Six Nations 2021 - Round 5 Verdict

And so the 2021 Six Nations reaches its conclusion without – as is typical of these uncertain times – actually reaching its conclusion.

Yet in Paris on Saturday evening the title (with a Grand Slam embellishment) was so very nearly – a mere Cory Hill sealing off away – secured by Wales, who played absolutely superbly for 70 minutes until a chaotic last 10 saw France somehow snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Wales will be hurting no doubt, but there was much to be proud of in that performance, which eclipsed anything else they have produced in quite some time. 

As for France, this was one they just about got away with – an untypical hesitancy in defence almost costing them the game and the title.

Still a fantastic game to conclude to Super Saturday which had previously seen a haphazard and chaotic Scotland run rings round the hapless Italians and an accurate, aggressive and clinical Ireland defeat a mostly dismal English team who once again managed to get on the wrong side of a French referee.

More on England in another post, but for now we move onto Friday night in Paris to see if France can seal the deal against Scotland.

TF Team of the Week:

15. Brice Dulin 14. Keith Earls 13. Robbie Henshaw 12. Gael Fickou 11. Louis Rees-Zammit 10. Johnny Sexton 9. Connor Murray 1. Wyn Jones 2. Dave Cherry 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Tadhg Byrne 5. Alun Wyn Jones 6. Josh Navidi 7. Charles Ollivon 8. Jack Conan

Total Flanker – the older I get, the better I was