Round 4 of the Guinness Six Nations featured two action-packed matches, a try of the Championship contender, and a weekend that left the title race wide open.
Twickenham Stadium was the venue that kicked things off on Saturday with six tries, a hugely-physical 80 minutes and at the end of it all England clinging on in a 33-30 victory.
Scotland’s hosting of France followed up on Sunday with Gregor Townsend’s men putting in a superb performance to end Les Bleus’s Grand Slam hopes and sent BT Murrayfield into raptures as Sean Maitland grabbed a double and Stuart McInally crossed to round off the win.
Former Ireland captain Rory Best kept a close eye on both games this weekend and gave his thoughts on where the games were won and lost.
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This was just a great game of rugby! I kind of got the feeling that England took their foot off the gas a little bit in the second half but fair play to Wales for fighting back so well.
I think England showed again, like they did against Ireland, that physicality. The dominant tackle stats were hugely in England’s favour and they won the gain-line.
At times they dominated but I think Wales still showed what they’re capable of, especially with Justin Tipuric’s incredible first try, but ultimately England showed why they were World Cup finalists last year.
I’m amazed by England’s physicality in this Championship. They are getting their dominant hits through two-man tackles and they clearly have a really good defensive system and structure that they all buy into.
I don’t necessarily think they are any bigger or stronger as players, or that their tackle technique is any better, it’s those two-man hits and they have a very physical back row – it was great to watch those aspects on Saturday.
You saw it with the huge tackle on Dan Biggar early in the match – England I think almost slow up a bit to almost avoid competing for high balls so they can really dominate contact – it’s obviously a tactic and it’s working well for them this year.
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It has to be Wales’ try just after kick-off in the second half. It was not only pivotal for the match but it also showed how good this Wales team is and how many class players they have. The interplay straight from kick-off, there was even a bit of subtle shepherding from the Welsh tighthead that allowed them up the touchline. There were brilliant support lines and then I’m a huge Tipuric fan, he’s one of the most underrated players in the world and it was an exceptional bit of rugby.
Everyone was wondering before this game and even leading into other games, what France would be like if a team got ahead of them. And Scotland did that to go 6-0 up, France responded well with the try for Damian Penaud but obviously then a big moment in the game was the red card for Mohamed Haouas.
Then Scotland score with nearly the last play of the half through Sean Maitland, again early in the second half – those scores either side of half-time before France could regroup were really important.
It was very hard for France to compete with a man down for ten minutes, which they were at the start of the game when Francois Cros got yellow carded, then to go to 14 men for all of the second half when you’re away from home, it is just too difficult.
I think BT Murrayfield is a very difficult place to go for any team so it’s hard to know if France would’ve won with their momentum and 15 players, but I just think when Scotland are on form they play with width and pace and the more they get Stuart Hogg on the ball the better, they did all of those things.
Adam Hastings has grown more and more and he’s actually probably getting confidence from being the No.1 out-half. I thought he controlled the game really well, broke well, took it on when he needed to and has a great passing game.
When we played Scotland in the World Cup we knew how good Scotland were and I think they’ve shown it in this Championship, they’ve been unlucky and could well have beaten Ireland and England, they were well due that win against France.
When they get front-foot ball and play with pace as they did on Sunday, they’re very difficult to stop.
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Maitland’s first try was the one for me, it came off the back of that Hastings break through midfield and then they moved the ball, a lovely bit of skill to move the ball, and put Maitland away. He’s a pure finisher and if you give him half a sniff – he scores.
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