6N18: Week 3

First game up: France beat Italy, not much more to say. The Groupie was in the room as I watched this and looked up from her computer long enough to judge that even to her inexpert eye it didn't seem any good. This damning (and justified) verdict is made all the more arresting when you realise she did occasionally watch me play, so knows bad rugby when she sees it.

Second game up: Wales were perplexingly inert for most of their loss to Ireland - vexing for those of us who backed them to spring a surprise. Ireland were efficient as ever but how on earth did they come so close to letting Wales back in? Even allowing for that caveat, Ireland are now an even stronger favourite for the title. To Dan Biggar goes this year's first awarding of the Ronan O'Gara Gobshite Award. In one moment of high comedy he even managed to whinge at the poor old ref as he fielded a high ball. Interesting to note that the Welsh commentariat has now turned on Biggar and belatedly acknowledged that he should shut his bloody trap. You read it here first.

I said "You're a good player but shut your trap"

Third game up: oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Not a good day for red-blooded Englishmen as England were compellingly dismantled by the Scots. The breakdowns were almost embarrassing, the English retreating ever further into their shells as the Sots grew more and more passionate. Playing like this, I fear for England in Paris - after all France cannot be crap forever.

An observation - can we please stop replacements joining the try celebrations in goal. It's infantile and improper.