Wales Win Six Nations While Watching On TV
Wales win title as Scotland beat France in Paris
The question is, deserved or not? If you look at the final table, Wales lost just once. Granted they conceded a huge 103 points, but they have also scored a massive 164. They managed 3 bonus points for scoring 4 tries in a game and the only game they lost, they picked up a losing bonus point. In a year where we have seen a lot of red and yellow cards, Wales did what they needed to do and that was to scrape the win in these matches.
Captain Alun Wyn Jones led by example throughout and Wales coach Wayne Pivac showed determination to improve after a really poor 2020. Louis Rees-Zammit has become a sensation, thanks to his speed on the wing and this was in part due to Pivac deciding to play Goerge North in at the centre.
France 23 – 27 Scotland
This was the final game of the Six Nations and it lived up to expectations. France who were favourites to win this match, yet still underdogs according to the bookies to lift the title, were at home against Scotland.
With France needing not just to win, but more importantly, the 4 try bonus point and a winning margin of 21 points, this looked set to be a blockbuster of a frantic game.
France went into the half time break with a small lead of 3 points, with just one try scored. At 13-10 the pressure was there to really get the game moving in the second half. Stuart Hogg yellow carded just before the break, didn’t give France any advantage.
French flair in the backs was equalled by Scottish forwards determination to dominate. A wonderful chip and chase gave France an eight-point lead. Scotland pressed and thank to penalties, kept the scores close at 18-13. Then Scottish forwards stepped up a gear, David Cherry, dotted over the line, putting Scotland in the lead, 20-18.
French lock Swan Rebbadj, scored a try to take the lead back 23-20. With less than 10 minutes left Finn Russell was red carded. Unable to take advantage of the extra man, then with French replacement lock, Romain Taofifenua shown a yellow card, meant both sides ended the match with fourteen players. Deep into extra time though Duhan Van Der Merwe went over for his second try of the evening to give Scotland a deserved victory.
Possible Deciding Factors.
France fancied themselves to do the business, the bookies expected them to win against Scotland. So what went wrong?
According to what news reports you read, I’ve seen comments about a quicker turnaround for this international, being one possible reason France didn’t achieve the win. Enforced changes in a couple of positions, with Ntamack starting at 10 and taking over kicking duties. At the end of the day, Scotland deserved their first win in France since 1999.
Maybe had the Premiership clubs refused to release the players for international duty, would this have made a difference?
Scotland kicked 3 conversions from 3, Ntamack managed just 1 from 3, so Matthieu Jalibert was missed in this final fixture.
Fun Facts;
Johnny Sexton, was the leading point scorer, with 65 points in total.
Scottish winger, Duhan Van Der Merwe took the leading try scorer spot, thanks to 2 in this final game. The English and Welsh wingers, Louis Rees-Zammit and Anthony Watson both had 4 tries apiece.
Wales finished 5th place last year now are in the winners spot. Last seasons winners England did the reverse, going from top spot down to a miserable fifth.
Scotland won in Paris for the first time since 1999 and lifted the Twickenham hoodoo with their first Six Nations victor there in 38 years.
Lions Squad
The ongoing debate as to the Lions Tour going ahead, still rages on. What is interesting though is the options for players to make the squad ( should the tour, actually tour ). Scottich back rows Hamish Watson & Jamie Ritchie have surely cemented their claim to a place on the team bus.
