…
Fullback Hugo Keenan fought back following an attacking line-out five metres from the try line. France showcased terrific athleticism and strength in holding their maul, however it was Finlay Bealham‘s inside pass that led to Keenan dashing to the try line.
Just look as he came out of nowhere in the 8th!
Ramos again sought to turn the tables with yet another successful penalty, following on from Peter O’Mahony diving on a loose ball.
The score was now 7-6 to Ireland, but nobody quite anticipated what would be up Les Bleus’ sleeve just minutes later.
Following on from a loose pass from James Ryan in the opposition’s 22, Ramos brushed the ball to Penaud before offloading to Third Row Anthony Jelonch in a display of sharp wit under the pressure of the approaching Ireland forwards. Receiving the ball in a returned pass, Penaud dashed to the try line to secure a sensational try for his side.
With a conversion soon after from Ramos, France were set to dominate their rivals, leaving them 13-7 up.
But in true Ireland fashion and with the luck of the shamrock on their side, Ireland soon responded.
Winger James Lowe brought it back for his side in the 20′, with Garry Ringrose setting up a wide ball to see Lowe dive into the corner as if his life depended on it.
One of the greatest finishes you will ever see โจ
Ireland soon had the advantage , with the addition of an extra man following on from France’s Uini Atonio becoming sin-binned for his high tackle on Rob Herring in the 23.
Andrew Porter made the most of this advantage and rushed over the try line.
Again, France responded, with Ramos securing another try for Les Bleus.
Hansen was next, with his sights set on securing another 3 points for Ireland that looked certain until Dupont held down his side and exhibited bull-like strength in keeping the Winger at bay.
Despite their valiant efforts, all seemed futile when Les Bleus lost possession of the ball following a line-out just one minute later, which led to Sexton securing a penalty as a result of Conor Murray having knocked on in securing yet another try for the shamrocks.
France fought back with a newfound determination, with a close try from Penaud and Dumortier slipping to the left side to deliver a chip kick that was collected by Ireland’s Ringrose.
Lowe was next with a 50:22 following a lack of communication from Les Blues’ Backs that led to Byrne securing 3 points to bring the teams to 25-16.
France’s frustration was becoming apparent.
Ramos again came back to gain a drop goal for his side- the first score for France in the second half with just 20 minutes left on the clock.
Ireland again responded with just 9 minutes on the clock, Doris creating a fantastic offload to Ringrose with Les Bleus hot on his trail.
Scotland made history on the weekend to earn their biggest-ever victory yet over Wales, ending in a landslide 35-7 win for the Scots. A momentous feat that even surpassed their 35-10 win in 1924, breaking the record just in time before the 100th anniversary of the match.
Let’s also not forget how Scotland won their opening two Championship matches for the first time since 1996 after defeating England 23-29 in Round 1…
Anyway, on to the game!
It was George Turner‘s try in the first half of the match which kickstarted the game for the Scots, with a sensational try in the 29th.
Captain Ken Owens soon fought back to showcase the fury of the dragons in the 33‘ to leave the half-time score up in the air with a 13-7 lead to Scotland- a score that could be turned around with stalwart dedication.
That is, at least what many fans of Wales had hoped for, especially considering the Dragons’ 20-17 lead over Scotland last year…
But despite every effort to emerge victorious, not even the return of Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland has been enough to bring the dragons back on form.
As the second half of the match commenced, Francois Steyn obtained two tries for the Scots within just 7 minutes, expertly executed by rugby sensation Finn Russell and his phenomenal passing game.
Just look at how he sets up Steyn:
Blair Kinghorn was next, widening the gap to seal the victory for the Scots with a bonus point with just 9 minutes left on the clock- a feat made possible by Edinburgh’s van der Merwe who was awarded the Try of the Round in Round 1.
But while victory was almost certain, Scotland weren’t going to let up and made the most of their opportunity to secure a landslide victory with an assist, again from Russell, that saw Matt Fagerson deliver a try.
The 80 minutes were up, and while Scotland secured a remarkable win, credit must be given to Russell and his dedication to set up three of the five tries for his side- a crucial component to the Townsend team.
Scotland even saw themselves walk away with the notorious Doddie Weir Cup – a rugby union trophy named after the late Scotland International Lock, Doddie Weir, who was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 2016.
A fantastic moment to celebrate the life of the player while also raising awareness for the condition!
Their Second Round, their first victory- the Red Roses ascend above the Azzurri in a dazzling display of dedication.
England secured Steve Borthwick his first win since being appointed head coach for his team, and while their match against Scotland resulted in a disappointing blow in round 1, England was back with the familiar fire and tenacity we’d so sorely missed.
Italy showed prowess, with a vast improvement in their performance compared with last year’s Championships that saw the Azzurri receive a brutal 0-33 loss against England.
For the half of the match, England appeared to dominate, with Back Row Jack Willis securing a Try in the 12‘ as a result of Italy’s inability to hold up against an England Maul, which led to Owen Farrell converting to bring England 7-0 up within 14 minutes.
It wasn’t long until England went in again for their second in the 27′-Back Row Ollie Chessum securing his first international try following a sensational set-up from Prop Ellis Genge.
Captain Farrell again emerged with a conversion that catapulted the Red Roses into the lead with a score of 14-0 within 30 minutes of the match.
Just 5 minutes later, England had acquired their third try, or at least, that’s what they thought…
Winger Max Mallins made a break for it- weaving through the Azzurri’s defence to send the ball to Scrum-Half Jack van Poortvliet who ran under the goal- a try denied moments later following an obstruction from Ollie Lawrence to Maneul Zuliani.
A trying shame as Max Mallins‘ playmaking was set to be sensational:
But in true Six Nations fashion, it wasn’t long until England were back.
Despite being denied a try, it was their second chance at a line-out that saw them try to regain what had been lost, dragging Italy across the line, it was Jamie George who stepped up to cement the third try for the team.
Half-time was up and England dominated the scene in the first half to bring the score to 19-0 to England.
However, it wasn’t long after the break in the 43′ did we see the Azzurri fight back- Prop Riccioni securing their first try to bring the scores to 19-5.
A second attempt to close the gap came from Alessandro Fusco as he squeezed through Mako Vunipola and Dan Cole following Tomasso Menoncello‘s breakout.
With just 12 points being all that stood between the Roses and the Azzurri, England came back again with another sensational try set up by Mitchell and executed by Arundell to bounce back from their defeat against Scotland in Round 1.
The Red Roses have returned, at last!
With the Six Nations set to commence for a third round this coming weekend, we can’t wait to see as the nations battle it out to become victorious.
Let us know in the comments your predictions for Round 3 of the Six Nations Championship to be in with a chance to win a ยฃ250 voucher to spend at Lovell-rugby.co.uk. We will be selecting the winner in the coming weeks, so be sure to stay posted at The Full 80.
Competition closes Friday 24/02/23 – 23.59.
In the meantime why not check out our predictions for the Six Nations Championship.
But whilst the reigning Grand Slam Champions walked away with their 14th consecutive Test Match win, respect must go to previous Wooden Spoon holders-Italy.
Having succumbed to a considerable loss of 37-10 against Les Bleus in last year’s Six Nations , there was an unspoken feeling amongst fans- that Italy was to fall short ofFrance by some considerable margin.
At least, that was our prediction…
Having lost toFrance 9 times since their last win against France in 2013, the first half of the match evoked a familiar feeling of de ja vu of past tournaments as Les Bleus‘ dominated the Azzurri side.
Second Row ForwardThibaud Flament was the first to score, snatching the ball off the unsuspecting Scrum Half, Italy’s Stephen Varney in the 4th minute (a penalty Ramos soon converted to leave France 7-0 up).
Italy hit back in the 13′ with Fly HalfTommaso Allan securing a penalty following Uini Antoni‘s failed release of the ball in what can be considered a jackler attempt that put the Azzurri on the board, bringing the scores to 7-3.
Les Bleus followed up with Full Back Thomas Ramos‘s try in the 18’, but it wasn’t long before Allan contributed to providing a second penalty for Italy at 23 minutes as France was caught offside.
Things were looking up for the Azzurri, despite having only scored penalties against their rivals, it was clear Les Bleus weren’t at their best, with disputes of discipline circulating the stands.
However, it wasn’t long before Les Bleus were back on form. None other than debut Winger Ethan Dumortier touched down a further try in the 27′ thanks to an astonishing kick-pass from Roman Ntamack following on from Gregory Alldritt‘s possession of the ball at the 22-metre line.
Just look at Ntamack‘s casual response to his phenomenal set-up for Demortier.
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 5, 2023
France were dominating the field, but nobody quite anticipated what would happen next…
It was Italy‘s prodigy Ange Capuozzo who raced past the opposition in the ’31 to acquire an electrifying try to bring the team up 11-19 ( a score set to increase again within minutes).
Now brimming with determination, Italy’s Fly Half, Tomaso Allan made a third effort to obtain points for the team and left Italy tightening the gap, with just 5 points being all that stood between a win over Les Bleus.
France were in their sights, and as the second half commenced, Italy were proving to be the underdog…
A welcomed penalty in the second half had rival France quaking in their boots as Flanker Charles Ollivon received a yellow card in the ’52 for collapsing on the ball during a maul that formed from Italy’s attempt to drive the ball over the line.
A single point was all that stood between them and the Rome visitors.
With the teams showcasing equal determination in wishing to emerge as victors of their first round, Italy’s Tommaso Allan‘s penalty became the biggest concern for Les Blues.
It was here Italy were ahead of their unsuspecting rivals with just 18 minutes left on the clock- A nail-biting turnaround against the former Six Nations Champions.
But having showcased vast improvement in their playmaking in having beaten Australia and Wales last year- Italy were ready to give it their all.
In what was now a deadlocked game of back and forth in a desperate attempt to retain their reputation, France’s replacement Matthieu Jailbert stepped up to the mark to redeem Les Bleus and edge them closer towards winning just 5 minutes later.
A dazzling display of athleticism and tact from the French Fly Half!
With just 13 minutes remaining, Italy continued to fight back, placing an overwhelming amount of pressure on Les Bleus, but despite valiant efforts from the Azzurri, it was clear France weren’t ready to lose their winning streak just yet.
Time was called, and France was declared victorious.
Reflecting on the Game
Commenting on the game, French Winger, Ethan Dumortier stated:
“It’s not the Italy we knew in the Five Nations, or earlier in the Six Nations”
We couldn’t agree more! Italy are an entirely new breed as far as we’re concerned and it’s safe to say that if last year’s Wooden Spoon holders are able to put former Six Nations champs under as much pressure as they have, then we’re in for a treat.
Captain Antoine Dupont reflected on France’s playing:
โThere were some positives today because we won and also got the bonus point, but the performance was not good. Our behaviour was sanctioned, we got a yellow card and made fouls when we were not in danger.”
Having conceded a total of 18 penalties, 7 alone during ruck-time, Les Bleus allowed Italy to dominate their territory repeatedly.
Now set to play England next in Round 2, could Italy again be set to shake up the score? Whilst their 0-33 defeat of last year leaves little to suggest they will emerge victorious, could a repeated determination shown in their playmaking against France be a premonition for change? It’s looking likely!
What are your predictions on the outcome of the Six Nations? Were you impressed by Italy? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
Starting strong and dominating the first half with an electrifying display of athleticism,Ireland took the lead to secure two tries through Back Row Caelan Doris crossing the whitewash (2 minutes in) and Lock James Ryan inside the first 10 minutes.
Wales’ Rio Dyer made a cracking effort to pull a try back for Wales in the 12th, but Ireland‘s Hugo Keenan won the foot race after the Wales Winger kicked the ball over the try line.
A frustrating start for Wales…
However, it wasn’t long until a bittersweet glimmer of hope appeared when Fly Half Dan Biggar and Ireland’s Johnny Sexton traded penalty kicks, to situate the dragons on the scoreboard for the first time in the 14th minute of the game leaving the Shamrocks 11 points up at 3-14.
The onslaught again continued as James Lowe secured a third try for Ireland after intercepting a pass from unwary Wales.
Just look at how the Winger clinched the ball away from Wales to bring the score to 3-22 to Ireland:
Laudable leg work from Lowe!
Things were looking bleak for Wales now as Sexton later followed with a second penalty kick to give Ireland a considerable 27-3 lead at halftime due to Wales’ compromised lineout that saw Ireland kick the ball out of play.
But whilst Wales edged toward a landslide defeat, it was in the second half of the match that the dragons sought to recoup their losses with Liam Williams securing an astounding try for his side within just 2 minutes of the game’s restart.
Look at how he effortlessly slides into the try zone:
Following on from an excellent flat pass from Biggar that almost saw Josh Adams take to the try line before losing possession of the ball, the ball was pulled back for a penalty after a late high tackle on Wales’ Fly Half to make a rare visit into Ireland’s 22!
None other than Williams soon bolted over the whitewash unchallenged.
The crowds roared as Wales made it to the five-metre line shortly after the restart, but unsuspecting Wales found the ball held up over the try line and referee Karl Dickson called for a line out, with Ireland later clearing the ball.
Adopting newfound determination, Wales continued to press against Ireland’s defences, but fell short by failing to convert any opportunities, resulting in a feeling of mutual frustration between players and fans alike at Ireland’s seemingly unbreakable line of defence.
Further disappointment came from previous try-scorer, Liam Williams, as he collided with Ireland’s Sexton in a high tackle that saw the Fullback sin-binned and appointed a yellow card toward the final quarter of the game for the illegal tackle.
SIN BIN!
Liam Williams has been shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Johnny Sexton ๐จ
15 minutes were now all that stood between the two sides, with a 17-point advantage giving Ireland the luck of the shamrock.
Whilst Wales tried to obtain ground, the dragons struggled desperately to defend inside their 22 for the majority of the final quarter until one player in particular slipped through their defences…
It was none other than Ireland’s Flanker and World Rugby Player of the Year, van der Flier who exhibited relentless dedication to the game with his conversion of fly-half Ross Byrne’s ball in the final 8 minutes.
Ireland’s head coach Andy Farrell reflected on Ireland’s win:
โWeโre delighted to get off to a good start. As we all know, itโs a tough place to start a campaign. The pleasing thing is we could have used lots of things as an excuse in the past 12 days, but our preparation has been top drawer. Itโs a tough place to come historically.
“If you could give us a bonus point win here, weโd snatch your hand off. But the best thing is thereโs plenty more to do and fix.
“They played pretty expansively to be fair to them. Our scramble defence was good. We kept playing to the end and could have had one or two more.”
As Round Two of the Six Nations Championship is soon set to commence, will Ireland’s resounding victory be but a glimpse into what’s to come as they take on former victors France on the weekend?
Time will tell…
As for Wales, will their match against Ireland be the shake-up they need to take on Scotland in Round 2 after their sensational 23-29 win over England?
We can’t wait to find out!
That’s all from us for now at the Full 80. Let us know in the comments how you felt about the match, we’d love to hear from you!
