Wales’ hopes of defending their Grand Slam crown were dashed after a first half surge from Ireland took the game out of reach. Man of the match Brian O’Driscoll assisted Simon Zebo, 10mins, while Cian Healy, 23mins, went over for a second. Jonathan Sexton added the extras as well as popping over three penalties which gave Ireland a tidy lead into half time. Wales’ only riposte was a Leigh Halfpenny penalty. HT 3-23.
O’Driscoll went over for Ireland’s third try two minutes after the restart with Sexton knocking over the conversion. Wales however weren’t outdone on the try front with Alex Cuthbert, 47mins, Leigh Halfpenny, 58mins, and Craig Mitchell, 75mins, all going over for the home side. Halfpenny added the extras for two.
Wales dominated for the majority of the second half but were unable to make up the deficit they succumbed to in the first 45 minutes of the match and went on to lose their fifth consecutive home game, while interim coach Rob Howley is yet to win a test match.
Ireland took advantage of Wales’ sloppy mistakes in the first half, and defended superbly in the second to hold off a dominant Welsh attacking team. A great start for Ireland in their opening game of the RBS 2013 Six Nations.
Wales
Tries: Cuthbert, Halfpenny, Mitchell
Conversions: Halfpenny (2)
Penalties: Halfpenny
Ireland
Tries: Zebo, Healy, O’Driscoll
Conversions: Sexton (3)
Penalties: Sexton (3)
Man of the Match: Brian O’Driscoll
England 38 - 18 Scotland
A young English team hosted Scotland in the first round game of the Six Nations. Billy Twelvetrees scored a try on his debut, which saw England hold on to the Calcutta cup. However, it was Scotland who made an early impact, shocking the home side by scoring the first try.
England started well, scoring an early penalty to get the scoreboard ticking over. Scotland answered with a Sean Maitland try, 10mins. The winger, on his debut, finished off a passage of play that started with Scotland breaking from their own 22. The conversion was missed and three minutes later, England regained the lead, kicking another penalty. David Denton, a substitute on for Alasdair Strokosch, gave away possession with a wild pass and it looked like England were in for a try. However, a forward pass to Twelvetrees halted the attack and they came back for a penalty for holding. Farrell added to his tally, 3 for 3. In the 19th minute Tom Youngs is pinged for not entering through the gate at a breakdown and Greig Laidlaw takes the three points. With sustained pressure in the Scottish 22, Ashton drives over the line for an England try, 30mins, Farrell adds the extras. Both teams add to their totals with penalties in the 38th and 39th minute. HT 19-11.
The debutant, Twelvetrees finds the try line two minutes into the second half and Farrell converts. Parling edges the home team even further out of sight in the 53rd minute after a break by Youngs. Farrell’s golden boot fails to add the extras on this occasion. A tired Scottish team, flailing under the ever constant English pressure, manage to score a superb try in the 70th minute as Stuart Hogg supports Maitland’s kick ahead. This time Maitland converts to give Scotland a small glimmer of hope. Scotland find renewed strength from the try and pile on the pressure in an attempt to pull off what would be an emphatic comeback. However, to add insult to injury, Danny Care, with the clock in the red, goes over the try line. Farrell drop kicks from under the posts to add the two points and bring England to a 20point win.
An underdog Scottish team showed heart in a game they were not expected to do well in. England’s young side showed strength, character and determination, sending out a message that they were here for the Slam.
England
Tries: Ashton, Twelvetrees, Parling, Care
Conversions: Farrell (3)
Penalties: Farrell (4)
Scotland
Tries: Maitland, Hogg
Conversions: Laidlaw
Penalties: Laidlaw (2)
Man of the Match: Owen Farrell
Italy 23 - 18 France
Italy caused the biggest upset of the weekend after beating France at home in their opening Six Nations match. The side which usually finds themselves in contention for the wooden spoon, put in a stunning performance which saw them blast the Six Nations wide open. Italy defended well and took their chances against a good French side, showing that their famous victory two seasons ago against the French was no fluke.
The Azzurri took an early lead after Sergio Parisse, 4mins, went over, but the French came back with his opposite number Louis Picamoles, 11mins, touching down. Frederic Michalek missed the conversion, keeping Italy out front. Italy’s star Luciano Orquera kept their scoreboard ticking over as he knocked over a drop goal and penalty to extend their lead. It was not long before the French fought back and Michalek put over a penalty. The visitors then took the lead for the first time after a try from Benjamin Fall, 33mins. This time Michalek added the extras sending the French into half time 13-15 up.
Michalek’s boot extended the French lead in the second half, and they looked set to pull away from the Italian’s before Martin Castrogiovanni’s, 56mins, converted try put the lead back in the hands of the home side. Kristopher Burton came on for Orquera, a brave yet right decision, as when the moment came Burton was able to knock over a drop goal extending their lead to five points. Italy were able to hold off a French attack in the final minutes of the game, showing that they have a strong defence and on their day are contenders against any of the Six Nations sides.
Italy
Tries: Parisse, Castogiovanni
Conversions: Orquera (2)
Penalties: Orquera
Drop Goals: Orquera, Burton
France
Tries: Picamoles, Fall
Conversions: Michalek
Penalties: Michalek (2)
Man of the Match: Luciano Orquera
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