Six Nations

Do you ever ask yourself what the future of rugby might look like? It’s a tricky one to answer but the obvious thing to point out is that it will almost certainly be markedly different from today’s game.

Two kicks by Johnny Sexton and one pass by Finn Russell will be remembered for a long time. Sexton’s drop-goal against France deep into what we used to call injury time not only won that match; it set Ireland on the way to their Grand Slam. His second kick was that steepling Garryowen which enabled Gary Ringrose to touch down for Ireland’s first try at Twickenham. The pass was, of course, Finn Russell’s audacious one against England which set Huw Jones off on a run which a moment later saw Russell put Sean Maitland over in the corner for a 
second Scottish try.

Darryl Marfo makes his long-awaited return from injury as Edinburgh head to Galway to face Connacht.

Scottish Rugby have launched an investigation after supporters were filmed using sectarian language during the recent trip to Rome.

Marks out of 10 for every player who made an appearance for Scotland in the 2018 NatWest Six Nations tournament...

Despite a third-place finish, and Stuart Hogg winning the award for the last two years running, no Scots have been shortlisted for the 2018 Six Nations Player of the Tournament award.

Scotland finished the Six Nations in third place with three wins to their credit, although that didn’t look likely for much of Saturday’s game in Rome. The Scots ended this tournament as they had started it, playing badly, and
it took two tries in the final quarter, the first by Sean Maitland, the 
second by Stuart Hogg, to secure 
victory.

Gregor Townsend can be justifiably proud of his first Six Nations season finishing above England and France even if two of Scotland’s three victories owed little to his running rugby philosophy. Certainly Townsend would have bitten your arm off if you’d offered him three wins after the final whistle in Cardiff.

Wales sealed a second-place finish in the Six Nations by holding off France to win 14-13 in a battle of attrition in Cardiff.

It was impossible not to feel a smidgen of sympathy for Italy coach Conor O’Shea, who looked like a badly beaten dog that has had a bone snatched from its jaws just when it thought its luck had turned. Italy bossed much of this match and led from the 13th to the 72nd minute only to see that elusive win slip through their fingers again.

Ireland ignited the St Patrick’s Day celebrations by completing the third Grand Slam in their history as England collapsed to a 24-15 defeat that nudges them towards NatWest 6 Nations despair.

Greig Laidlaw’s last-gasp penalty saved Scotland from final-day defeat as they edged out Italy 29-27 in Rome.

Italy always believe they can beat Scotland, and after witnessing yesterday’s match it is easy to understand why. The Scots got the win, and their first bonus point of the series, but they made life horribly difficult for themselves, having to bounce back from 17-5 and 24-12 down to win with a Greig Laidlaw penalty less than two minutes from time.

It didn’t feel like a 20-point defeat. There was, I think, general agreement about this. Nevertheless the score that will stand in the records is Ireland 28, Scotland 8, and, unless we beat Italy in Rome today, we’ll have gone another season without winning an away game in the Six Nations. Of course, neither have France nor Wales, though France have a chance to do so in Cardiff this evening. Home dominance has been a feature of the tournament, no away wins being recorded in the last three rounds. This may change today.

You’ll have heard the joke about the two sailors who found themselves marooned on a desert island until one of them stumbles across a lamp and the genie therein offers them one wish each.

At around a quarter to five this St Patrick’s Day afternoon, Ireland’s players will climb a podium in the middle of England’s home pitch at Twickenham and receive their Six Nations winners’ medals in shirt-number order, with the captain Rory Best held back to be presented with the Championship trophy.

John Barclay has warned Scotland to beware of an Italian backlash as Conor O’Shea’s side look to avoid a NatWest Six Nations whitewash.

Year after year, despite loss after loss, he keeps coming back.

Former England and Scotland coach Andy Robinson, talking about a young Jonny Wilkinson, pointed out that the wunderkind was only fully effective during the 2003 World Cup because he was getting sound advice in both ears, Matt Dawson inside him and Will Greenwood outside.