2024 Six Nations Rugby, Anyone?

[Pat Mustard]

Ireland thump France 38-17.
Their talisman having retired from internationals, the Sextonless Irish put on a demonstration in Marseille. The Irish forwards showed up for work. France were on their heels for all 80 minutes, and played the second half with 14 men after bone-headed plays by Willemse. France scraped together some decent, if penalty-prone phases but were never a threat to the Irish.

Italy challenge England but fall short 24-27.
Italy played an absorbing defense and counter attacked simply but effectively to go into half time leading the Brits 17-14. England came out fighting and seized the momentum and the lead 15 minutes into the second half, ITA 17 - 24 ENG. England dominated play, earning another penalty in the 69th minute to push the lead to 10. With replacements on and time winding down, Elliot Daly took a cheap shot, tripping his man, and earning a trip to the sin bin. Italy return the favor but lose a forward in the 80th minute. Tired legs all around kept the ball in play. In the 85th, Italy break through for an easy try - the English were gassed and this was the last play, the kick ended it 24-27. Italy earn a bonus point in the loss for their 3 tries. England only managed 2 tries but again relied on their superb kicking game.

A tale of two halves? Wales  26 - 27  Scotland
Scotland ran all over, around, through, and under Wales in the first half, and opened the second half strongly with a try to surge ahead of hosts Wales 0 - 27 Scotland. Wales comes alive in the 44th minute, going about their business and earning two tries by the 55th. WAL 12 - 27 SCO.  The Scots caught a contagious case of sloppy and foul play, conceding a dozen penalties to the Welsh 4, culminating with the Scottish number 12 heading for the sin bin in the 59th. Wales converted on the ensuing phases to bring them to 3 tries and WAL 19 - 27 SCO in the 63rd. More penalties by Scotland allow the Welsh in again! 26-27 with 10 minutes to go! wow what a game. Scotland have had none of the ball this half and are looking gassed. They get it back in the 71st and a much needed break for an HIA timeout. Big man Crosbie took a knock and seems to have a blackened eye and a dislocated shoulder. Scotland back to full strength. Scotland push through 15 phases only to lose the ball on a blocked box kick and ensuing scramble. Wales ready to go for the win with 5 minutes to go. Forward pass by Wales inside the Scottish 22 with 2 and a half to go. Scotland on the ball. Scotand win a scrum and burst through down to the Wels 5 meter line. 12 phases later Van de Merwe of Scotland is over and grounds the ball.... on a Welsh foot, but it ends the game. Scotland hold on to eek one out.

Sexton should have been retired in 2019 at the very latest. Indulging in his petulance set back Irish rugby four years*. There is still a fair whack of dead wood within the Irish set up to clear out, of which I have no confidence is going to happen before the current iteration of the IRFU's master plan (subordinate everything in Irish rugby towards winning the "home" six nation competitions) goes completely stale.

In fact I would go so far as to say that the French management team got more use out of the loss long-term than the Irish one did, largely because the Irish team is still working to the plan that failed so badly in the autumn.

*Granted they had no way to anticipate Paddy Jackson turning out the way he did. But even then there was no succession plan behind him other than "a miracle occurs and Joey Carberry magically becomes able to handle the physical rigours of fly-half".