[Sport] 6 Nations 2014 - Week 4

The penultimate week of the 6 Nations is when the shape of the table starts to become clearer, and is often where championship hopes are dashed. After all, not everyone can win. This year there were four teams (England, France, Ireland, and Wales) on four points, and potentially in with a chance. By the end of the weekend at least one of them would be behind the others, possibly two, or even three. 

Scotland were playing France at home. They haven't beaten les Bleus since 2006 (a match I remember well), but after the events of week 3 this wasn't just going to be a French benefit.

It turned out to be a cracking match. It was the first one of this year that I'd managed to watch live and in full, and was classic Scotland - keeping you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails with the tension. Scotland were the better side for much of the match in my (of course biased) opinion, but as per usual were unable to really convert their ascendancy and pressure into points. France were giving away very few penalties, and those that they did give were right at the edge of kicking range for the two Scottish half-backs, leading to a couple of misses. In the other direction Scotland were giving away penalties right, left, and centre, which really kept France in the game.

Scotland did actually score a pair of tries. The first was a fortunate touch down by Stuart Hogg that in my opinion shouldn't have been a try, the second a well-worked move that again was fortunate to be given, this time because of an illegal block on one of the French defenders. On the other hand, those penalty kicks were keeping the score uncomfortably close, despite a lacklustre, uninspired performance from France. Which all turned on a dime with an interception and length of the field try by one of the French centres, all created from a stupid miss-man pass by Scotland. What had been a dominant Scottish side up to that point were suddenly under pressure, and although they were then still on top you could feel them trying too hard to make it up. They took a one point lead with a penalty by week 3's hero Duncan Weir, but there was too much time left and the inevitable penalty to France let them steal the game.

This was the moment the game turned on its head - a costly interception led to a French try to put them

back in the game. The body language here is telling. (Credit: bbc.co.uk)

It was a heartbreaking loss for Scotland, and a game that they really should have won. Yes, they were fortunate to score their two tries, but they were dominating France in all areas except penalties conceded. France were at their worst, but still found a way to win.

In the other matches:

• Ireland absolutely destroyed Italy. It was close at half time, but the green shirts were everywhere in the second half and racked up the tries to give themselves a massive points difference. That puts them in a great place to win the tournament. Italy were disappointing.
• England beat Wales in a game that was closer than the final score would suggest. Basic handling errors and an aimless kicking game didn't help the Welsh cause. The English players were quick to capitalise, and played very well.

Next week sees the culmination of the tournament. Scotland are playing Wales, and will be the underdogs. But if they can play as well as they did this week, and cut down on the penalties, then they might have a chance to cause an upset.