Guinness Six Nations 2024 | Recap Round 4

France Dominates Wales with Eight-Try Thriller in Six Nations Clash

France dominated winless Wales in a thrilling Six Nations clash in Cardiff, securing victory with eight impressive tries. Gael Fickou, Nolann Le Garrec, Georges-Henri Colombe, Romain Taofifenua, and Maxime Lucu all contributed to France’s try tally, with Thomas Ramos adding 20 points through his kicking prowess.

Despite efforts from Rio Dyer, Tomos Williams, and Joe Roberts, Wales struggled to match France’s intensity, particularly in the second half. France’s relentless attack saw them score 25 unanswered points in the final quarter, securing their highest points tally in Wales.

Fabien Galthie’s French side bounced back from a draw with Italy, moving up to fourth in the table, while Warren Gatland’s Wales faced the possibility of their first Wooden Spoon since 2003, marking their 11th defeat in 12 Six Nations games.

France’s dominant performance put an end to speculation about their form, with head coach Galthie making eight changes, including giving opportunities to debutants Leo Barre, Nicolas Depoortere, and Emmanuel Meafou.

Wales, on the other hand, made several changes of their own but failed to match France’s prowess. The game saw moments of brilliance from both sides, with France’s Le Garrec standing out in the absence of Antoine Dupont.

Despite a spirited effort from Wales, France’s physicality and skill proved too much to handle, with the visitors sealing victory with a final try from Lucu, much to the delight of their supporters.

Line-ups

Wales 

Winnett; Adams, Roberts, Watkin, Dyer; Costelow, Tomos Williams; G Thomas, Dee, Assiratti, Rowlands, Beard, D Jenkins (capt), Reffell, Wainwright.

Replacements: E Lloyd, Domachowski, Lewis, Martin, Mann, G Davies, I Lloyd, Grady.

France

Barre; Penaud, Fickou, Depoortere, Bielle-Biarrey; Ramos, Le Garrec; Baille, Marchand, Atonio, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Ollivon, Alldritt (capt).

Replacements:Mauvaka, S Taofifenua, Colombe, Taofifenua, Roumat, Boudehent, Lucu, Moefana

Stats

Wales (17) 24

Try: Dyer (9′), Williams (25′), Roberts (43′)

Conversion: Costelow (10′, 26′, 45′)

Penalty: Costelow (2′)

France (20) 45

Try: Fickou (22′), Le Garrec (29′), Colombe (65′), R Taofifenua (69′), Lucu (80’+1)

Conversion: Ramos (23′, 30′, 66′, 70′)

Penalty: Ramos (7′, 15′, 61′, 74′)

Man of the match: Nolann Le Garrec (France)

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

England’s Last-Minute Triumph Shocks Ireland at Twickenham

In a thrilling Six Nations clash at Twickenham, Marcus Smith’s last-minute drop-goal shattered Ireland’s hopes of back-to-back Grand Slams. Despite trailing by two points following James Lowe’s late try, Smith’s precision kick secured a dramatic victory for England, much to the delight of the home crowd.

The second half was packed with action as Lowe’s acrobatic finish and subsequent tries by George Furbank and Ben Earl propelled England into the lead. Despite Lowe’s second try seemingly sealing the title for Ireland, Smith’s composure ensured England’s triumph, marking Ireland’s first Six Nations defeat since 2022.

Ollie Lawrence’s early try set the tone for England’s spirited performance, although Ireland, fueled by Jack Crowley’s accurate kicking, fought back strongly. While England’s win keeps their slim title hopes alive, it also breaks their pattern of recent underperformance in the tournament.

Although Ireland still tops the Six Nations standings and remains favorites to retain the title by defeating Scotland in Dublin, England’s unexpected victory highlighted their resilience under captain Jamie George’s leadership.

Twickenham witnessed a resurgence in England’s attacking flair, evident from Lawrence’s early score and their sustained pressure throughout the match. Despite Crowley’s penalties keeping Ireland in contention, England’s discipline and determination never wavered.

A day to remember for Jamie George ❤️

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) March 9, 2024

Ireland’s occasional lapses in possession allowed England to capitalize, with Furbank and Earl adding to their tally. Despite Lowe’s brace threatening to snatch victory for Ireland, England’s late surge, culminating in Smith’s match-winning kick, secured a memorable win under the guidance of coach Steve Borthwick.

England’s victory came as a surprise to many, given their previous lackluster performance against Scotland, while Ireland had appeared dominant in earlier matches.

However, Ireland’s head coach Andy Farrell had warned against underestimating England’s potential, labeling them as a dangerous adversary. Although Ireland showcased glimpses of their attacking prowess, particularly through Lowe’s tries, they struggled to maintain possession against England’s aggressive play.

England’s control of the game, led by standout performances from players like George Martin, exposed vulnerabilities in Ireland’s defense. While Ireland remains in pole position to clinch the title against Scotland, England’s resilient display served as a reminder of the challenges they pose to their rivals.

Line-ups

England

Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George (capt), Cole, Itoje, Martin, Chessum, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Marler, Stuart, Cunningham-South, Dombrandt, Care, M Smith, Daly.

Ireland

Keenan; Nash, Henshaw, Aki, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; McCarthy, Beirne, O’Mahony (capt), Van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Kelleher, Healy, Bealham, Henderson, Baird, Conan, Murray, Frawley.

Stats

England (8) 23

Try: Lawrence (4′), Furbank (48′), Earl (60′)

Conversion: Smith (61′)

Penalty: Ford (17′)

Drop-goal: Smith (80’+1)

Ireland (12) 22

Try: Lowe (44′, 73′)

Penalty: Crowley (3′, 20′, 35′, 40’+1)

Man of the match: Ben Earl (England)

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Italy Seals Historic Home Win, Dashes Scotland’s Title Hopes

Italy clinched their first Six Nations home victory since 2013, withstanding late pressure to halt Scotland’s title aspirations in a dramatic match in Rome.

The Azzurri, who hadn’t won a home game in the tournament since 2013 and hadn’t defeated Scotland in their last 13 encounters, capitalized on their close match against France in their previous outing.

Gonzalo Quesada’s team capitalized on their momentum to secure their second win of the championship, dealing a blow to Scotland’s title hopes. Despite a thrilling finish, Italy managed to avoid history repeating itself as fly-half Paulo Garbisi, who narrowly missed a game-winning kick against France, secured the victory with a penalty.

Louis Lynagh and Stephen Varney added tries for Italy, while Scotland’s Pierre Schoeman and Sam Skinner responded with tries of their own. Scotland’s chances of a title win dwindled as they suffered a second-half collapse, compounded by missed opportunities and penalties.

Despite their efforts, they were unable to mount a comeback in the dying moments of the game. With Ireland’s loss to England, Scotland’s hopes for the title remained mathematically possible, but they would need significant results in their favor in the final round of matches.

Line-ups

Italy

Capuozzo, Lynagh, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane, P Garbisi, Page-Relo, Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, N Cannone, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro, Vintcent.

Replacements: Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Zambonin, L Cannone, Varney, Marin, Mori.

Scotland

Kinghorn, Steyn, Jones, Redpath, Van Der Merwe, Russell, Horne, Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, Christie, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Ashman, Hepburn, Millar-Mills, Skinner, Ritchie, M Fagerson, Price, Rowe.

Stats

Italy (16) 31 Try: Brex (15′), Lynagh (44′), Varney (57′) Conversion: P Garbisi (16′, 59′) Penalty: P Garbisi (2′, 35′, 73′), Page-Relo (39′)

Scotland (22) 29 Try: Fagerson (6′), Steyn (12′), Schoeman (28′), Skinner (78′) Conversion: Russell (8′, 13′, 78′) Penalty: Russell (24′)

Man of the match: Juan Ignacio Brex (Italy)

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

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