The 2021 Guinness Six Nations has entered the home straight as the Championships heads towards a conclusion, with just one round remaining.
It’s set to be a fascinating finale as Wales chase the Grand Slam, but in order to emerge victorious they must go and win away to title rivals France.
Wayne Pivac’s side made it four wins from four with a comfortable 48-7 win away to Italy, with Ken Owens scoring two tries.
That was followed by an awesome game at Twickenham, where England ended France’s Grand Slam bid with a 23-20 victory in a game that had rugby fans everywhere purring.
France can still win the Championship if they beat Wales with a bonus point on Saturday and then do the same against Scotland in the re-arranged Round 3 encounter.
But Scotland’s title hopes died on Sunday, as Ireland maintained their immense record against them by winning 27-24 at BT Murrayfield.
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George North moved level with Shane Williams atop the most Championship tries for Wales when he crossed for his 22nd early in the second half of Wales’ convincing win.
The visitors led 27-0 at half-time but any suspicions of complacency were quickly blown away in the second half with North’s excellent score.
Inside centre Jonathan Davies had the ball in midfield and wrong-footed his tackler, before somehow releasing the ball to North on his outside.
North did the rest by beating two men and sprinting clear to dot down under the posts.
France may not have played in four weeks but they quickly dispelled any concerns they may be rusty with a pair of scintillating first-half tries against England.
The second will live long in the memory, as Les Bleus France regained the lead with a move cut straight from the training ground.
Julien Marchand’s long lineout throw cleared the jumpers and deliberately hit Gael Fickou in stride, and from there France moved it right, where fly-half Matthieu Jalibert looped a perfect pass for the wide-open Damian Penaud to score.
Brilliantly creative but ruthlessly efficient, it was an outstanding try that lit up a thrilling game.
Johnny Sexton’s nerveless late penalty handed Ireland a dramatic 27-24 victory over Scotland in a thrilling match at BT Murrayfield.
Having just seen a 14-point lead slip through their fingers, Ireland could easily have been shell-shocked but instead went straight back on the attack, forced a mistake in the Scotland 22 and saw Ali Price pinged.
Near the left touchline, the penalty was far from a gimme and initially it looked as if Sexton had pushed his attempt wide but it curved just inside the left post and handed Ireland a triumph to savour.
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