The End

Well in the end there was drama, controversy, some quality rugby and a diabolical Italy vs Scotland game - who would have thought it?

"It is a game we had won and then there's an element of luck and we've lost it. We've played most of the rugby and unfortunately we've come away with nothing again."

A Wales player or coach? An Italian player or coach? Not a chance, instead the above can be attributed to one Jamie Noon who in the excitement of England scoring a try, forgot that you have to play for 80mins and that Lady Luck is a fickle bitch at best. Individual responsibility and culpability do not seem to be words used in the England dressing room, nor do they seem to realise that you have to win a game, not have it handed to you because you played well for 40mins - ask Wales. So here then is a summary of the final Six Nations games, the teams and ratings plus the few standout players.


Italy vs Scotland: I'm not going to say much about this game. It is very easily summed up as yet another referee screwing Italy over whilst a terribly biased home commentator, the appalling Andy Nichol, extols the virtues of a country who only scored one try in three games. I suspect the man-of-the-match award - Hugo Southwell the invisible fullback - was given by a blind man not at the game, or his guide dog. It wasn't enjoyable to watch after the first fifteen minutes and I will be marking my calendar for next year to make sure I avoid this fixture. I feel for Italy, not sorry because they played above and beyond what was expected of them and did themselves proud in the process, but that inconsistent referees cost them two if not three games. We could quite easily have been sitting here talking about Italy finishing third in the Six Nations, now that would have been worthwhile. I think Scotland were close to being the worst team in the Six Nations (I'll go into this more in my Six Nations roundup at the bottom) and on this performance, the southern hemisphere teams will be licking their lips for the summer tours and world cup next year.

France vs Wales: was a real heartbreaker. While I am going to dedicate a whole post to the game and Wales' performance over the Six Nations, I'd like to say that it was a really uplifting match despite the ending and a pyrrhic victory for the players. To have stuck together and played with the style of rugby they did, despite all the on and off-field nonsense proves that whichever road we walk from here, no coach will tamper with the style of play too greatly - something that previously lead us away from who we are during the late 80's/early 90's.

England vs Ireland: what a shame, what a tragedy. When Wales were screwed by the TMO against Italy last week (and this week) no-one outside Wales batted an eyelid. Fast forward a week and now it's an issue, now there has to be more angles, more time blah blah blah. It's very hard to care that England got screwed, they did for what it's worth, when they don't finish games off or pay any heed to circumstances involved when they win. When they win everything is good and when they lose there are mitagating factors - food poisoning when you take your own chef (what the hell is that all about by the way, a team chef to go to France?) an hour's trip across the channel last week, now a TMO conspiracy this week, next he'll be blaming the clubs - oh wait he already did. So England lost again, their record with Andy Robinson is dire and no-one seems to see it, indeed he intends to continue to the end of his contract - Yes!

Although 'tables never lie', 'the score is the only thing that matters' - pick a cliche, here are my ratings for the teams and how I think it worked:

1. France
They only lost one game, which they should have won, played only one half of rugby up to their potential - the first half against Ireland, yet still cantered to the title without key names and figures. What this means is they haven't revealed their hand for the World Cup, they have to be major contenders for the World cup and will in all likelihood (this is the French we're talking about here so no guarantees) only get better. Throw in a vociferous home crowd come the tournament, a squad with at least 30 seriously talented players and you may well be looking at the next World Cup winners.

2. Italy
In my opinion, one of the unluckiest campaigns ever seen in the Five or Six Nations. Screwed out of a victory against Ireland, screwed out of at least a draw against Scotland and should have beaten Wales. They also gave France and England very tough first 60mins and progressed as the tournament wore on. Most refreshing, though not unexpected with their new coach Berbezier, they played rugby and scored tries against all of the other five nations. They have; a solid pack, created behind through a combination of guile and pace, good leadership and stick to their gameplan. On top of which they don't give away anywhere near as many penalties as they did in previous tournaments. Italy I salute you and hope that you continue to progress in this manner, to become a genuine threat next year.

3. Ireland/Wales
How did I get Wales and Ireland? Simple. Wales showed in their last game that they do have serious potential.
They had to deal with, in no particular order:
- Ruddock leaving
- the nonsense at the WRU
- supposed player power rumours
- Johnson issue 1: Did he help Ruddock fall?
- Johnson issue 2: Will he be back?
- missing nine players from the starting XV who won the Grandslam
- Gareth Thomas issue 1: Is he ok?
- Gareth Thomas issue 2: Has the press alienated him so much he'll return?
- the Graham Thomas debacle and much much more. Is there any country who could a.) Go through all this is in a single six week period? and b.) Still almost turn over a French team going for the Six Nations? Welsh rugby is mad but ... all this has gone on 18 months before the World Cup. Thus although it wasn't the greatest Six Nations for us; we played most of the rugby in the tournament, got screwed several times by shocking refereeing decisions, blooded a lot of fresh faces, will have a better structure come the WC, will have most of our best players refreshed and ready, plus we'll have learned a helluva lot from these experiences. Hence Wales in joint third with Ireland.

Ireland because although they did the Triple Crown they have once again under-performed. With a backline that talented and a forward pack who supplies them with quality possession, they should be butchering teams who aren't at their best. Think what could be done if they played like they did in the second-half against France, yet they had to be 40 points down to open up like that. Instead they scraped wins over England, Italy and Scotland masking a deeper problem that will not be addressed as a result of their success. Yes it is important to win close games and kudos to them for that, but they have yet to produce that performance everyone knows they have in them.

4. Scotland
After much debate I decided that Scotland are better off than England, just. They did win three games, including their first away win since 2002, and did defend very well. However their defence will not win them games as was proved against Ireland. Teams with great defences will still leak points and unless it is balanced with good attacking options, is worth little. Yes they will make games hard and keep teams close, but at present they are not a threat - one try in three games tells it's own story, not to mention Andy Nichol proclaiming Hugo Southwell a great defensive fullback despite him missing every single one-on-one I saw him in. Sorry but I have no time for Andy Nichol and his ludicrous assertions. Scotland have a good start and they have a game plan but no backs. Thus the old adage "A thousand steps is of no value, if the first is in the wrong direction" applies. Will come seriously unstuck in South Africa on the summer tour.

5. England
Yes they are my least favourite rugby team. Yes I do hate them on international day, but that isn't why they are bottom. Quite simply with the player base they have, the funding and facilities, the constantly arrogant attitude of 'we should be the best' and so much talent they aren't playing well at all. The coaching is crap; there is no descernible gameplan, no leadership on or off the field, the backs look at each other like strangers, they don't have a consistent goal-kicker and the club structure is killing their game. Politics is getting in the way of the team moving forward without having the revolutionary event necessary to forge lasting change - like Wales gets every few years. Resultingly the English game is dying the slow death of strangulation, catching the players between club and country without resolution. More worrying is the fact that there is no clear solution to the various issues, a new coach and player shake-up will only gloss over the fundamental issues that English rugby faces. It will be a long 18 months for England and with Australia waiting for them down under in a potentially demoralising summer tour, the situation could soon move beyond disillusionment.

Players of the Six Nations

Italy - Bergamasco junior. A real talent more suited to centre than wing, has played some top-notch rugby on both sides of the ball, scoring tries and playing his guts out. My man of the tournament, just ahead of his captain.

Scotland - Jason White. His hits have been one of the highlights of the Six Nations. A leader by example and the centrepiece of Scotland's defence.

Ireland - David Wallace. How he was ever left out for all the other various options Ireland have tried I have no idea. Big, strong and fast, his carrying and tackling have been a major part of Ireland's success this season.

England - Charlie Hodgson. A quality running 10 in a clueless backline, what he wouldn't have given to be on the field yesterday with a wasted Abbott outside him.

France - Yachvili. Instantly likeable, he has a deadly boot and makes quality decisions. Consistently better than Elissalde, France are blessed with quality all over the field but Yachvili makes them tick. Just takes the award ahead of Fritz, who has filled Jauzion's ample boots very well.

Wales - Adam Jones/Duncan Jones. Instantly noticeable due to their crazy hair-dos, both have been tireless work horses around the field and in the set-piece. Helped a struggling backline out a lot and created a solid platform in the front five that will be highly competitive when all the injured front row players return to form. Adam deserves it for his increased fitness, such that where once he was being taken off after 30 mins, he regularly played the full 80mins during the Six Nations. Duncan was in Gethin Jenkins shadow after Jenkins' admirable performances in defeat for the Lions against NZ, however took his chance when offered and has never looked back. Awesome work rate in defence and carries the ball well. Dwayne Peel and Stephen Jones were close.

On closing I'd like to say I hope Sky gets the Six Nations next time it's put out to tender, the coverage has been appalling - lacking analysis, any time spent after matches looking at the game/showing highlights, a heavily Anglocentric approach and some of the most annoying, useless commentators in the history of rugby. At least Stuart Barnes and Dewi Morris have, debatably, played rugby at a high level. It is about the only decent sports tournament the BBC have every year, and the coverage is nowhere near the standard it should be. Maybe the Beeb are happy put out any old crap, much as they do for the whole license fee, but Sky has set a much higher standards bar and the BBC didn't come close to even seeing it.