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Check out the pick of the weekend’s highlights following some huge Six Nations, Top 14 and Super Rugby matches.
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Six Nations: England vs Scotland
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
For once, Scotland headed to Twickenham with sinews stiffened, blood duly summoned and fair nature disguised with hard-favour’d rage ready to face the auld enemy for the Calcutta Cup, the Triple Crown, and the honour of the Celtic nations. The England engine, despite an undefeated 2016, was stuttering in this Six Nations, and Scotland have been playing with fire and brimstone and had a first win in London in 34 years firmly in their sights. But everyone forgot there are two ways a side can stop stuttering. This was the other one.
Six Nations: Wales vs Ireland
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
This is rugby. For all that Friday-night Six Nations matches are not popular with many outside TV scheduling land – only Wales seem interested, hosting six of the seven that have taken place – they can produce some epic games. And this was right near the top of the epic list. Forget the score – this was thunderous, heart-on-the-sleeve rugby from first whistle to last. Rob Howley’s resurrection men were everything they were not against Scotland last time out: quick, quick-witted, aggressive. And yet, Ireland, harried and bullied and battered as they were, remained in touch until the death, sometimes by the finest of margins. Rob Henshaw is taking a hatful of blame in the press for his over-eagerness that cost Ireland what could have been an important try. But it was that sort of game … passion was everything.
Six Nations: Italy vs France
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Italy kept ‘The Fox’ out of the Stadio Olimpico henhouse when they entertained France. But, it seems, regardless of their tactics, they will be confined to being the team of plucky overwhelmed also-rans this season. A fourth-minute try from captain Sergio Parisse which shot the Azzurri into a fourth-minute lead was about as good as it got, as often-overlooked centre Gael Fickou got Les Bleus going. This was not classic France, but they made some gorgeous tries, and some of the passing will have older rugby fans reminiscing wistfully about that mythical French flair they insist on talking about.
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Super Rugby: Reds vs Crusaders
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Any Crusaders fans who thought this would be an easy four (at least!) points were dreaming. A win at Suncorp Stadium is rarely that straightforward – just ask the Highlanders and Blues how they got on last season. Still, even the Reds themselves wouldn’t have expected to be 17-0 up within the first 25 minutes with tries from Samu Kerevi and Eto Nabuli. But the Crusaders are fashioning themselves as Super Rugby’s comeback kings this year – they overcame a 21-point deficit to beat the Highlanders last week, could they do the same here?
Top 14: Lyon vs Stade Francais
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
At the business end of the season, the wrong end of the table is often the place to look for the best matches. And 12th-placed Lyon’s close encounter of the tense kind with 11th-placed Stade Francais lived up to expectations, as it featured seven tries and four cards – two of them red – with the drama starting in the opening minute and continuing until the 80th.
Top 14: Clermont vs Montpellier
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Visiting sides do not win at Clermont’s Stade Marcel Michelin. The last side to do so, was Montpellier, 14 months ago – and it is not that long ago that the Jaunards strung together a 77-match winning streak in all competitions at their fortress that stretched over four years. But, if there is ever a time they are weaker, it’s during the Six Nations. Jake White’s powerful and direct Montpellier had a chance, then, as they headed into France’s volcano country.
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