Here are your rugby headlines for Sunday, February 25.
Farrell rubbishes Gatland declare
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has rubbished Warren Gatland’s declare that the sport ought to have been nearer.
Gatland mentioned that the 31-7 scoreline was not a good reflection of simply how properly Wales performed, with the Welsh inflicting the hosts hassle when the rating was locked at 17-7 earlier than Ireland ran away with it somewhat.
However, Farrell fully disagreed and even went so far as to say Ireland ought to have gained by a higher scoreline in Dublin.
“It in all probability ought to have been 40 or 44-7, there have been a few tries that had been notched off there,” Farrell mentioned after the match.
“I assumed we bought what we deserved ultimately. If the ahead cross from Robbie hadn’t have been knocked off I assumed that was going to be an unbelievable attempt, and once more, it was discovering a technique to make inroads.
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“I really thought they defended rather well at instances. It was exhausting to interrupt down however to get the bonus-point win, 31-7, I assumed we should always have been additional up within the first half to be truthful, however I do perceive that it is a young Welsh facet that’s attempting to realize expertise as properly, and I assumed they performed bloody powerful, that’s for positive.”
Wales tipped to beat France
Wales have been tipped to beat France by Jamie Roberts.
Wales suffered their third successive loss on the 2024 Six Nations, as Ireland cruised away with a 31-7 win on the Aviva Stadium. Wales confirmed indicators of promise once more by their young stars, however could not fairly dent the Irish defence when it mattered.
Speaking on ITV after the sport, Roberts, Brian O’Driscoll and Rory Best mentioned the conflict. The former Ireland stars had been impressed by Wales’ efforts regardless of the massive loss.
Closing out the ITV broadcast, Mark Pougatch requested Roberts for a “fast line on Wales towards France”.
“I believe Wales can beat France,” defined Roberts. “I believe they’ve proven sufficient throughout the primary three video games. But it is cliche is not it? An 80-minute efficiency (is required).”
Earlier, O’Driscoll had some constructive perspective on Wales’ efficiency towards Ireland. “That had the potential to be a horror present,” he defined.
“Ireland had been beginning to click on, all of the possession and all of the territory. But within the second half the ‘Warren Gatland’ Welsh staff got here out, put it to them, held onto the ball and performed with coronary heart and spirit.
“As Rory (Best) mentioned, this isn’t a patronising piece. This is a really, young and inexperienced staff. But that scoreline does flatter Ireland somewhat bit. It was 17-7, and it was on the cusp. If they’d scored it may need been completely different.”
Best had earlier picked out Rio Dyer, Aaron Wainwright and Cam Winnett for his or her excellent performances. Wales face France in spherical 4 of the Six Nations on Sunday, March 10, on the Principality Stadium.
Borthwick: Scotland defeat a ‘painful lesson’
Frustrated Steve Borthwick felt his work-in-progress England staff had been taught “an actual painful lesson” by a Duhan Van Der Merwe-inspired Scotland after the Red Rose crashed to a fourth consecutive Calcutta Cup defeat at Murrayfield.
The guests arrived in Edinburgh hoping to make it three Guinness Six Nations victories in a row, however after a shiny begin wherein a George Furbank attempt helped them carve a 10-0 lead within the opening quarter of an hour issues fizzled out. However, they misplaced their approach and had been put to the sword by their medical hosts who ran out 30-21 winners.
Van Der Merwe – who scored a double within the Scots’ win at Twickenham final 12 months – was once more England’s tormentor-in-chief as he turned the primary man in a darkish blue jersey to attain a Calcutta Cup hat-trick.
“After a defeat and efficiency when you do not assume you have maximised your potential, it is all the time disappointment,” mentioned head coach Borthwick. “I do not assume the staff maximised their potential right now.
“When you make that variety of dealing with errors at this degree, it’s extremely troublesome to win, particularly towards a staff of Scotland’s high quality. Ultimately we made it too simple for Scotland to attain, however they had been very medical.
“It’s an enormous lesson for our staff as we develop. The variety of turnovers made it very troublesome to win.”
England arrived in Edinburgh on the again of 1 defeat in 9 matches, however they obtained one thing of a actuality test by the hands of a Scotland facet who’re extra established as a staff below Gregor Townsend.
“We’d all love development to be a pleasant linear path however in the end it is not, particularly if you find yourself attempting to do it at this degree,” mentioned Borthwick. “What you noticed is a staff that’s attempting to develop, a staff that’s attempting so as to add layers to their sport.
“We made errors right now and bought punished – generally you get away with it, generally you do not. Against a staff like Scotland, you do not.
“It’s an enormous studying expertise, it is an actual painful lesson towards a Scotland staff that is been collectively a very long time. They had a variety of expertise.
“I believe that is the primary time our 10, 12 and 13 had began collectively and it regarded like that, did not it? There was a scarcity of cohesion and too many elementary errors.”
Darge: Van Der Merwe a ‘game-changer’
Scotland co-captain Rory Darge admitted it was an enormous benefit to his facet to have a robust, jet-heeled outlet just like the Edinburgh wing to get them up the pitch in such barnstorming vogue. Van Der Merwe’s match-winning treble – together with a shocking burst from his personal half to edge the Scots forward – took him to 26 tries for Scotland, inside one of many nationwide staff’s all-time report try-scorer Stuart Hogg.
“It’s game-changing when he has a half-opportunity, takes it and scores,” mentioned Darge. “That (second attempt whereas trailing 10-7) is a large momentum-swinger.
“As a ahead, it is undoubtedly good whenever you’re working exhausting within the rucks and also you see Duhan run the size. It’s such feeling.”
A fortnight after their agonising home defeat by France, Darge was delighted that Scotland bought their championship again on monitor as they made it two wins from three, with journeys to Italy and Ireland to come back subsequent month.
“It’s a really completely different feeling within the altering room in comparison with two weeks in the past,” he mentioned. “Even although there have been bits we did not do properly, to win with a nine-point margin, we’re delighted.
“It was scrappy to start out with for positive, however we weathered that. We made a number of errors and a part of that was the stress England put us below.
“But Finn (Russell) and Benny (White) managed the sport and put us in the suitable locations, and the forwards went to work on the again of that. We had spoken about momentum by the week and when it was with us, we actually leaned into it.”
Scotland have misplaced solely certainly one of their final seven conferences with England, though this was Darge’s first style of the fixture. The 23-year-old dismissed any notion that victories over the Auld Enemy can now be taken with no consideration by the Scots.
“We’re undoubtedly delighted to get the win – it is the Calcutta Cup,” he mentioned. “It’s my first one so I’m delighted personally.
“I assumed the environment was excellent and I’m going to take pleasure in it. You need to take pleasure in it then put it to mattress so we are able to come again and actually get after the Italy sport.”
