The high point of the Six Nations is set to be round three. Wales, after being utterly out-thought and outplayed by Joe Schmidt's team, have to beat France in order to restore both their pride and any hope of making it three Six Nations titles in a row.
Attacking England?
England's conversely has a solid pack but it is the increased tempo of the attacking game that is the most prominent aspect of their season to date. There is - at last - attacking improvement from a team that has defended well but done little constructive for the best part of a decade.
Chances were blown that against Ireland need be taken but chances are being made. Before the Calcutta Cup much was made of the difficulty England has had in Edinburgh in recent years. The story was peddled that the savagery of the rivalry levelled the game. Well on Saturday we saw the truth. Scotland are no worse or better than they have been for years but England with a determination to attack were able to beat Scotland with the ease that New Zealand manage time after time.
England's barren rugby of the last decade is being revealed by the pursuit of a positive and winning style of play. Possession is no longer something to be treasured to the point of it never being risked. The breakdown now aims at quick ball, not safe ball and that gives the attack a split second more in which to attack. It requires a scrum-half to get to the breakdown rapidly or risk turnovers but with Danny Care whizzing around they are not afraid to take the odd risk; therein lies the possibility of dangerous ball, not slow, secure and ultimately average possession.
Care managed the game well. Owen Farrell was off-key and the scrum-half took control of the game management. Behind him Luther Burrell was powerful, Johnnie May has an unorthodox element to his game that challenges any defence and Mike Brown was fabulous in horrendous conditions.
Ireland is playing the best and most mature rugby but England are capable of much improvement with a fortnight preparation to the game. Having home advantage also aids their cause. It should be quite some game, one to savour but not one to wager upon. Round Two was interesting, round three will be fantastic, some of the best quality Six Nations rugby we will have seen in some years.
Stuart answers your emails...
Got a question for Stuart? Email him at skysportsclub@bskyb.com or use the feedback form below...
Stuart, I've just watched the France game and would like your take on the red cards. Do you believe Rabah Slimani's crime was befitting of equal punishment to Michele Rizzo? And what about the yellow card for Sebastien Vahaamahina? That seemed harsh.
Fred
STUART REPLIES: Fred, I always feel sorry for the person who reacts in such a situation. As we saw on Sunday there is such a thing a human nature and what Slimani did was a classic example. Having said that, a butt is an automatic red card offence but the authorities should definitely err on the side of leniency for the Frenchman who reacted. As for the yellow card, I actually think there is no place for petulance in the sport and fully endorse the referee Jaco Peyper's decision in that instance.
Stuart, England's back-line look like they're improving and I was really impressed with Jonny May's pace and inventiveness and he and Jack Nowell are always looking for the ball while Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell seem to have a good understanding. Do you think this means that Manu Tuilagi could be switched to the left wing when he comes back from injury?
Jack
STUART REPLIES: Jack, I agree that this is the most ambitious England attacking game we have seen for many years, the forwards are trying to win quick ball and Danny Care is getting his midfield on the front foot. Without these foundations forget wider attacking rugby and these foundations have not been in place for a long time. Now England have them they look more threatening, there is balance in the centre and there is a determination to get involved out wide. In Jonny May's case he also possesses that ability to do something unstructured which so panics opposing defence coaches and makes him an interesting long-term contender when everybody is fit. As for Tuilagi he will re-enter the equation in New Zealand but with three more games of Six Nations rugby it may be too early to even worry about the exact position.
Stuart, What's going wrong for Wales?
Luke
STUART REPLIES:
Saturday wasn't so much what went wrong with Wales as what went right with Ireland. Wales may be suffering 'Lions-lag' but in Dublin it was the mental sharpness of the opponent that was the key factor; Joe Schmidt simply outsmarted Warren Gatland. As Wales play such a similar style of rugby year after year in the Six Nations there was bound to be a time when the opposition caught them up, Saturday may just have heralded that day in Europe.
