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Opinionated Rugby Commentary - by Fans for Fans
Spill what you really think about events in the rugby world.
Six Nations Round 5 Review – Ireland Wins 5 views
22 March 2015 by The Swede Eaters
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Thoughts on the Six Nations 2015, I wish it was this exciting every week, not just the last round.
Six Nations Round 5 was epic with three high scoring games featuring a total of 221 points across three games of rugby, before Ireland won by a point’s differential of only six points over England and 10 points over Wales, with all teams finishing with four wins.
As a Southern Hemisphere rugby pundit, it is disappointing that it took the situation to force teams to play with an increased urgency to score tries finally. There have been some boring games of Six Nations 2015, mainly because teams were too afraid to use the ball, so in the early rounds there was plenty of wasted, kicked away ball as teams had a naturally defensive attitude. Six Nations Round 5 showed to me that the Northern Hemisphere teams, especially Wales, Ireland and England can play with increased urgency and it is a pity we don't see it more often. These teams would be far more dangerous if we saw this from them more often.
Wales got the ball rolling by thrashing Italy by 61-20 to keep them in the hunt and their point’s differntial to +53. Despite beating Scotland in the Six Nations 2015, Italy has been disappointing and Wales who had to win by more than 21 points more than Ireland and more than 25 points more than England, to win the Six Nations Championship title. Amazingly, Italy was up 13-11 at one stage, but Wales played with increased urgency in the second half. (Wales +53 PD)
In the second game of the day, Ireland were away to Scotland at Murrayfield. They were expected to win, but they have struggled in the past playing there with limited success. Ireland pulled away in the second half after some good tries in the first half by their forwards. The thirty point win was enough to knock Wales out of contention by ten points and leave England needing to win by 26 points or more to take the title. (Ireland +63 PD)
In the end, it was a late France try which gave England a hollow 20 point win, scoring 55 points against France, but not winning by 26 points or more. The game was fantastic and gave the fans plenty to cheer about, but unfortunately for England, while they won by 20 points and scored 55 points against France, it wasn't enough to win them the title. They can still take plenty from this result, but it would be great to see England play with the same tenacity which would seem them threaten the Springboks and All Blacks more often. (England +57 PD)
Interestingly, because Ireland didn't know they had won the title, there wasn't an opportunity for the great Six Nations Champions photos which usually become iconic. Instead, they had to watch the England vs France game to see their fate, but it was worth the wait.
For Six Nations Round 5 video highlights click here
Did the best team win Six Nations 2015? Should the Six Nations winner be decided on points differential?
http://www.superrugbytips.com/2015/03/six-nations-round-5-review-ireland-win.html
In the Super Rugby Tips Six Nations competition the margins were bigger than most tipsters thought, while almost everyone picked all three winners. Congratulations to A Diligent Ruckus for winning.
Final results
Italy 20 - 61 Wales
Scotland 10 - 40 Ireland
England 55 - 35 France
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