Tissot, Official Timekeeper of the NatWest 6 Nations, has invited some rugby experts and legends to share their views on the games and the teams throughout the Championship.
For Ireland, it is just massive to win the Grand Slam. Being in London and on St Patrick’s Day meant everything was aligned and it caps off a superb Championship which has been gripping from day one.
The future is bright for France and Scotland, while Wales and Italy are continually getting better. I already can’t wait for next year! Italy 27-29 Scotland
My initial thoughts were Scotland were going to win when it kicked off but Italy got off to a great start by scoring that early try.
Scotland are used to winning these days though and they just got through thanks to a late Greig Laidlaw kick.
There is a lot of exciting talent in this Italy team and I think Conor O’Shea will be very encouraged, despite not managing to win any games.
They have a lot of talented players in their squad this year, like the full-back Matteo Minozzi. He has really impressed me this year.
But the man in the same jersey on the opposite side excites me more than anyone else in the game.
Stuart Hogg is still the most exciting player to watch in the northern hemisphere. Finn Russell has the lot at fly-half but Hogg has speed, power and vision.
Scotland are a force at BT Murrayfield but winning away has been hard for them. This will be a big confidence boost for them. England 15-24 Ireland
By scoring three tries, it looks like Ireland beat England out the gate but they were all very difficult to score. I don’t think the English defensive structure broke down.
The finish from Jacob Stockdale was exceptional and there was little England could do. It was summed up how well Ireland were playing when Tadhg Furlong produced that pass.
He has impressed with hands for years but it was genius from him. Ireland have had some critics for playing with a certain style but when you see that piece of skill out of the Joe Schmidt handbook all that goes away.
Ireland just had too much momentum with them on the day. I thought England fought back really well in the second half and they almost got there.
Ireland defended very well though and the work Simon Easterby and Andy Farrell have put in getting that defence ready has been huge.
England almost exploited that and with the pace they have out wide I was worried as an Irishman before kick-off but luckily Ireland are in the habit of winning.
When that happens, everything clicks and it did again at Twickenham. Wales 14-13 France
It was a great win for Wales and a good finish to the Championship overall. I am sure they will be disappointed with the two defeats to Ireland and England but they look like a team moving forward.
Taulupe Faletau was a big part of that and I think he is so important to everything they do. He is the outstanding No.8 in the northern hemisphere.
George North had a solid game and that is a good sign because he is a world-class player. The issue they have is deciding which way to play.
France have been unlucky at times this season. They almost got their win against Ireland with a fabulous try from Teddy Thomas and they have some great talent.
For me, France just give away too many soft penalties and Leigh Halfpenny punished them with a ruthless kicking display.
Leigh is phenomenal when he steps up to kick and I think it was earlier this season he had a bad game or two but the bigger the game the more he stands up and he was so good for Wales.
I think a lot of people are aware of his place-kicking but his running lines were strong and he held his own under the high ball. He is the complete package. #TOPMOMENTS
Jacob’s record-breaking seventh try
Jacob has an eye for it. He holds his depth so well, an individual finish to get his seventh try in that manner was so impressive. He is full of confidence and that made it all so perfect.
I think in the past Ireland may have had an inferiority complex against some of the other nations but that has gone and the likes of Jacob are fearless.
The most eye-catching thing for me in this streak of his is that we don’t chuck the ball around all that much. I think Furlong’s pass was up there but Stockdale’s individual brilliance caps this.
Allan’s dink sets up marvellous Minozzi
Tomasso Allan’s grubber kick through for the Matteo Minozzi try was delightful – he had an outstanding game.
The vision to spot the space is one thing but then to execute and get the weight of the kick just right is another thing entirely.
That’s four in four for Minozzi, a new Italian record, and he looks a real find who will be a star for them in the future no doubt.
Awesome Alun’s on the ball
Alun Wyn Jones had a fine all-round performance but his key moment came in the build-up to the first try.
After conceding a drop-goal, the Wales captain was alert to grab the ball as soon as it went ten metres, while France watched on, and was perfectly right to do so.
The fact that his intervention then led to Liam Williams’ try – to put Wales immediately back in front – was a major moment.
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