Tom Varndell has walked out of French rugby

It showed.

He’d be terrifying. His attacking game doesn’t really rely on pace either so it’s no drama if he loses a yard of pace in getting glocked.

No point having a frame like that if it can’t be used as an advantage. He should be walking around at 100 kilos minimum.

He still has plenty of gifts and has the makings of a superb athlete.

79 mins gone, 3 PTS down and a kick at the posts on offer. It shouldn’t even be a decision to make. It shouldn’t be a discussion, it should be inbuilt that you take what’s on offer. Conan hadn’t a clue looking to the side-lines.

Not starting Barrett proves he wasn’t picking on form and I fear he was just being kept warm for the final. Arrogance.

Well that’s not great.

Compare that to Phil Dowson, who this week said Pollock needed to work on his set piece, his maul defence, and his defensive positioning.

That was how the match panned out. Ireland scored after 60 seconds. Scotland attacked for 20 mins in the Irish half and Ireland scored again. Then Scotland had to score caution to the wind and Ireland picked them off.

On another day Scotland score first, the ball doesn’t stick for Ireland and its a close match.

Again, Scotland kept SA close deep into their match and bar a terrible error by Darcy they should have been a try up at Half time.

Playing the #5 ranked team demands respect. Ireland having to play Scotland 6-7 days before the Quarter Final is a clear disadvantage. Saying Ireland should have won anyway is disingenuous to NZ who played the best rugby of the knock outs.

Again: If SA have to play Scotland 6-7 days before the France match: do they win?