Ireland’s old-school tactics help win Grand Slam Ireland have the Grand Slam and well deserved it was too. The performance against England was near faultless and the highlight of the Six Nations. But as modern as the exquisitely coached Irish team plays, it was two moments of old-school brilliance that really stood out. Johnny Sexton’s ‘bomb’ on the English try-line was a wonderful throwback and questions why we don’t see that tactic used more often? An up-and-under anywhere on the pitch can be effective, especially when you have Conor Murray and Sexton executing, but a bomb on the try-line is when quantum rugby mechanics come into play – anything can happen. However, as wonderful as Sexton’s kick was, it was Keith Earl’s Seventies-style ankle tap that caused a wave of nostalgia. Modern rugby is so dominated by head-on collisions that we rarely see the ankle-tap – but it’s beauty remains. It is rugby’s KGB move. Poison jabbed in the back of the leg from an umbrella spike. You can’t see it coming, you barely feel it, but before you know it you’re face down chewing the ground. Well played Ireland, you’ve been a pleasure to watch. Italy lose but get three wins Italy may have racked up another defeat, but they won in so many ways against Scotland in Rome. Firstly, and most importantly, they won back the respect of the rugby public. The calls for Italy to leave the Six Nations have been louder than ever in 2018 and one can only imagine how many walls were punched at Georgian rugby’s HQ on Saturday afternoon. The second win for Italy came with their new generation of genuine Test players. Matteo Minozzi continued his impressive form and gave Italy a threat from deep that they have never had before. Not since Buffalo Bill, in Silence of the Lambs, have we witnessed someone so keen on skinning people. Seeing Sebastian Negri and Jake Polledri pouring through the Scottish defence was a beautiful flashback to Sergio Parisse doing the same thing ten years ago. That brings up the third and final win for Italian rugby. It has always seemed as though Parisse could never retire, such was the burden on his shoulders, but now that burden has been lifted. Whether it’s a move into lock for the World Cup, less minutes on the field or full retirement, there are now thankfully other players who can carry Italian rugby forward. Wales will be pleased with second spot Apparently, second is nothing. After first place, you’re all losers. And that is true, but that would be an over-simplification of the result against France and Wales’ tournament as a whole. Prior to this championship, few in Wales had any hope for the upcoming World Cup – not hope to win it but to be competitive and play skills-based, contemporary rugby. Many felt that the chance to change coaching staff was missed after the last cycle and that the rather doughy rugby Wales had been playing … Continue reading Six Nations 2018 Round Five – Six things we learnt