The second round of the Six Nations was full of surprises, cards, and crucial moments, with France as the only undefeated team in the fight for the Grand Slam.The victories of France, Ireland, and Scotland altered the standings and increased the pressure on the coaches.
The English team, frustrated after their defeat, will seek a strong response against Ireland.Maro Itoje, capitán de Inglaterra, buscará una reacción de su equipo esta semana.Shall we start from scratch? Or was the defeat against Scotland just a stumble in England’s evolution?On Saturday, England did not show the same emotional intensity as Scotland, which allowed the Scots to take the lead in the confrontations, win aerial balls and make intelligent decisions.
Scotland’s strategy of playing open wasn’t new: it’s what they’ve repeatedly done against England, targeting the 15-meter channel.
Hamilton
England couldn’t avoid another defeat on Scottish soil.This week is crucial for Steve Borthwick.Los jugadores de Inglaterra lucieron abatidos tras ser sorprendidos por Escocia.England was in a good moment, with 12 consecutive victories and showing an offensive intention that had rarely been seen. Despite the absences, they surpassed Wales, but now they face Ireland.They need to regain the precision shown in the autumn. England can beat Ireland, but they must find the right emotional mindset to perform at their best. They need to compete with greater ferocity at the ruck, chase loose balls with more urgency, and attack with more energy.Only then will we know if the defeat against Scotland was a simple stumble.
Welsh apathy worries the WRU
Gales tuvo una asistencia récord en su partido del Seis Naciones contra Francia.Wales suffered another defeat, with the rival surpassing fifty points.It’s the fourth time this has happened in Cardiff in the last few matches, and France let opportunities slip in their 54-12 victory. Les Bleus exploited the Welsh defense, but Wales was also responsible for its own downfall, allowing eight tries.The fourth try for France, before the break, was too simple.The main task for coach Steve Tandy should be to focus on defense.Captain Dewi Lake said Wales is under construction, but the apathy in the stands is even more alarming.The match against France recorded Wales’ lowest Six Nations attendance, with only 57,744 spectators, surpassing the previous record of 58,349 against Italy in 2002.The Welsh public is getting tired of repeated failures.
The debate about the Irish opening continues
The ovation Jack Crowley received when he came on in the 56th minute was one of the loudest in Dublin on Saturday. Andy Farrell again bet on Sam Prendergast from the start, with Crowley coming on later. The decision on the fly-half again polarized opinion.Farrell is getting tired of the debate and the need to choose between Prendergast and Crowley. Although it is inevitable when following in Johnny Sexton’s footsteps, he sees that this affects the players.Crowley impressed against Italy, Prendergast struggled with the goal kicks. This generated more “comments” on social media, to Farrell’s annoyance.Jack Crowley recibió una cálida bienvenida cuando entró desde el banquillo para Irlanda.Referring to the “keyboard warriors”, Farrell said: “I think people need to ask themselves, are we Irish? Do we want people to get it right or not?”Farrell faces a selection decision as they prepare to travel to Twickenham next weekend, but otherwise, he will be pleased with the performance of Cormac Izuchukwu and Robert Baloucoune against Italy.Italy could and probably should have defeated Ireland. The great Tommaso Menoncello had the opportunity to score under the posts in the 70th minute, but the ball bounced badly. England will aim for that on Saturday: the scrum was one of the few facets of the Irish game that worked well at Murrayfield. There will be talk of the Irish fly-halves all week, but it’s the fundamentals that could derail them on Saturday.
