Big two hit the ground running

On Rugby:The fear always lurked that England and France would awake from their autumnal slumber in time for their mouth-watering visits to Croke Park. Sure enough, the limitations of Scotland and Italy enabled the self-appointed big two to hit the ground running on the first weekend of the Six Nations. Now, not for the first time in the 2000s, already it is Ireland who seemingly stand in the way of the Anglo-French duopoly and suddenly not in the rudest of health either.

Sterner tests ensure that more considered judgment of the big two's rejuvenation awaits. Scotland brought little to the Twickenham party other than braveheart spirit, resilient defence (though it was non-existent around the fringes) and the goal-kicking of Chris Paterson. Away from Murrayfield, against the bigger sides, that was never going to be enough.

Italy brought even less in fluffing their lines from the off, and once they kicked away the opportunity for a six-point lead and conceded the first turnover try, the speed with which their heads seemed to drop was alarming.

They were game enough to keep recycling the ball from deep, but they are not designed to play catch-up and while the match statistics will show that the Azzurri had more possession, more passes, more recycles and forced the French to make more tackles, their laboured running game was as those in the coaching fraternity are wont to say, a classic example of shovelling ****.

The ponderous performances of scrumhalf Paul Griffen and either of their outhalves, Andrea Scanavacca and Ramiro Pez, hardly helped in asking any real questions of the French defence.

Nevertheless there were ominously strong opening gambits by England and France and the catalyst for the Red Rose and indeed the Six Nations was undoubtedly Jonny Wilkinson. The thought occurred that some of the English newspapers should come with a government health warning over the subsequent two days and, for example, there were inevitably premature conclusions that the All Blacks and co would have to sit up and take notice.

Furthermore, the BBC producers, cameraman and commentary team clucked over Wilkinson like a mother hen but you could readily understand why. After all, not only had their goal-kicking World Cup-winning hero not been seen for England since that dramatic final in Sydney in 2003, but his presence seemed to have an inspiring and comforting effect on team-mates and supporters alike.

And, it has to be said, the return of Wilkinson (at something close to his best would be astonishing for most players, but not him) is not only good for England, but good for the Six Nations and the game in general. He is a magnet for fans and aspiring young players the world over, and perhaps referees also given the way Donal Courtney was swept away in the heady Twickenham excitement of Wilkinson's comeback. He has star quality, and the game needs its stars playing, not on an operating or physio's table.

What must the watching Clive Woodward and Andy Robinson, particularly, have felt? Robinson made his selection errors (Brian Ashton's 11 changes were a commentary on that alone) and never quite convinced, but having a fully fit Wilkinson and an opening fixture against these Scots was more good fortune than he had in his entire reign. Aside from being a good coach, it looks as if Ashton may also have become a lucky one.

Bernard Laporte went some way to silencing his critics, most notably Pierre Berbizier, temporarily at any rate, in Rome on Saturday. Amongst the increasing hum of criticism aimed at him was a popularly held theory that his team lacked an obvious spine at numbers two, eight, nine, 10 and 15.

Whereupon, in one fell swoop, he unearthed five together.

Raphael Ibanez did lead a limited, malfunctioning, tired-looking team well in November and memories of his sluggishness in open play when meeting the All Blacks cannot be completely dispelled by one jaunt in the Roman sun.

Furthermore, Les Bleus coughed up eight of their own lineouts.

Even so, he led the team well and was at the heart of a strong scrum and maul which neutered Italy in their supposed strengths. Sebastien Chabal gave their fringe play, work in contact and at the breakdown the kind of physicality he brings to his games for Sale. What will have particularly struck the Irish management is the manner in which Pierre Mignoni probed the blindside and once they were well in front on the scoreboard David Skrela could afford to drop into the pocket and kick to the corners in something of an armchair ride.

As impressive as any of this quintet - though his performance was almost unheralded - was Clement Poitrenaud. It may not have been his most eye-catching or dynamic performance but he was error-free and assured in everything he did while calmly adding a cutting edge as well, though Ronan O'Gara's kicking game and the Croke Park roar will presumably provide more of a test for him.

Apparently, there is a possibility that Laporte will prefer Imanol Harinordoquy for his greater mobility and especially his lineout skills, with a view to going after the Rory Best throw.

Admittedly, it was no more than an ultra-efficient all-round French performance which profited handsomely from Italian mistakes. Ireland's performance re-affirmed the impression that Geordan Murphy was unlucky to miss out on the original Irish selection and looks in better form and confidence than Andrew Trimble for one.

Ironically, one of the few times Ireland played with any width was when Murphy stepped in to outhalf and O'Gara found Brian O'Driscoll on the wing.

For all the ball they ran at Wales, remarkably little reached the outside three of Denis Hickie, Girvan Dempsey and Trimble.

With a good deal more accuracy, tempo and a bit more width, one would like to think that Ireland will test France in all manner of ways that Italy singularly failed to do.