Six Nations - End of term reports
PA Sport
March 19, 2007

Another RBS 6 Nations Championship is done and dusted. And with thoughts now turning towards the 2007 World Cup in France this autumn, where do Europe's six major challengers stand?

PA Sport rugby union correspondent Andrew Baldock offers a state of the nations report as the World Cup countdown gathers momentum.

ENGLAND

`Work in progress' is probably the sign that needs to go up at Twickenham. Although England won three Six Nations games for the first time since 2004 and unearthed promising newcomers such as David Strettle, Shane Geraghty, Toby Flood and Tom Rees, they were exposed up front.

England lost both away fixtures against Ireland and Wales and, on each occasion, their front five was reduced to powder-puff status. South Africa are next up in Bloemfontein, and head coach Brian Ashton desperately needs the likes of Andrew Sheridan, Matt Stevens and Steve Borthwick available, while he could also take a punt on young Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley.

Compared with a dire autumn series that cost Ashton's predecessor Andy Robinson his job, England are on the right track, but they have to sort out the pack.

Best player: Harry Ellis.

Darkest day: A record 43-13 Six Nations defeat against Ireland.

End of term report: Room for considerable improvement.

IRELAND

Ireland secured a second successive Six Nations Triple Crown - but they should have won the title - and one wonders whether psychological scars will remain heading into the World Cup later this year.

An unforgivable mental switch-off in the closing seconds against France cost them victory at Croke Park, and with it went their Grand Slam dream, despite Ireland scoring more tries than any other team and dazzling opponents through some mesmeric handling and running.

It could be argued they were the best side in this season's championship, but professional sport only remembers winners, and once again they came up short.

Best player: Gordon D'Arcy.

Darkest day: Blowing victory against France with just seconds remaining.

End of term report: Should have been top of the class.


WALES

A second Six Nations whitewash in four seasons beckoned for Wales, but they dug deep to stave off such embarrassment by doing what Welsh supporters love more than anything else - beating England.

On their day, Wales possess the back division pyrotechnics to bewilder any opponent - cue Shane Williams, Kevin Morgan and thrilling newcomer James Hook - but they need to discover a greater physical presence up front.

Lock Alun Wyn-Jones proved a newcomer of immense promise, while openside flanker Martyn Williams remains a world-class operator, but consistency in terms of results is the priority for coach Gareth Jenkins.

Best player: James Hook.

Darkest day: A desperate performance against Scotland.

End of term report: Too much ordinary work.


SCOTLAND

Coach Frank Hadden will retain his sense of optimism heading into the summer and beyond but, for all Scotland's ambitions, they ended up with the wooden spoon.

Their solitary victory came against a Wales side that performed appallingly at Murrayfield and, although they came within a point of holding Ireland, the Scots were smashed by England, Italy and France.

Real problems presented themselves behind the scrum, where they lacked a cutting edge of any description, and bucket-loads of Chris Paterson penalties will not be enough to remotely trouble the world's best.

Best player: Chris Paterson.

Darkest day: Being reduced to ruins by Italy's rampant pack at Murrayfield.

End of term report: Must do better, but no obvious sign of an improvement.


FRANCE

France retained the Six Nations title despite never really hitting top gear. Victory against Ireland in Dublin was their keynote result, but coach Bernard Laporte will probably glean far more from defeat to England than France's four victories put together.

Between them, David Skrela and Lionel Beauxis suggested the problem fly-half position might at last have been nailed down, and there were moments of brilliance from the likes of Clement Poitrenaud, Yannick Jauzion and Christophe Dominici.

The main concern is whether the French front five can raise their game, because England, who possessed nothing like the tournament's strongest pack, raised many questions.

Best player: Clement Poitrenaud.

Darkest day: A total no-show by the pack against England at Twickenham.

End of term report: Top marks, but not a vintage performance.


ITALY

The real success story of this season's Six Nations, Italy won two games for the first time and recorded an inaugural championship away win in memorably defeating Scotland at Murrayfield.

Coach Pierre Berbizier proved a master at getting the best from his players, and Italy's pack was undoubtedly the most accomplished on view, with Martin Castrogiovanni, Marco Bortolami, Josh Sole and Sergio Parisse all deservedly taking a bow.

The Azzurri can now look ahead with confidence to the rest of 2007 and, who
knows, maybe a World Cup quarter-final place.

Best player: Sergio Parisse.

Darkest day: Being run off their feet by France on day one.

End of term report: Improved beyond recognition.

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