Six Nations In Pictures: England and France continue winning starts
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After an entertaining start to the 2016 Six Nations Championship last weekend, hopes were high this time around for more of the same, and we weren’t disappointed.
Having got things underway a week ago in Paris, France got the action up and running this weekend too, with reigning champions Ireland the daunting opposition.
Wales then hosted Scotland on Saturday evening in Cardiff, before England looked to make it two wins from two under Eddie Jones against Italy in Rome on Sunday.
We’re letting the pictures do the talking and here’s how it all unfolded in another dramatic weekend of egg-chasing…
Ireland failed to take advantage of their first-half dominance, but Johnny Sexton’s trio of penalties handed the visitors a 9-3 lead at the break in Paris.
A bruising encounter saw Ireland lose Sean O’Brien, Dave Kearney and Sexton to injury as the score remained 9-3 deep into the second period.
France stole the victory late on however with Maxime Medard scoring the only try of the game to all but end Ireland’s hopes of a third Six Nations championship.
Across the channel in Cardiff, Wales and Scotland served up a much-higher scoring affair, with tries and penalties exchanged as the Tartan Army led 13-10 at half-time thanks to Tommy Seymour’s try and Greig Laidlaw’s trusty boot.
The visitors were heading towards victory as the clock ticked past the hour, but Warren Gatland’s side cranked it up a notch with a Jamie Roberts try.
And when George North went over just six minutes later, it proved too much for the Scots, despite their own effort through Duncan Taylor.
Sunday’s contest saw England head to Rome, and thanks to George Ford, Eddie Jones’ side led 11-9 at the interval after a slow start.
Eddie Jones must have produced some inspiring words at half-time, as England ran riot in Rome with Jonathan Joseph claiming an 18-minute hat-trick.
Owen Farrell also went over as England ran out 40-9 winners in Rome to maintain their Grand Slam hopes.
Next week’s break allows teams to re-assess, but after two wins England are odds-on favourites, with Wales the only other realistic contenders.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
