Top Three Tries – 6 Nations Round 1

Mon, 09 Feb, 2015 - 14:07

By Steve Neville

The dust has settled around the first set of games in the 6 Nations and we know a lot more now than we did last week. Ireland get over the tricky test in Rome with relative ease, Scotland failed against the French but really put it up to Les Bleus and England looked like they will be Joe Schmidt's nearest challengers for glory. Here are three of the best tries from the opening weekend.

1) Tommy O’Donnell (Italy V Ireland)

The score that effectively ended the game as a contest, it was arguably the try of the round. Called into the starting XV at short notice due to the an injury to Sean O’Brien, he put his hand up to Joe Schmidt and ensured he will be looked at for the big games against France and England.

Taking a pass on the 10 meter line, he burst through Andrea Masi before swating away Luca Morisi with a strong hand off to finish under the posts.

2) Dougie Fife (Scotland V France)

Scotland gave France a far sterner test than expected, and in scoring the only try of the game, proved that if you give them space, they will score tries.

The influence of Vern Cotter was clear as they moved France from right to left and back again to score their try, Tim Visser making a fine break and offload to Stuart Hogg who almost got over the line himself but the Scots switched direction with all their hard work earning an overlap for Dougie Fife to go over. Scotland may not have won, but they proved that they aren’t here to just make up the numbers.

3) Jonathan Joseph (Wales V England)

Technically, far the best try, but it was almost bizarre in its fashion which is why it makes the cut. When Joseph failed to get his pass off due to the incoming Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb, you expected one of the Welshmen to hit Joseph and knock him back. Joseph however, managed to wriggle free from the two half backs as he went in over the line for what has to be one of his easiest tries to date.

One thing we did learn from that game however is the physicality of both teams, especially the English, is enormous and Ireland will need to be at their very best to compete with them.