Men's Six Nations 2023, Week One

There’s lots of fun here, with new coaches for Wales and England, the world one and two (at least at the start of the contest, a shock loss could change that) facing up for a probable Grand Slam decider in Ireland next week after knocking the rust off this week and Italy definitely showing improvements over last year. Can they win one or more games this year?

Wales v Ireland

This was a classic “game of two halves.”

In the first half, Ireland got off to a flier, scoring in the first two minutes, and twice more. Wales gave up nine penalties to two, which made this easier. However, despite being overwhelmed on the scoreboard, it was not totally bleak. Wales created three great scoring opportunities from the attack and one from defensive pressure. Ireland’s scramble defence kept them out but those chances were there.

In the second half, there are two major takes that you’ll see. Either Ireland eased off or Wales improved. I’m in the latter camp, although it may be fairer to say to a bit of A and a lot of B. Wales still created chances, and scored one lovely try. Is that Ireland’s defence slipping? I don’t think so, four chances in each half and scoring one seems more like a squad with a new attacking system only fully clicking once against a top-notch defence, but it’s not like the Irish were suddenly giving tries or attacking chances away any more than in the first half. What had notably improved was Wales’ defensive line speed - and the intensity of Irish play has little to no control over that - and the Welsh players’ accuracy at the breakdown, where they practically stopped giving away penalties.

Andy Farrell will happy with a bonus point win, but be worried that Wales created so many chances. If France do the same next week, it will be a blow out. Gatland has a lot to work on but there are positives. Wales’ maul defence was excellent, their set piece was largely decent, and their second half defence and discipline were good. Finishing off the chances they created remains an issue and we have to see whether that will come or not. Fingers crossed it will.

It was hard, watching live, to really work out Gatland’s new master plan except to say “it’s not Warrenball” and “it’s not Pivac’s plan” - there wasn’t a huge amount of crash ball and while there were backs in rucks, it wasn’t the norm, it occurred under the same circumstances as you see other teams have backs go into rucks. Most of the time it was forwards, or a mixture of both.

England v Scotland

By contrast to the earlier game, this was pretty much a game of tit-for-tat, last one to score wins. Throughout the whole game, one side would score, the other would would reply. England finished the first half ahead because, although Farrell forgot his kicking boots even he couldn’t miss a penalty right in front of the posts as time ran out. The second half continued in very much the same vein, but the closing score was a brilliant team try from Scotland, finished by van der Merwe, and bookending the brilliant solo try he scored in the first half.

I think we saw Borthwick’s plan laid out, even in defeat. Smith looked much more like the Smith of Quins than the Smith of the Jones era. That’s probably not surprising when Evans has been plucked from his job of attack coach at Quins to be attack coach at England. But he’s free to create and play. He’s still got Farrell at 12 rather than a big ball carrier, but a number of the England tries came from players giving him options and him taking the best one to create the try. It’s easy to look at England’s missed tackle count (30) and say there’s lots to work on there - and while their defence does need work, a load of those missed tackles were in the first van der Merwe try; it’s the system failures for a couple of the other tries with no missed tackles because the gaps were too big that will trouble the coaches more.

It will be interesting to see what happens next. Over the last few years, Scotland have tended to lift for England - this is the first time they’ve won the Calcutta Cup three times in a row since before Twickenham was built - but then fall off against the others.

Italy v France

Ultimately France won with a bonus point. Italy came away with a losing bonus point and that ought to be the news. At first Italy looked out of sorts, running it from everywhere and gifting France points but when they settled down, they pressurised the French and kicked a lot of penalties as well as scoring a couple of tries, including one piece of magic from Capuozzo.

But, Italy kicking their penalties disguises the real story of this match - the referee. He was petty and whistle happy, blowing for things that really didn’t warrant it. France, in particular, didn’t help themselves with some stupid penalties, particularly several for rolling in the tackle, but some were just weird calls by the ref.

It’s a shame. The story of this match should be how much Italy have improved, to make a contest of it against France, but France v Ireland still being the big match. We will have to wait for future matches to really see what’s going on. (I said hey, what’s going on.)

Galthie and Edwards will be relieved to have escaped with a win. Edwards will have some things to say about the defensive effort I’m sure, the French breakdown coach will have a lot to work on about how they behave in the tackle. Crowley will be happy that Italy showed plan A and B, and how well plan B worked.

Happy Coaches

Townsend. That win needs to be backed up next week but that’s for next week's list. Scotland have beaten England at Twickenham, again, and while it wasn’t as clinical as he might have liked it always felt like it was there and the players duly delivered.

Crowley. Crowley won’t care about the weird ref calls, Italy might have started relatively poorly but they finished with seven points of France. There’s stuff to work on, but this was an another step from where they finished last years. Forza Italia!

Farrell and Borthwick. Both coaches definitely have positives after their games but negatives too. I’ve probably pulled Farrell down a bit because they’ve got France next week, and Les Bleus will punish the Irish far more than Wales managed if they let them create four try scoring chances in each half. France are also unlikely to have as bad a start as Wales. (I think France will have knocked the rust off and play better than they did this weekend, Ireland too, but France have less things to improved on.) Borthwick I’ve maybe pushed up a bit because he’s got relatively easy work-ons to, potentially, see a big improvement and England showed a decent 80 minutes against a Scottish side that just knows how to beat them at the moment.

Galthie. I pondered putting him under Gatland, but France did win. There are a lot of positives but a lot of things to work on. However, we know that the French can get there.

Gatland. Wales clearly improved in the second half and had genuine positives throughout the game. However, they’ve got things that they need to improve all over the park, on both sides of the ball, and only a week to do it. I don’t think Gatland will be truly unhappy, the improvements in the second half and the opportunities they created but didn’t finish in both halves, the lineout defence and so on, there are positives to build from but there’s quite a way to go.

Looking Ahead

Ireland v France

Honestly this is the match of the weekend, probably the tournament. It’s still one v two in the world and probably the decider for the Grand Slam. Both sides have a lot to work on after this week. I think the tougher test France had will put them in a better place than Ireland but I say that with little confidence.

Scotland v Wales

Looking at this week you’d say Scotland at home is an easy win. However, recently Scotland have dropped off against the other sides and with the improvement Wales showed in second half they clearly responded to Gatland and will presumably improve markedly. My heart always says Wales, my head doesn’t know.

England v Italy

England have improvements to make and a new coaching team. A lot of their players are experienced though. Italy performed against France and pushed them close. They have a coaching team that know what they’re doing but a lot of really young players. Talk about contrasts! I think Italy have the belief as well as the skills and they can open up England’s defensive systems that are still trying to cope with a new coach, new systems and new personnel. My most confident prediction is Italy to record their first win over England.