Yes indeed, let's just repeat that score WALES 27-6 FRANCE, ok I'm a little dismayed I lost my bet, but more than happy with the result.

And that does make the England v Ireland match all that more important tomorrow as if England win, which they're expected to, that'll put Ireland and England as the top 2 due to much better points difference, with Wales and France then also on 4 points each. That should liven up the remaining fixtures....


Wales started well from the start, going 11-0 up in the first 10 minutes, thanks to a George North try, and not really giving France a look at the ball.
Trading penalties up to Half Time puts Wales 20-6 ahead as the ref blows.
Wales have played well, and let's be honest, the French haven't, far too many errors from them. Not really the game I was expecting at all.

But you know that in the 2nd half France would come out stronger and Wales would have to watch out...

Well France did come and played better for the first 10 minutes, and got close to the Welsh line, but another tussle at a scrum sees both sides down to 14 as Nicolas Mas and Gethin Jenkins are shown the yellow card...
Mon Dieu!, what have the French done, they've only gone down to 13 men now as Louis Picamoles also gets sent to the bin...

A minute or so late and Sam Warburton puts the icing on the cake as he goes over, just, and after a viewing by the video ref to confirm. That makes it 27-6 and as you guess, that was it for the scoring.

A much better performance from Wales, well it couldn't get much worse than their last match could it? Not brilliant, but much better and certainly enough to put 'Le Boot' into the French. It looks like Warren Gatland did put the fear of God into his team and exacted the performance he knew they should be giving.

MOM is given to Gethin Jenkins, who is making his 103rd appearance for Wales....

It's the crunch match next up, away to England on Sunday 9th March, the old enemy....

First match of the weekend over, and now it's time for two crunch matches, one over the bottom slot and the other for the top...

ITALY vs SCOTLAND Saturday 13.30 Kick Off

It was said that last time out, Scotland was lucky to get 0 points, but it wasn't all doom and gloom, they did force England into making a few mistakes.
"We're solely fixed on getting the right result in Italy," the skipper Grieg Laidlaw said ahead of Saturday's game in Rome, but the Scots do have a pretty poor away record and it is the Italians who are the 3~4 point favourites to take the win.
Scotland have not won in Rome since 2006, and I don't think they will alter that fact today...
My thoughts are, exactly by how much will the Italians win by? So it's time to spread your wager across a couple of options in the 'Winning Margin' market;

Winning Margin – Italy by 1 – 5 points @ 9/2 ~ 4/1
Winning Margin – Italy by 6 – 10 points @ 9/2 ~ 4/1
Winning Margin – Italy by 11 – 15 points @ 13/2 ~ 11/2
Winning Margin – Italy by 16 –20 points @ 9/1 ~ 17/2

You may get better odds on some of the lesser known bookies...

or you can use the Alternative Markets of;

Winning Margin - Italy by 1-12 @ 13/10
Winning Margin - Italy by 13+ @ 10/3 ~ 13/5

If you can't be arsed with all that, then just go with the standard handicap of Italy -3 ~ -4 which will be around 10/11 ~ evens...




ENGLAND vs IRELAND Saturday 16.00 Kick Off

Obviously the toughest match that Ireland would have played so far against the improving English. The bookies are going with an England -4 handicap, and the total points being marked up around the 38/39 point mark.
It's set to be a huge and tough match, Ireland need the win to make them virtually assured of taking the championship and England need the win to stay in contention.

To be honest, I don't really fancy any of the betting options on offer, but for value then splitting the bet again would be my preferred option in what should be a tight game;
Winning Margin - England by 1-5 points @ 4/1
Winning Margin - Ireland by 1-5 points @ 5/1

ITALY 13-3 SCOTLAND @ HALF TIME

It's a case of just a few penalties, 6-3 up until almost the end of the half, but Tommaso Allan barges his way through the Scots defence to land a devastating blow to the Scots. Allan converts as well to give the home side a nice 10 point lead going into the break.

Scotland need to stop giving away penalties and tighten their game up, they need to come out strong in the 2nd half, get some points and settle down..

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A cracking start to the 2nd half for the Scots, they do get points on the board and a good 10 minute period sees them rewarded with a try for Alex Dunbar, 13-11 as Laidlaw misses the conversion...

It's all go for the Scots who have put the Italians under pressure and broke up their game play, and they get rewarded again with another Dunbar try that Duncan Weir converts, 13-18. The Scots lead but watch out for those Italians.

And watch out indeed as the Italians get it wide and Joshua Furno puts the Azzuri level, but not for long as Luciano Orquera puts them back 2 points in the lead with the conversion, 20-18 and just under 10 minutes to go... Nail biting time for both sets of supporters....

Into the last minute and the Scots are pushing forward, they get it back to Weir who goes for the drop goal, and it's over, the Scots take the lead with seconds on the clock.
The Italians take the quick restart but lose the ball, it goes dead and that's it, Scotland WINS...
Is this going to be the weekend with lots of surprises??? Well done Scotland, you scuppered my bet, but you had that 2nd half well under control for the best part and leave the Italians with the prospect of that Wooden Spoon...


FULL TIME: ITALY 20-21 SCOTLAND

Well, that was an interesting weekend, unfortunately I ended up with a losing week after 2 successful ones, with a 1.5 point loss...

With England winning, that now puts 4 teams with 4 points with Ireland (+42pts) better off than England (+21), Wales (+6) or France (+1).



With England still to play Wales and France to play Ireland, these will be the matches that ultimately decide the championship, unless of course Scotland or Italy can cause an upset along the way...

Ireland will fancy themselves against France based on this weekends performances, but that's on the last weekend, so England vs Wales on the 9th March will be the first crunch match, expect fireworks.....

The Ireland came could have swung either way but in the end Ireland just didn't look they had any new ideas and it was all fairly simple for England at the end.

4th and penultimate round of the Six Nations this weekend and it all kick off soon enough with

Ireland vs Italy @ 14.30
If you want to go for an outright win then Ireland at 1/66 is pretty silly odds, 1/100 at some bookies, while 25/1 if you fancy Italy to do the improbable!
Handicaps are set around 24pts, and the Total Points around 46.5 / 47.5pts. I don't fancy the points cos it all depends which Italy side turns up, my gut would say go unders but Ireland could run riot and put 40pts on the Italians, although more likely to be 30 odd, while I don't fancy the Italians to be heavy into double figures.
So I'm going to take the -23.5pts in the 2-way handicap at around 8/11, or -24.5 at around 10/11.

I'm going with PaddyPower again, as they are still offering their Free £5 bet if you bet £5 on each Six Nations match, you may (and probably will) find better odds elsewhere.



Scotland vs France @ 17.00
Second match of the day and a much closer one to call as the handicaps are set around the 7pt mark with France of course the favourites. But the French have a growing list of dropped player through injury or banning, plus they have been hard at it with their Top 14 games, but that 7pt mark is very close, I would have preferred to take Scotland with a +9 or +10 handicap.

Total Points market set at around 36.5, I would fancy going with the overs for this one but again not convinced on Scotland's ability to keep the French away from their try line.

So I'm going to add the Scots at a +10 handicap on the alternative handicaps market in a double along with the Ireland 23.5 points handicap, odds around 1.7/1, while my £5 is going on the France to win by 1~12 points market at around 5/4.

ENGLAND vs WALES Kick Off 15.00

So after wins for both Ireland and France (just) yesterday, one of the top 4 contenders will be out today as it's the old enemy clash of England & Wales...

Both teams seem to be hitting it good at the moment, and neither will be slacking off, I expect a tight game with no runaway scores, and so do the bookies, with England the slight -4pt favourite.
The Total Points Market is set at 37.5, adding to the assumption that it's not going to be a mega points fest in this game.

It could be a case of going with your heart or your head in this match, of course I want the Welsh to win, but deep down I think the English could take this one, it will probably come down to a mistake or a moment of genius that settles the outcome.

So where to put your money, the bookies have made sure it's not going to be easy, but PaddyPower has a Tri Bet Market and I fancy going with the 'Either Team by 6 or Less' @ 6/5, as I said I think it's going to be a close match.

Alternatively, there is England By 1~12 @ 11/8 or Wales By 1~12 @ 11/5.

ENGLAND vs WALES

Wales still want that record of 3 Six Nations titles in a row, if they want it, they'll have to go to HQ and put on a show similar to last years match up, however I don't think England will allow that to happen.
Two great games yesterday, and this one promises to be even better, it's a perfect sunny day, expect a hard game...

Time for the anthems and a right rousing rendition of 'Land Of My Fathers' followed by ummm the other one.......

TEAM NEWS

England: M Brown (Harlequins); J Nowell (Exeter), L Burrell (Northampton), B Twelvetrees Gloucester), J May (Gloucester); O Farrell (Saracens), D Care (Harlequins); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), T Wood (Northampton), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Morgan (Gloucester).
Replacements: T Youngs (Leicester), M Vunipola (Saracens), H Thomas (Sale Sharks), D Attwood (Bath), T Johnson (Exeter), L Dickson (Northampton), G Ford (Bath), A Goode (Saracens).
Wales: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Racing Metro), G North (Northampton); R Priestland (Scarlets), R Webb (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), R Hibbard (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Perpignan), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Racing Metro), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), P James (Bath), R Jones (Scarlets), J Ball (Scarlets), J Tipuric (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Metro), D Biggar (Ospreys), L Williams (Scarlets)


The English take a quick penalty, and almost break through for the line, they're held up but it's still penalty advantage for England. The ref calls them back, but it's quickly taken again and Wales nap, and it's a Danny Care try, Farrell converts, 7-0, that'll get the blood pumping....
No sooner has it restarted and England gift a penalty to Wales, Halfpenny puts it over easily, 7-3.

18 minutes and Wales penalised for not driving straight in the scrum, Farrell converts, back to a 7pt margin, 10-3
England's turn to give a penalty away for coming in at the side, a 52m attempt for Halfpenny who sticks through the centre of the posts, 10-6

Wales' turn to give a penalty away for not rolling away, easy enough for Farrell, 13-6, these penalties are starting to mount up...
And there we go, England gives another one away, Halfpenny doesn't miss, 13-9

Wales make an error from a line out as Hibbard overthrows the ball, and England go for the line, it's stopped but it's out wide again and Luther Burrell touches down, easy enough conversion for Farrell, 20-9 with just under 5 minutes to go...
Another penalty for Wales, much closer this time for Halfpenny, no mistake and 20-12, no need for anything silly in the last 2 minutes lads...
England go offside just as the 40 minutes are up, could be a gift of 3pts, they didn't need to do that... Halfpenny is on fire today, 5 from 5.

England will be displeased going in to the break, the lead should have been more, they've played better than Wales but it's only the 5pt lead. Wales need to go in and shake themselves up, I'm sure Gatland has the hair-dryer ready lol....

HALF TIME: ENGLAND 20-15 WALES

So much for that Total Points line, that would have been smashed... Two tries plus penalties conceded everywhere, not the type of game I expected but close enough to make the 2nd half even more frenetic... It may come down to who has the better stamina...
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Here's the 2nd half and a bit of to and fro in the first 5 minutes before Wales gives another penalty away, 23-15

Gethin Jenkins gets himself a Yellow Card, that's 10 minutes in the bin, not what the Welsh wanted at all... Plus a penalty, so it's 26-15 and England has this game by the scruff of the neck now...
Time for a penalty trade as the Welsh get 1 back, 26-18, then give another away again, so it's back to a 11pt deficit 29-18

England think they've got another try, but the video ref says no... 5 minutes left, getting extremely tense now.
A penalty given away by Wales, instead of going for the 3pts, England want more and put it in touch for the line out. It ends up in a scrum and Wales come away with the ball... 3 minutes to go...

Brian Moore gives the MOM to Courtney Lawes... ok, if you say so....

The ref blows, that's it England with the win, which they deserved...

FULL TIME: ENGLAND 29-18 WALES

So Wales won't get that 3rd title in a row, and I'm not sure what kind of game plan they had for today, they certainly didn't play to their potential and were pretty much gifted all their points...

A win for England which keeps them in the hunt, although they'll have to put 50 or 60 points on the Italians next week to be in with a shout, as I can't see Ireland losing to France...

Good luck those who picked the England win by 1~12 points, I lost my bet today but 2 from 3, so happy enough...

game #2 with WALES vs SCOTLAND and you would expect both sides to be fighting hard for it.

Gethin Jenkins becomes Wales's most capped player with his 105th cap today, and there will be no Leigh Halfpenny as he dislocated a shoulder last week...

TEAM NEWS

Wales: Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton (Captain), Dan Lydiate; Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris; Rhodri Jones, Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Paul James, Adam Jones, Jake Ball, Justin Tipuric, Rhodri Williams, Rhys Priestland, James Hook
Scotland: Stuart Hogg; Dougie Fife, Alex Dunbar, Matt Scott, Max Evans; Duncan Weir, Greig Laidlaw; David Denton, Kelly Brown (captain), Ryan Wilson; Jim Hamilton, Richie Gray; Geoff Cross, Scott Lawson, Ryan Grant.
Replacements: Ross Ford, Alasdair Dickinson, Euan Murray, Tim Swinson, Alasdair Strokosch, Chris Cusiter, Duncan Taylor, Jack Cuthbert


It's an early penalty to Scotland 0-3, Laidlaw from 35 metres out.

It's a penalty given back and Dan Biggar equalises it up, 3-3. Kelly Brown goes off after a knee to the bonce, may not be that serious, have to wait and see...

Laidlaw misses a penalty from out wide, then Wales gets on the score sheet with a first try for Liam Williams, ably converted by Biggar, 10-3.

Ouch, Dan Biggar gets crunched by the Scots full back Stuart Hogg, he gets a yellow for it, but after the review, it's changed to a RED, don't see too many of those, but it wasn't a pretty sight... Biggar though is not that worse for wear as he puts the penalty over to make it 13-3

Another missed penalty chance from Laidlaw, that's gotta hurt the visitors... and again followed by another Welsh try, this time it's George North. Biggar has taken over Halfpenny's mantle and converts, 20-3, not going to plan for Scotland at all, and very much going to the Welsh plan, they couldn't make it work last week against the English but paying dividends this week.

Can Scotland make it to the half without conceding further, they survive one attack but not another as Jamie Roberts goes over, and once again Biggar add the 2pts... and that's the half over and done with...

HALF TIME: WALES 27-3 SCOTLAND
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Just under a minute in the 2nd half and George North go over on the left side and gets his 2nd of the day, Biggar misses the conversion, 32-3, the misery continues for the Scots...

This could be Scotland's biggest defeat at Cardiff as they lose a line out ball and it ends up with Jamie Roberts who gets his 2nd try of the game, Biggar gets it right this time, 39-3...

Ouch, 52 minutes and yet more pain for the Scots as Taulupe Faletau ( affine Welsh name there!!!) receives from Alun Wyn Jones to add another 5pts, as Biggar misses, it doesn't really matter now, it's getting all too easy for Wales... 44-3
I can't believe the Scots are letting this happen, ok, they have 14 men, but still, they're making it easy...

Scotland do up their game a bit, and have 20 mins or so without conceding, but then Rhodri Williams gets his 1st Welsh try and James Hook takes the conversion, 51-3, this is a record defeat for Scotland here...

That's it, the ref blows, thank fuck think the Scots and their fans, not their finest moment today...
7 tries for Wales, not seen that too often... Wales go out on a high, and Scotland on a low, but that's another championship over and done with for them...

FULL TIME: WALES 51-3 SCOTLAND

England coach Stuart Lancaster believes his side are well placed to win the 2015 World Cup after they finished as runners-up in the 2014 Six Nations.

Lancaster has been buoyed by the improvement in his players, despite them missing out on the Six Nations crown to Ireland on points difference.

When asked if England could win next year's World Cup on home soil, he said: "Yes I do, absolutely.

"I've always believed that and I've believed it from minute one."
Come on England !! :-)