Ireland on course for successive Six Nations Grand Slam titles
IRELAND CONTINUED TO LOOK A class above their European rivals as they thrashed Italy 36-0 in Dublin last Sunday (Feb 11) despite coach Andy Farrell making six changes to his starting XV.
It was the first time Ireland had ‘nilled’ their opponents in a Championship game since a 17-0 win against England back in the 1987 Five Nations.
No team in the Six Nations era has yet won back-to-back Grand Slams, but following a 17th successive home victory in all competitions it is hard to see where Ireland will slip-up.
Elsewhere, Steve Borthwick praised England’s resilience as they “found a way to win” after coming from behind to beat Wales 16-14 in a tense Six Nations encounter at Twickenham last Saturday.
England were losing 14-5 to Wales at half-time before full-back Freddie Steward inspired a rousing comeback to secure the win.
Never before had England been nine points down at home and still won.
Scotland were denied a perfect start to the Championship by a matter of inches and a questionable refereeing decision at the death in losing 20-16 to France, but Harry Paterson’s brilliant Test debut offered some consolation.
The Edinburgh back was not even due to start until Kyle Steyn pulled out of the morning of Saturday’s game to attend the birth of his child.
Paterson was making only his seventh start as a professional, not that his inexperience showed, even though he admitted to a moment of “panic” when he got the call from Scotland coach Gregor Townsend to start at full-back.
“It’s one of the best debuts I’ve ever seen,” said Townsend.
“Going up against that French backline on a wet day at Murrayfield, he was excellent. To play like that was fantastic and gives us a lot of encouragement about where Harry can go over these next few years.”
Townsend’s team are at home to England next Saturday (Feb 24) and even though Paterson faces competition from Steyn and the injured Blair Kinghorn, he may now be the long-term heir to retired Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg.