After each Six Nations weekend, Sportsmail rugby correspondent Chris Foy will round up the biggest talking points and name his Team of the Weekend.
Jaminet’s got golden boot
France have a Grand Slam in them. Their threats keep multiplying. Melvyn Jaminet’s goal-kicking has given them another deadly weapon and Fabien Galthie’s side deployed their own ‘bomb squad’ against Ireland to regain dominance up front.
If the big-beast stampede doesn’t work, Damian Penaud can dance around opponents in a metre of space. Just ask Hugo Keenan, if he’s not still spinning.
France are looking unstoppable after back-to-back wins, with Melvyn Jaminet on fine form
Biggar a Wales talisman
It was heartening to hear the crowd acclaim for Dan Biggar after he dragged Wales to their win over Scotland because he has not always had the admiration he deserves.
What a figure he has become — Test centurion, Test Lion, national captain and ultra-competitive talisman. He is even mastering the art of pre-match mind games, suggesting a future in coaching awaits. Wales need him more than ever.
Scotland the grave
Scottish expectation was wildly out of control ahead of their clash with Wales. There was much talk north of the border about a title challenge, only for the old away-day curse to strike again.
It’s now 20 years since they have won in Cardiff and the latest defeat there exposed that the hype had been excessive, after Gregor Townsend’s side snatched victory over England. Mid table beckons.
Scotland were exposed against Wales and fans’ chatter about a title challenge was hasty
It’s fans-tastic again
This tournament’s return to boisterous, colourful normality has been a delight. Travelling fans have given the event its heart and soul back.
The impact can be lost in London and Paris, but Cardiff was buzzing with an influx of Scots and several thousand England fans defied red-tape to visit Rome. Good riddance to the hollow occasions of the last two years.
Italy’s future hope
Italy may become a Six Nations force in the near future, judging by a seismic result on Friday as their Under 20s claimed a 6-0 victory over England — who won a Grand Slam last year — in Treviso.
Captain Giacomo Ferrari said: ‘This is just the beginning. Something is going to start here now.’ Let’s hope youthful Italian potential and confidence translates to senior progress, soon.
While Italy’s senior side struggle, they could have hope for the future in their under-20s team
Ireland need Sexton
Ireland’s over-reliance on Johnny Sexton has been a concern for several years, but on Saturday his leadership was sorely missed. Some debatable decision-making in the closing stages exposed the issue.
James Ryan is a top-class lock, but is not convincing as stand-in skipper. Iain Henderson is a more natural leader, but he doesn’t start. It is a tricky problem for Andy Farrell.
Team of the weekend
Melvyn Jaminet (Fra); Darcy Graham (Sco), Gael Fickou (Fra), Nick Tompkins (Wal), Mack Hansen (Ire); Dan Biggar (Wal), Antoine Dupont (Fra); Ellis Genge (Eng), Ryan Elias (Wales), Uini Atonio (Fra); Tadhg Beirne (Ire), Will Rowlands (Wal); Maro Itoje (Eng), Gregory Alldritt (France), Josh van der Flier (Ireland).
