France Win It – But Only Just
Six Nations Rugby
Final Week Review
It was a day high tension and drama right to the very end yesterday, in the final week of the Six Nations Championship for 2007.
Ireland, in their vital match with Italy had to win by as many points as possible to stand any chance of taking the championship back to Dublin. They struggled in the first half, but the flood-gates opened in the second forty, and they romped to a 24-51 win. It could have been much more however, after they blew conversion after conversion and then topped it off with a stupid try given to the Italians with only seconds remaining. 
When the focus switched to Scotland over in Paris, a white-wash was predicted by many. It was therefore to most people’s astonishment when Scotland took the lead with a Walker try. France had to win by 24 points to claim the championship, and after closing the first half at 20 points to Scotland’s 14, thoughts in Rome and Dublin were perhaps straying towards th party that may be about to happen.
But the dyke burst for Scotland in the second half, and they soon found themselves way behind the running. With only a minute left in the game, the whole of Ireland were behind Scotland even though they were being beaten 39 points to 19 – enough to secure Ireland their first championship in a long time.
France then appeared to score a dubious try, forcing themselves over the line in a melee that resulted in the referee going to use TV evidence. The try was awarded, Scotland got beat 46 – 19, and France won the Six Nations again.
I say dubious, because it is unusual for a referee to say, “I thought I saw the ball being grounded,†and then ask for TV evidence to be used. If he saw the ball touch the ground he should have awarded the try. TV evidence proved nothing because no angle provided a view of the ball touching the ground, therefore it is totally based on hearsay. So in my opinion, the arm under the ball when it came down, meant the try should not have been given.
Small matter to Scotland who were truly humped anyway, but I felt for the Irish. They deserved it and they can blame Scotland until the cows come home, the truth being that if they hadn’t thrown away all those missed conversions, they would have been champions.
England were stuffed in the final match of the day over in Cardiff; 
pride and passion making sure that Wales did not suffer a grand slam of defeats.
The league table makes for hard reading for the Scots as well as the Irish. Because Wales beat England by more points than Scotland beat Wales, Scotland ended up getting the Wooden Spoon by coming last. At the start of the tournament Scotland were on a high, but poor play and stupid mistakes put paid to their chances, and on a year when they had three home games they could have won.
Scotland now have to look to the World Cup in a few months, and after this setback, have a lot of thinking to do.
Final Week Results
Italy 24 – 51 Ireland
France 46 – 19 Scotland
Wales 27 – 18 England
My Tips Were
Ireland, France and England – 2 out of 3 correct.
Ireland to win the Six Nations Championship, 2007 – I was 4 points away from being correct – hardly a consolation if you happen to be Irish.
Final Table
click to view large
March 20th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Isn’t being a sports reporter fun?
March 20th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Oh yeah!