The Final Weekend Review
What a great end to the Championship. Well done if your marriage survived Saturday’s three successive matches. Teams have found and lost form and have suffered at the hands of some controversial refereeing decisions. It’s been really hard to predict to predict the outcomes especially since Scotland threw in a few curved balls
Let’s get on with a quick look back at Saturday’s games
At long last, Wales got their nose in front from the start of a match and this allowed them to open up their game and play some rugby.
I was delighted to see Mike Philips back at scrum half. He is such an attacking threat that he holds in the back row and thus gives space to his outfield players. Everyone seems to scream for conventional scrum halves with sharp passes but, for me, Philips’ probing style of play is fantastic to watch.
Much to the delight of the crowd, the Welsh lineout functioned at last and gave Philips good ball with which to work his magic.
James Hook got on the end of moves for a brace of tries though he could have had a few more. Stephen Jones performance was pivotal, as always and his eighteen point haul is testimony to this. No review of Welsh backs would be complete without mentioning Shane Williams. He got another try today and is one of the nominations for “Player of the Series”.
All in all, this was a good end to the Welsh campaign though they certainly have a number of areas to work on.
There have been some fully justified criticisms of some of the refereeing performances in this Championship. It’s therefore really good to be able to compliment Wayne Barnes on his handling of this game. In my opinion, he has been the referee of the tournament. He constantly talks to players and allows the game to flow.
Ireland 20 Scotland 23
Scotland gave me the prediction of the Tournament when I backed the Italians to beat them. However they’ve now paid me back twice by gaining a “winning draw” against England and by ruining Ireland’s Triple Crown expectations with an unexpected but well deserved victory. They’ve also dragged themselves off the handle of the dreaded Wooden Spoon.
I delighted in the Welsh and Italian wins against Scotland and poked fun at my Scottish in laws and stepfather. It’s now pay back time so I’ve gone abroad for a skiing holiday in the hope that they might have forgotten when I come back. Not very likely, I’m afraid.
Ireland started the match at a hundred miles an hour and the well worked Brian O’Driscoll try (although it came from a forward pass) was completely in keeping with how I expected their backs to dominate the game. Penalties apart, this was their only reward for an opening period of pressure and the Scottish pack gradually began to take control.
Their “Killer Bs” back row outplayed Ireland at the breakdown, they consistently out- scrummaged the home side and they actually stole seven line-outs from the much vaunted O’Connell/O’Callaghan combination.
Johnny Beattie’s barnstorming first half try showed great pace, strength and determination and Dan Parks gave another masterclass in game control and nerveless goal kicking.
Ireland came back into contention after a good try from their brilliant winger, Tommy Bowe. Ronan O’Gara replaced David Sexton at stand-off and his controlling and kicking skills brought Ireland back into the game. However, it was still Parks’ day and he proved this with a final successful touchline penalty kick into the teeth of a gale. He must be a serious contender for the “Player of the Series” award.
France 12 England 10
I’d hoped that this changed England side would give Martin Johnson a performance and, boy, that’s exactly what they did. Blue eyed NZ referee Bryce Lawrence had yet another controversial game and many people fail to understand how he keeps his International status. Had he interpreted things differently, England could have won.
.
Ben Foden’s starting selection has been delayed because of doubts about his capability to deal with high balls. He gave a faultless display in this department in very difficult conditions and ran everything back at the French. His try, the only one of the match, was well worked and he showed tremendous pace to finish the move. Mike Tindall’s selection was another inspired choice though I think he was taken off too early.
The conditions determined that the game centred on the scrum and this is a big French strength. It again brought them dominance and points much to Johnson’s annoyance and to the delight of the French lady sitting in front of him. I think Mr Johnson will be checking seating plans in future.
As a girly back, I don’t fully understand the scrummaging laws though I maybe know more about them than Mr Lawrence. French tight head prop, Nicolas Mas was allowed to bore in illegally though his young English counterpart, Dan Cole had a very different experience. Cole has had a dream season so far but he was absolutely taken apart today by Thomas Domingo. He was replaced by David Wilson at half time with Steve Thompson coming on for Dylan Hartley. These changes undoubtedly stabilised the English scrum
Jonny Wilkinson replaced the below par Riki Flutey and again hit the headlines with an outstanding touchline penalty kicks. However, Toby Flood had a cracking game at stand-off and should have answered his critics with this performance.
As I earlier alluded, Foden ran well as did his Northampton colleague, Chris Ashton. However, I’m sorry to say that the game was lost for England when Ashton kicked ahead, inside the French 22, with support all around him. My former Leeds coach, Phil Davies would have had a player hung drawn and quartered for doing that.
In the dying moments, I was surprised at England choosing to run the ball wide instead of driving towards the sticks and cement Wilkinson’s name in folk lore with another winning drop goal.
All in all, this was a much improved England performance although it will still leave Martin Johnson with a headache. He showed great restraint in refusing to be drawn into criticising the referee after the game.
My final word s to congratulate France on a well deserved Grand Slam. Puntinplay did predict that they would win the Championship and they were undoubtedly the best team in the competition.
Rhys Morgan
