The Guinness Men’s Six Nations reached its break week after Round 3. Ireland were the toast of southwest London after romping to a win over England, Scotland backed up their Calcutta Cup triumph by scraping a victory over Wales, and France did what France do against Italy.
The Guinness Men’s Six Nations reached its break week after Round 3. Ireland were the toast of southwest London after romping to a win over England, Scotland backed up their Calcutta Cup triumph by scraping a victory over Wales, and France did what France do against Italy.
In Super Rugby Pacific continued to take shape in Round 2. The Brumbies, the Blues and the Chiefs all won on the road, while the Hurricanes and NSW Waratahs held firm at home. It means the Brumbies and Waratahs occupy the top two places, with another Australian side, the Western Force, at the bottom.
There was also a round of Top 14 matches, and the Rugby European Championship pool stages came to an end with Georgia and Portugal topping Pools A and B, while Switzerland beat the Netherlands for the first time in their history.
Here’s what’s been ringing in ATR’s ear canals this week…
“Guys, it’s sad for me to say it, but I’m out. My body’s gone. Good game.”
And with that referee Andrea Piardi says arrivederci to the England v Ireland match:
“It is special. It is special. Honestly, I didn’t care whether we won or lost today, just whether we grew as a group because we know where we want to go.”
Sure, Andy Farrell, but Ireland beating England at Allianz Stadium is always welcome, eh?
“It opened up scar tissue from last week. We have to be better at managing that period and stop turning the ball over. It’s brutal, professional sport because if you get five per cent wrong it’s gone. We probably believed the hype from the first week too much. We can’t let the noise in now.”
England’s Ellis Genge doesn’t sugarcoat their defeat:
“They fought to the end, and they were desperate to get the win, but it was more than that. It was control, it was intelligence, obviously a very close victory. But one that will do us a lot of good.”
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend admits wins don’t always have to be pretty:
“There was more of what we wanted to see as a group. I’m coaching this team and I’m devastated for them. It’s a snapshot of where we want to be.”
Wales coach Steve Tandy sees another step in the right direction:
“It was a good team performance. It was a team effort, I was blowing, but I dug deep and didn't know I had it in me. We always believed, we knew Italy are strong team and they didn't give in.”
France’s Emmanuel Meafou keeps the analysis simple, just as they did on the pitch:
“Scoreboard is always the truth of the game, so you have to play with that. I think France were unbelievably good at taking their chances. We didn't give them much, but any errors they capitalised on.”
Italy captain Michele Lamaro is honest with his summation:
“The review concluded that Vaa’i’s actions constituted leaving the ground to avoid a tackle, rather than simply diving forward to score a try, and that as a result the try should not have been awarded.”
Super Rugby Pacific admit that Tupou Vaa’i’s try for Chiefs shouldn’t have counted:
“I struggled without realising it. I had the five weeks off, body felt good, but my mental state wasn’t in the best spot. I get ill sometimes because of the stress and then all of a sudden it being off you and the relief. It was just a mixture of all that.”
England’s Tommy Freeman opens up about his post-Lions slump:
“JP’s appointment is a natural progression and a decision we are extremely confident in. JP has brought a renewed focus on clarity, accountability and strong alignment within the playing group. Performance matters, and the improvement we have seen over the past two months is measurable and tangible.”
Sharks CEO Shaun Bryans hands JP Pietersen the keys to the Sharks’ kingdom:
“It didn’t look good. I’m not fully sure but it’s definitely his knee. It’s not his knee that he did his ACL on, it’s the other knee, but yeah didn’t look good.”
Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw provides an injury update on Brett Cameron:
“It definitely came with its challenges around being out of the game and not doing what I love and what I get paid to do. It was tough, I found myself isolating myself, distancing myself from family and my partner. Once I noticed it, and my partner said, ‘You’re doing this’, I got the help I needed.”
Blues flyhalf Stephen Perofeta is another who had his struggles, while coming back from injury:
“I can’t see how you can have a sending off in the first minute of the game for the first action of a player on his feet contesting the ball. It might have been a penalty, but that is not great for rugby.”
Eddie Jones’ weekly entry, this time in defence of England’s Henry Arundell:
“I will never forget Frankie’s (HORNE) so called lekker sessions in Stellenbosch – they were absolute brutal.”
German Olympic bobsleigh racer Joshua Tasche recalls his seven’s days:
“No word.”
Highlanders boss Jamie Joseph hasn’t heard from the NZRU: