Bellissimo! – Italian players celebrate a famous victory with a well deserved lap of honour

by Paul Cook –

Italy have upset the Six Nations form guide on the opening weekend, defeating joint-favourites France 23-18 in a pulsating clash in Rome. It is only the third time in their history that they have beaten their Gallic neighbours but the second time in a row on home soil following their landmark win 2 years ago and is an indication that the gap in class between the two countries is narrowing at a rate that will alarm not only the French but the watching Lions nations as well.

They started with a bang, fly-half Luciano Orquera slicing through the French line in the 4th minute to find his captain, Sergio Parisse, for the opener. Giant no.8. Louis Picamoles stretched out to restore order for the visitors 7 minutes later but an inspired Orqeura was leading the charge and his penalty and drop goal forged Italy ahead 13-5 by the end of the first quarter. Nervous anticipation hung in the air of the Olympic Stadium crowd.

Despite showing glimpses of their trademark flair, the French were met for the most part by a wall of disciplined and hungry Italian defence. However, after Frédéric Michalak had reduced the arrears with a penalty, a scintillating move down the flank broke the Azzurri resistance and allowed winger Benjamin Fall to streak clear for their second.

Michalak extended the lead to 18-13 with a long range penalty after the break but the Italians belief in themselves to get the job done never wavered. Head coach Jacques Brunel – plotting his own countrymen’s demise – has encouraged a more attacking philosophy and he would have been pleased with the way his team retook the lead. Phase after phase of good offloads and willing runners drove them deep into French territory before it was Orquera again who laid on the scoring pass to cult hero Martin Castrogiovanni.

When replacement Kris Burton rubbed salt into French wounds with a long range drop goal, the impossible suddenly seemed likely and despite wave after wave of desperate French attack, the Azzurri would not yield. Italian rugby is on the rise.

The exciting Simon Zebo goes in for Ireland’s first try

‘A game of two halves’ has rarely been more appropriate an epithet with which to describe this clash of Celtic cousins as Ireland started their campaign with a 30-22 victory over Wales with an impressive, albeit incomplete performance while their hosts took so long to rediscover something resembling their best that their eighth test defeat in a row was already upon them.

It actually took around 47 minutes for Rob Howley’s charges to realise they were in a test match, such was the apathy and lack of concentration on display as they stumbled to a 30-3 deficit. Wales conceded 20 points before they could even muster a response from Leigh Halfpenny’s boot, such was Ireland’s domination and it was the old master Brian O’Driscoll who set the ball rolling, stretching brilliantly to catch a fizzing, low pass before feeding Simon Zebo into the corner.

Minutes later, they were in again when loose head prop Cian Healy went over from in close and two penalties from Jonathan Sexton confirmed their superiority. When O’Driscoll himself pounced after the restart, punishing some soft defence to dive over, it looked like turning into a rout. It was only then that Wales suddenly woke up to the stark reality of their situation and went for broke.

Tries from Alex Cuthbert and Halfpenny arrested the slide and with a parochial crowd baying for more, Ireland inexplicably retreated into their shells, inviting their increasingly confident opponents on. But if their attacking bent had suddenly become stymied, there could be no questioning the heart and soul that went into their defensive effort for the remainder of the match.

Replacement prop Craig Mitchell did go over with 5 minutes remaining but it was too little, too late to rescue the Welsh from their fifth successive home defeat. Ireland will be annoyed that they let themselves get dragged back into a contest given their early ascendancy but there was enough evidence across the 80 minutes to indicate they are a major player in this year’s competition.

Owen Farrell impressed again but an ever willing posse of support runners made his job easier

England made a good fist of their equal favourites tag (before France’s demise), running in four tries to retain the Calcutta Cup with a 38-18 victory over Scotland in a performance that pretty much carried on where they left off against the World Champion All Blacks back in December.

That’s not to say they had it all their own way as Scotland were more than gallant in defeat, running in two tries of their own and offering enough glimpses to interim head coach Scott Johnson, of a brighter future ahead. Full-back Stuart Hogg shone again while the returning Johnnie Beattie did plenty to illustrate why he was brought back from the international wilderness.

But this game was always going to be about England and whether they would suffer an All Black hangover. That seemed plausible when debutant Sean Maitland was on hand to profit following a length of the field break from Hogg. However, one positive trait amongst many that this England side seems to be fostering is a refusal to panic. They stuck to their game plan and got their rewards as Owen Farrell’s boot got them back on an even keel before Chris Ashton stretched between two defenders for his 17th try in England colours and a 19-11 half-time lead.

They went on with it in style after the break, further tries from impressive debutant Billy Twelvetrees , lock Geoff Parling and replacement Danny Care swamped an opportunist try from Hogg in response and left the Twickenham crowd in full and joyous voice. Ireland in Dublin however, will be a whole different proposition.

Saturday 9th February

Scotland v Italy – Murrayfield – 2.30pm (1.30am Sun AET)

France v Wales – Stade de France – 5pm (4am Sun AET)

Sunday 10th February

Ireland v England – Aviva Stadium – 3pm (2am Mon AET)