Wales boss Gatland warns Martyn Williams and Ryan Jones

Coach Warren Gatland says that veteran Wales flanker Martyn Williams and skipper Ryan Jones must improve their displays against France on Friday.

Wales rescued an incredible last-gasp 31-24 win against Scotland in their last championship game in Cardiff.

But Williams, Jones and Andy Powell - now dropped for disciplinary reasons - were outshone by Scotland's back-row and must up their game against France.

"We missed, I think, 10 tackles between them," Gatland said.

"Martyn's missed a few tackles and he's been the first to put his hand up and needs to rectify his performance and get it right and he normally responds exceptionally well to that.

"I think what's pleased me about Martyn in the last week or so is he's recognised that as a loose-forward trio we probably didn't do so well against Scotland.

"So it's a sign of his experienced leadership in the squad, and for Ryan I think he's developed well into a captain.

"He's showing really good signs in terms of the way he's leading this team. He doesn't speak for the sake of speaking and he's starting to let his rugby do the talking.

"But he knows himself after his performance against Scotland he needs to go up a notch against France."

Williams, 33, will equal Colin Charvis' 94-cap record for a Wales forward when he runs out at the Millennium Stadium against the Grand Slam-chasing French.

"It's a great milestone for Martyn," Gatland added. "I think it's a fantastic achievement for him.

Jonathan Thomas switches from lock to back-row to fill the gap vacated by Powell's banishment from the squad after being charged with drink-driving following an incident with a golf buggy on the morning after the win against Scotland.

Jones' inclusion was the major talking point when Gatland announced the team on Monday, with Luke Charteris only getting a place on the bench despite his man-of-the-match show for the Dragons at Ulster.

Gatland also admits that picking Mike Phillips on the bench - despite the British and Irish Lions star playing just 40 minutes of rugby in four months - is a gamble.

Phillips has been selected ahead of Dwayne Peel - who has missed only a month of action recently with a groin strain - as the back-up to Richie Rees of the Blues.

While Phillips came on for the second half of the Ospreys' 19-17 win over Connacht in the Magners League on Sunday, Peel played the full game when Sale lost 19-10 to Leeds on Friday.

Gatland cited the precedents of Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery recently returning to Test action after injury and Scotland having Mike Blair on the bench against Wales following a lengthy lay-off.

Gatland said of Phillips: "Even though he's not 100% match fit, he's medically fit and he gives us something a little bit different.

Gatland admits he was wrong to pick Cooper to start against Scotland, with Rees having made a strong case for the starting nine shirt with his performances off the bench.

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Six Nations 2010: Rees vows to keep Phillips on bench

Phillips made the Wales replacements, even though he has played just 40 minutes of rugby – coming on as a half-time substitute for Ospreys in their narrow victory over Connacht last weekend – in four months following a serious ankle injury sustained against Clermont Auvergne in the Heineken Cup.

The first Rees, who began his senior career with Ospreys before arriving at the Blues via English Premiership club London Irish, where his top-flight career had taken off, knew of Phillips and Dwayne Peel having been called up by Gatland was when the pair turned up at Wales’ Vale of Glamorgan headquarters.

“I didn’t know either of them were coming. When they both walked into the hotel, I thought, ‘here we go!’ If I was selected, I was selected – if not, it wasn’t to be,” he said pragmatically.

“I tried not to think about it. I had an hour or two on tenterhooks until the side was announced.”

Now, having got the nod with doubts surrounding the match fitness and sharpness of Lions Phillips and Peel following their injury-interrupted campaigns, Rees is focusing on facing up to France’s scrum-half hotshot Morgan Parra.

“It’s nice to have them back, but I just try to concentrate on my own game. We will see how Friday goes and then take it from there,” he said.

“The coaches were pretty pleased with what I offered and now I’ve got a start, which is obviously what you want.”

Rees could have his hands full, not only trying to halt France’s Six Nations title and Grand Slam march, but also keeping their new general Parra quiet.

Parra, five years Rees’ junior, delivered majestic displays during victories over Scotland and Ireland, kicking 23 points and frequently tormenting the opposition through his full array of skills.

Rees would like to follow suit, knowing getting the better of Parra would aid him in that quest, and in keeping the challenge of Phillips and Peel at bay.

“Parra’s had a very good start to the Six Nations, to be fair to him,” Rees acknowledged.

“I’ve looked at his last couple of games and I think he controls a lot of what the French do – he is key for them.

“Maybe I have got to try and get in his face a little bit and see where that gets us. It’s my job to do a number on him.”

Whatever happens under the Millennium Stadium floodlights, though, it will be a far cry for Rees from last season’s inaugural Six Nations Friday night Test between France and Wales in Paris.

While Wales fought – and ultimately failed – to preserve their unbeaten Six Nations record under Gatland, Rees was sampling the delights of Edinburgh on tour with Crawshay’s Welsh invitational team.

Wales captain Ryan Jones is backing his former regional colleague to come up trumps against the physical French, saying: “I’m incredibly impressed with Richie.

“It’s an opportunity he has to take with two hands and we are going to support and help him do that the best we can.”

Jones was adamant, if Rees plays well, he could stave off the challenge of Phillips.

“That’s the one thing with Warren, he doesn’t make changes for the sake of it.” Gatland was insistent: “Richie has played himself into the starting line-up.

“He has made a definite impact coming off the bench in the last two games, he has impressed us with the way he has trained and this is a great chance for him.”

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Six Nations 2010: Keith Wood column

Ireland was for a long time a rural country and, as a man who is proud that he still works on the farm, Hayes has his roots in the land. By extension, you could say the fans have their roots in John Hayes. He is held in great affection.

The reason 'The Bull' comes in for more scrutiny than everyone else is because he has been there for so long. I was captain when he made his debut in 2000 and now he is on the verge of his 100th cap for Ireland.

In some ways the fact he is so tall helps him a lot and in some ways it hinders him - if he gets a good hit in the scrum and he gets himself into a good position, you cannot move him. But the small, little, stocky guys have always put him under pressure. He has gone back a few times in his career, but so has every prop.

He defends very well, he's an absolute demolisher of rucks and he is the best line-out lifter in world rugby. In the time he has been there, Ireland's line-out has gone from strength to strength. He can get a player like Paul O'Connell up to huge heights and that gives a massive level of security to the hooker and the rest of the team.

Hayes will never be considered a great technician, but he will be considered a great team-mate and a really, really good rugby player. And ultimately he is a great figure with the fans because he is truly Irish.

I do not think Hayes and the rest of the Ireland pack will have a whole lot of trouble against England at Twickenham on Saturday. Ireland did very well in the scrum against Italy, poorly against France, but then France were truly extraordinary.

Ireland were totally outplayed in Paris and I think they will be a tiny bit jaded, but that does not mean the buzz has gone. The big issue is confidence - has it taken a knock?

Even though they were being outplayed, there was a five-minute spell in the first half where, if things had gone Ireland's way, they could have still been in the game.

Instead, Cian Healy gave away a penalty at the other end and got a yellow card, Jerry Flannery performed his magician's trick and tried to cut someone in half and Ireland fell into a huge hole.

Wales coach Warren Gatland said he didn't think France were that good and inisted Ireland were very bad, but that is not entirely true.

Ireland did not play at their best, but France, when they are playing with that kind of confidence, are peerless. England simply aren't as good as France so a lot of the problems that existed in Paris will not exist at Twickenham.

Ireland will have learned an awful lot about contact in Paris, because France were fantastic at the contact area. Ireland need to win the collisions in the forwards against England and need to be running on to the ball.

O'Gara plays the percentages very well, and although I would not say he is predictable, teams are forcing him to play in a certain style. He takes the kicking option a lot of the time, while opponents rush up outside him so he has to go himself, and he has not really got the turn of pace to make a half-gap into a whole gap.

Ireland's discipline, with the exception of Healy and Flannery against France, has been fantastic so England cannot rely on kicking goals, they need to score tries.

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Six Nations 2010: Murphy experience the key

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has pointed to Geordan Murphy's knowledge of English rugby as the key to the veteran Leicester full-back's recall for Saturday's trip to Twickenham.

Murphy will make his first international appearance since the final match of last year's championship, when Ireland completed the Grand Slam against Wales.

Restricted to just three Guinness Premiership outings for the Tigers since dislocating his shoulder last September, Murphy was nevertheless outstanding in the weekend's 33-11 rout of Gloucester.

The 31-year-old replaces the injured Rob Kearney at full-back against England.

"Geordan's experience will compensate for his lack of rugby. Twickenham is not a ground he's unfamiliar with," said Kidney.

"He'll be playing against guys who he knows. That was part of the mix in giving him the nod for this one."

Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton is preferred ahead of Munster veteran Ronan O'Gara, who drops to the bench following the 33-10 defeat by France, with Tomas O'Leary continuing at scrum-half.

But Kidney played down the significance of Sexton's selection, adding: "We're blessed with two out-halves, one with huge experience, the other up and coming.

"I thought it was opportune to give Jon a go this time."

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Wales boss Gatland warns Martyn Williams and Ryan Jones

Coach Warren Gatland says that veteran Wales flanker Martyn Williams and skipper Ryan Jones must improve their displays against Ireland on Saturday.

Wales rescued an incredible last-gasp 31-24 win against Scotland in their last championship game in Cardiff.

But Williams, Jones and Andy Powell - now dropped for disciplinary reasons - were outshone by Scotland's back-row and must up their game against Ireland.

"Martyn's missed a few tackles and he's been the first to put his hand up and needs to rectify his performance and get it right and he normally responds exceptionally well to that.

"I think what's pleased me about Martyn in the last week or so is he's recognised that as a loose-forward trio we probably didn't do so well against Ireland.

"So it's a sign of his experienced leadership in the squad, and for Ryan I think he's developed well into a captain.

"He's showing really good signs in terms of the way he's leading this team. He doesn't speak for the sake of speaking and he's starting to let his rugby do the talking.

"But he knows himself after his performance against Scotland he needs to go up a notch against Ireland."

Jonathan Thomas switches from lock to back-row to fill the gap vacated by Powell's banishment from the squad after being charged with drink-driving following an incident with a golf buggy on the morning after the win against Scotland.

Thomas' move and Alun Wyn Jones' absence following elbow surgery gives Deiniol Jones and Bradley Williams the chance to impress in the second-row.

Jones' inclusion was the major talking point when Gatland announced the team on Monday, with Luke Charteris only getting a place on the bench despite his man-of-the-match show for the Dragons at Ulster.

Gatland also admits that picking Mike Phillips on the bench - despite the British and Irish Lions star playing just 40 minutes of rugby in four months - is a gamble.

Phillips has been selected ahead of Dwayne Peel - who has missed only a month of action recently with a groin strain - as the back-up to Richie Rees of the Blues.

Gatland cited the precedents of Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery recently returning to Test action after injury and Scotland having Mike Blair on the bench against Wales following a lengthy lay-off.

That group of scrum-halves includes Gareth Cooper, who started Wales' opening loss of the championship away to England and the win over Scotland but now finds himself out of the match-day squad.

Gatland admits he was wrong to pick Cooper to start against Scotland, with Rees having made a strong case for the starting nine shirt with his performances off the bench.

"I know we'd made a call on Gareth Cooper in the first two games and we were criticised for that and probably fair enough criticism in the second game, because we did make that replacement at half-time," Gatland added.

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Six Nations 2010: Geordan Murphy in line for Ireland start against Wales

Geordan Murphy, the Leicester Tigers full-back, could be in line for a sensational return to the Ireland side for their Six Nations match against Wales at Croke Park on Saturday.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney will name his match day 22-man squad on Tuesday, but with Lions full-back Rob Kearney currently sidelined for up to five weeks with a knee injury, Murphy is back into contention for his first international action since appearing as a substitute as Ireland completed their Grand Slam triumph against Wales last March.

Murphy’s timely return, however, has been tempered by two more injuries within the Ireland camp, with Seán O’Brien and Donnacha Ryan the latest casualties.

O’Brien fractured his lower leg in the opening stages of Leinster’s 27-14 defeat of the Scarlets at the RDS on Saturday, and will be out for 10 weeks, while it was confirmed that Ryan dislocated his shoulder in Munster’s defeat of Edinburgh last Friday. Both were on the bench in Paris and against Italy.

Either Shane Jennings or Kevin McLaughlin, who started against Italy in the absence of Stephen Ferris, are in line for promotion to the Ireland bench. If Donncha O’Callaghan gets the all clear from a knee injury he would also probably make the replacements.

Ulster captain Rory Best, who has made a remarkable recovery from a neck injury sustained last summer that was originally thought to have ruled him out of this season, is set to replace the suspended Jerry Flannery at hooker, with Connacht’s Seán Cronin likely to be named on the bench.

Meanwhile, Wales head coach Warren Gatland looks set to name Sale scrum-half Dwayne Peel in his match day squad for the visit of France to the Millennium Stadium on Friday.

The Sale scrum-half, who has recovered from the groin injury that saw him miss Wales’ matches against England and Scotland, was called into Gatland’s 34-man squad having proved his fitness by playing 80 minutes of the Sharks 19-10 Guinness Premiership defeat by Leeds over the weekend.

Peel’s availability will come as a relief as Gareth Cooper has struggled in the starting role thus far in the championship and Gatland is glad to have 72-times capped Peel available for selection.

“It was important for us to see Dwayne come through 80 minutes of rugby,” Gatland said.

“But, once he proved his fitness, it’s obvious that a player of his experience and talents would provide a welcome boost to any squad.”

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Mike Phillips takes first steps to Wales return as Ospreys go top

Mike Phillips, Ospreys' Lions scrum-half, survived an entire half of rugby yesterday evening as he attempts a Wales return before the end of the Six Nations Championship. These were Phillips' first tentative steps back on to the field since recovering from surgery after he tore ankle ligaments in a Heineken Cup match against Clermont Auvergne last October. Despite being watched by Wales's coach Warren Gatland in Swansea it is very unlikely Phillips will be in the Wales 22 to face France at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night when it is announced tomorrow.

The Blues scrum-half Richie Rees is likely to be handed his first start against the French and ahead of Phillips in Gatland's immediate thoughts will be Dwayne Peel simply because the Sale No9, who has recovered from a groin injury, has had more rugby than the Ospreys man, including a full 80 minutes against Leeds on Friday night. Phillips' 40 minutes were nonetheless encouraging, if a little conservative, and he will no doubt come into Wales' plans for the final two games against Ireland and Italy in March.

"He's a wee bit off the pace physically but it's just great to have him back. It's good to see him get half a game and a good run out. He did some good things too," said Ospreys' director of coaching, Scott Johnson.

Ospreys, who went top of the Magners League table with this two tries to one victory, were boosted by the presence of the outside-half Dan Biggar and lock and captain Ian Gough, who were both released back to the region by the Wales management. Biggar was at the centre of the action early on. After missing a second-minute drop goal the 20-year-old made a 45-metre penalty before taking down Connacht's hooker Sean Cronin with a try-saving tug of the jersey.

The Ospreys scored a spectacular try in which the full-back Gareth Owen breezed in from halfway, going between two men and then rounding the full-back. After a Connacht try was ruled out by the TV match official the Irishmen breached the Ospreys' 22 only for Owen to pull off a fine tackle on scrum-half Connor O'Loughlin.

Connacht's endeavours were finally rewarded with a second penalty for Ian Keatley but Biggar cancelled that out as Ospreys led 11-6 at the interval. The biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for Phillips' arrival into the fray after half-time and it coincided with the Ospreys taking control of the match with a penalty and try for Biggar within the first nine minutes of the restart.

Biggar went by the left corner flag after receiving a cheeky reverse pass from the ever lively Owen. But if the Ospreys had ambitions of a bonus-point win they were put on hold after the lock Ian Evans received a yellow-card for a high tackle, and with the extra man Connacht grabbed a try through Sean Cronin and two penalties for Keatley as the home side's lead was cut to two points going into injury time.

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Six Nations 2010: Andy Powell determined to win back place in Wales squad

The 28-year-old Cardiff Blues back-row forward lost his Wales place after he was charged with driving a golf buggy "whilst unfit through drink" following Saturday's victory over Scotland.

Powell will appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court on March 2, four days after Wales take on France in the Championship.

However, despite being ruled out of that game and almost certainly Wales' other championship matches against Ireland and Italy, a statement released by Powell's agent, Mike Burton, highlighted the player's desire to regain his position.

"Andy will now work towards re-establishing himself in the Welsh squad at a time when the WRU team management think fit," he said.

Scotland threequarter Thom Evans is to undergo a second operation on his neck. The Glasgow wing, 24, suffered a serious injury after colliding with Wales full-back Lee Byrne at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

He had an operation that evening but surgeons have decided a second procedure will be required later this week before he is released from University Hospital, Cardiff.

An independent committee will convene in London on March 2 to hear the appeal lodged by Stade Français prop David Attoub against both the finding of foul play and the 70-week ban he received for eye gouging in the Heineken Cup game against Ulster in December.

Jerry Flannery will go before a disciplinary hearing in Dublin this morning to discover whether he will be able to play in all of Ireland's remaining Six Nations games.

The Ireland hooker has been charged with kicking France wing Alexis Palisson in Saturday's 33-10 defeat in Paris. If the citing is upheld, Flannery faces at least a four-week suspension, which would rule him out of Ireland's games against England and Wales. Ireland close their campaign against Scotland on March 20.

Springbok centre Jean de Villiers will leave Munster at the end of the season and return to South Africa to improve his chances of playing in next year's World Cup.

"This is perhaps my last opportunity to represent my country at the Rugby World Cup and after consultation with SARU it has become clear that to qualify for selection players must be playing their rugby in South Africa in the season leading up to the competition," he said.

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Six Nations 2010: Wales and Ireland 'have lost respect' for England HQ Twickenham

Lawrence Dallaglio has challenged Martin Johnson's England to restore Twickenham's reputation as one of the most feared stadia in world rugby during their RBS Six Nations campaign this season.
England have won only five out of 10 Test matches at Twickenham under Johnson, while Saturday's opponents, Wales, are seeking their second successive Six Nations victory in London and fourth in total.

Defending Grand Slam champions Ireland, the other visitors to Twickenham this season, enjoy an even more impressive record, having won twice in their past three visits to English headquarters and five out of their six most recent championship encounters.

A win ratio of just 50 per cent at Twickenham under Johnson contrasts sharply with the home record in the run-up to England's World Cup triumph in 2003, when they went unbeaten for four years and won 22 Test matches in a row.

Dallaglio, who was part of England's World Cup-winning pack under Johnson's captaincy, feels it is imperative Twickenham once again becomes a daunting fortress for visiting teams.

"England have to put building blocks in place and as a coach and as a player, the building blocks have to be that you win your home games," Dallaglio said.

"Twickenham needs to be a place that people respect. Respect is a term that is used a lot in rugby. Well, they should start respecting Twickenham. But the only way to get respect is by making sure that any team that comes there is sent home with the right message.

"The key for England in this Six Nations is winning the games at Twickenham and it is interesting that the two teams ,Wales V Ireland they play at home are probably teams that have lost their respect for Twickenham.

"You are not going to make it a fortress straight away but England need to start to make it a place that teams and supporters respect again. A victory over Wales would be a massive step in the right direction."

"We all have massive expectations and have a lot of players coming back. That is not to say we are going to be world beaters in the space of several weeks. But I think you will see improved performances from each player. Johnno now has a better understanding of each player and the coaches have a better understanding of what Johnno wants.

"Once you have that understanding, you have a really good base level. It is now about taking that onto the pitch and expressing ourselves. I believe we are at that place. I know we will be judged on how we play against Wales but the majority of our squad have been together for the last year or so I feel there are no more excuses."

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Andy Powell accepts Wales Six Nations squad expulsion

RUGBY star Andy Powell says he accepts the decision to drop him from the Wales squad following his golf buggy drink-drive charge.

Powell was sent home from the squad after a meeting with the team management yesterday.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) described his actions as “behaviour contrary to the squad’s code of conduct” when it announced he was to be thrown out of the 35-man squad.

In a statement after the decision, Powell’s agent Mike Burton said: “Andy Powell has accepted the disciplinary decision handed down by the WRU today.

“Andy remains a committed professional and will now work towards re-establishing himself in the Welsh squad at a time when the WRU team management think fit.”

He is due to appear before Cardiff Magistrates on March 2 to face a charge of driving a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit through drink.

Powell was arrested with a friend at a service station off Junction 33 of the M4 on Sunday morning, close to the spa hotel in the Vale of Glamorgan where the Wales team were staying.

Robert Norster, chief executive of Powell’s club Cardiff Blues, said: “Following on from the surreal finish to the weekend’s encounter with Scotland, the news of what appears to be a bizarre but serious lack of judgement by one of our players whilst on national duty is of real concern.

“Consequently, we fully accept and respect the WRU’s understandable and prompt action to address the issue. Naturally, as this is an ongoing police matter, we will also not be commenting further at this time.”

In a statement, Wales team manager Alan Phillips said: “Andy knows he has misbehaved and is apologetic, but he also knows that he must take responsibility for his own actions and accept the repercussions.

“This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated in a professional, elite sporting environment and we have acted quickly and incisively in order to leave no ambiguity over the dim view we take of this situation.”

The WRU’s decision was also backed by road safety campaigners who said it sends out a clear message.

Ellen Booth, campaigns officer for road safety charity Brake, said: “Brake applauds the Wales management team for removing Powell from the team and sending a clear message to supporters of Welsh rugby, many of whom will have seen Powell as a role model.”

Mike Burton had earlier said the player was “very sorry and embarrassed about what happened”.

He confirmed that Powell failed the breath test, adding: “He does not excuse or condone drink-driving in any form and it was a misjudgement. He is sorry and he will face up to it.”

The second man who was arrested has been released by police and will not face any further charges.

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Scotland wing Thom Evans opts to have second operation on injured neck

The Scotland wing Thom Evans will this week have a second operation on his neck before returning home from Cardiff. The 24-year-old Evans, injured in a collision during Scotland's Six Nations defeat against Wales, has opted for the second procedure which the team's doctor, James Robson, said would speed up the recovery process. Evans will not play again this season.

"Thom has been heartened by the many messages of support he has received from around the world," said Robson. "He and his mother have spoken to the surgeons and Thom has opted to undergo a ­further procedure later this week, which will enhance the surgery that has already taken place and provide further stabilisation to his neck.

"This procedure is optional and Thom could have decided to have it done at a later point, or not at all. He's decided to go ahead now and that should help with the whole recovery process. The same surgeons who performed the initial operation will undertake this procedure. Once he has settled from this procedure the expectation is that he will be allowed to return home."

Robson will travel to Cardiff tomorrow to see Evans and the Scotland full-back Chris Paterson, who is due to be released from hospital after suffering bruising to his kidney.

Evans's coach at Glasgow, Sean Lineen, said Robson's quick diagnosis when he treated the wing was crucial. "The surgeons in Cardiff did a great job but I would like to pay special tribute to Lisa Casey [the Scotland physiotherapist] and James Robson who attended to him on the pitch. They say the minutes immediately after such an accident are crucial and the work they did cannot be under-estimated and probably gave the surgeons a good chance to perform a successful operation on Thom, who is in good spirits. It could have been a lot more serious than it actually was."

The Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery will appear before a disciplinary panel in Dublin tomorrow after being cited for allegedly kicking the France wing Alexis Palisson during the Six Nations defeat in Paris. He faces a ban of between four and 12 weeks if found guilty.

The Stade Français prop David Attoub will have his appeal against a 70‑week suspension imposed last month for eye-gouging the Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris heard in London on 2 March.

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England slip to eighth in world rankings

When the International Rugby Board started its world rankings England were the best team in the world. Six years on, they stand in eighth position, their lowest ever, proof of their inexorable decline since their now team manager, Martin Johnson, lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy in 2003.

Successive away defeats to Wales and Ireland have dragged England down from sixth at the start of the Six Nations to eighth in the latest rankings table, which was released today. Johnson has come under fire, with England winning only two of his seven matches in charge, against the Pacific Islanders and Italy, but the decay set in long before his arrival.

It could get worse. England will drop to ninth if they fail to win their last two Six Nations matches, against France and Scotland at Twickenham, but they are also only a couple of big victories away from fourth-placed Argentina. While the top three teams – New Zealand, South Africa and Australia – are comfortably ahead of the chasing pack, little separates the Pumas from the English.

 Wales have slipped from fourth to fifth after losing to France last Friday night while Les Bleus have leapfrogged England. Ireland remain in fifth, but a first grand slam since 1948 would take them above Wales.

 England have won only 50% of their Six Nations matches since winning the World Cup six years ago. Only three of their last 12 away matches in the championship have ended in victory, two of them in Rome, while their record against the major southern hemisphere nations since 2003 is dire.

 England have won none of their seven Tests against the All Blacks in the past six years, two out of eight against South Africa and two in seven against Australia, a total of four wins in 22 Tests with only one coming since the beginning of 2007.

 In contrast, England won 12 consecutive matches against the three southern hemisphere heavyweights between 2000 and 2003, culminating in the victory over Australia in the World Cup final in Sydney, a success that followed a Six Nations grand slam. In a period of nine months that year, they defeated every one of the other nations in the top 10 of the world rankings, but their fall since then leaves them unsure of when their next victory will be.

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Struggling Italy need help to add back-line grace to front-five grunt

Before Italy joined the Six Nations they had a formidable team that would have held their end up in the championship throughout the 1990s. Italian rugby was rudely professional before it dawned on, say, the Celtic nations that the game was about to go open.

David Campese would spend the Australian off-season in Milan and earn himself a decent crust in a competitive Italian championship. Italy in the 90s, just as Romania had been in the 1980s, were ready for inclusion long before the Five Nations was ready for expansion.

Romania never received an invitation, and the sport that prospered under the regime of Nicolae Ceausescu fell apart after the revolution of 1989. Italy were favoured with inclusion, but it was their bad luck that when the moment came their golden generation was over the hill. They beat Scotland on the day that they entered the Six Nations in 2000, but it has largely been a struggle ever since.

Countries outside the top annual tournaments of Europe tend to choose a rugby education of brute strength up front and illiteracy behind. Georgia are superb purveyors of props, Romania of soaring second rows, but there has not been a centre three-quarter between them.

Italy, too, are muscular up front and pretty ordinary behind. They are better than muscular in truth, for Mauro Bergamasco will run and tackle all day and all night, his massive heart pounding away. They will devotedly push and heave at the scrum, and pick and drive at the breakdown. But when the ball goes down the line, their bravery gives way to indecision and imprecision. International rugby is no place to pass in hope.

There are solid players in the back line, from Andrea Masi on the wing to Gonzalo Canale in the centre, and a little bit of a dash in the brother of Mauro, Mirco Bergamasco, on the wing.

But skills and angles and variations in pace need to be tested in fierce internal competitions, and the Italian club championship is less professional than it used to be in the amateur days, if you see what I mean. The Heineken Cup tends to leave the Italian clubs flattened, although Treviso did cause one of the upsets of the season with their defeat of the French champions Perpignan.

It was a performance based on bravery and breakaway, however. Of accepting a gift or two and hanging on. Just like Italy did in another defeat of Scotland, this time at Murrayfield, or their win over Wales in Rome.

Can Italy develop a back-line strategy? Nobody is bending over to help them, with the entry of two regional teams into the Magners League blocked by Celtic demands for a cash down payment. Italy need to be encouraged, not fined.

So, until they are allowed to rehearse routines in testing conditions it seems Italy's role will be to knock everybody about and lose. They have a place in the Six Nations but only as suppliers of a fantastic weekend in Rome and lots of bruises.

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Can anyone stop France's charge towards a Grand Slam?

Be afraid, be very afraid. French rugby is stirring and a giant awakes.

It was all very well for France's reinvigorated rugby team to hammer and humiliate the reigning Grand Slam champions Ireland, in Paris on Saturday. But to receive laudatory comments from that notoriously dissatisfied body of opinion known as the French media was another thing altogether.

Thus, we can imagine that French coach Marc Lièvremont (below) probably needed to sit down in a darkened room once he had digested the words of France's great newspapers following his team's 33-10 victory at Stade de France.

"Combat Kings" L'Equipe hailed them. The magisterial Le Monde opined that: "France replied in masterly fashion to the question of what level they are at."

And the rugby bible, Midi Olympique, added: "It was their aggression and breakdown work which were the most impressive aspects of the French performance."

As the Irish captain, Brian O'Driscoll, rightly pointed out: "It was an impressive display, not just from their forwards but an all-round performance."

Since 2004, when they last won a Grand Slam, France's national team has atrophied, stymied by the kind of straitjacket tactics that are currently bedevilling the England team. This has suited the national psyche and characteristics of the French about as well as a glove on a three-fingered man. They have looked ill at ease, out of sync.

But at Stade de France, we saw a different France. For a start, there was a cohesion and balance which had not been apparent before. Forward power is a mighty weapon if it is accompanied by pace, a requisite of the modern game, and a willingness by the pack to set up the backs. Crucially, France appear to have discovered for the first time in years a half-back combination of considerable potential.

Morgan Parra and François Trinh-Duc have brought a quality that has had an ageless appeal to French teams, namely, invention. They can vary their games, which is another crucial facet in modern rugby. This is another of the root causes of England's failings. More propitiously, Parra's goal-kicking was so effective against Ireland, even from long range.

Outside them, Mathieu Bastareaud, a centre who weighs an extraordinary 114kg, could be one of the biggest stars of the next World Cup.

But to counterbalance that, France have beaten the All Blacks and world champions South Africa in the course of the last eight months. Clearly, something is stirring in French rugby and the timing could hardly be better with a World Cup looming next year.

Nor has this transformation been achieved in a nonsensical, cavalier fashion. As the Australian Ewen McKenzie, a former coach of Paris-based club Stade Français and now in charge of the Queensland Reds, says: "Lièvremont has brought a lot of younger players to the fore but he had the skeleton there all the time. He has still got some hard heads – Nallet, Harinordoquy, Pape, Servat, Mas, Jauzion and Poitrenaud – through the key positions of the team.

Wales V France Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Stuart Barnes’s Big Game: Wales v Scotland

Wales’s slide from the top tier of international teams gathered momentum with a lacklustre performance at Twickenham. England were not that good but for all bar 20 minutes. Wales were that bad. Muscle and mean defensive mentality has become the leading edge of their game but Wales’s players remain at their best playing attacking rugby.

Martyn Williams is a glorious link and Jamie Roberts and James Hook are capable of causing endless problems to the best teams while Stephen Jones is never afraid to stand flat and in the firing line. The scrum is good and should be much better still this weekend. They are overwhelming favourites to beat Scotland this weekend but the Welsh players will need to cut out the stupid mistakes that undermined them in London. In the 10 minutes Alun Wyn Jones was sitting out his sin-bin sentence, Wales leaked 17 unanswered points. The Welsh management didn’t hold back in their criticism but teams frequently play with one man down and rarely concede so much. Shouldn’t the defensive system of Shaun Edwards be subjected to more scrutiny than it has so far?

Scotland are not the ideal test of Edwards’ defence. Phil Godman has been dropped and Dan Parks recalled in the merry-go-round of two substitute internationals taking their turn to play and be dropped. Chris Paterson is not the ideal answer but Scotland have a few decent full back options and he kicks goals, while bringing experience in the position.

They have a superior balance to their attack with Rory Lamont adding more bite alongside his brother Sean, who caused genuine problems for France from the wing. Andy Robinson has moved him into the centre to get him more involved. It’s logical but it doesn’t always work.

What must work if Scotland are to win is their back row for whom Johnnie Beattie was excellent in Edinburgh. With Robinson running the side this comes as no great shock. The man knows his back row. Robinson will be delighted to have Euan Murray back from his self-imposed Sunday exile. Scotland would like nothing more than Murray’s inspiration as a changing-room presence, but in the likely absence of divinity, they will have to make do with...

Wales V Scotland Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Six Nations: Wales hit the roof as Scotland want Millennium Stadium uncovered for showdown

SCOTLAND have been accused of running scared as their Six Nations plans were dealt a severe injury blow.

Wales coach Warren Gatland hit the roof after Andy Robinson demanded the dome remain open at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Gatland claims Scotland plan to take advantage of predicted rain and snow to turn the game into a slugfest he fears is contrary to the spirit of entertainment.

But Robinson dismissed his claims amid more pressing concerns over injured second row Nathan Hines who has been ruled out of the Cardiff trip.

The Australian-born lock will be replaced by Edinburgh star Jim Hamilton who swaps an afternoon walking his dog for the chance to bare his teeth against the Welsh scrum.

Robinson told Welsh rugby chiefs he wanted the roof kept open as it's only ever closed when agreement is reached between both teams.

Gatland said: "The weather we're expecting for this weekend is not great and it is supposed to be cold with possible snow.

"But Scotland asked on Tuesday for the roof to be open and it's disappointing.

"I understand we want to play the game under natural conditions and i fit's sunny at this time of year then great.

"But if it is raining I don't understand why you wouldn't want to make use of the roof.

"We all have a responsibility to the game, to the media, to the public and the sponsors. So if we have roof let's close it, have some sanity and see some positive rugby.

"Why play in the rain and bad weather if you don't have to? "Euan Murray is back to make their scrum stronger and I'm sure Scotland will hope it's a day in Cardiff which is p****ng down with rain."

But Robinson claims he would have handed the Welsh a pre-match boost if he had agreed to play with the elements held in check.

He said: "Six Nations rules state that if we want the roof open, it's opened. It's an advantage to Wales to play with the roof closed.

"He says what he needs to say but every other game in the championship is played without a roof.

"Let's get on with it." Scotland jet out to Cardiff today as they seek only their second win on the road in eight years.

They last won on their travels in Italy in 2006 and before then it was against the Welsh in 2002.

The loss of Hines is a blow. He suffered a calf strain and aggravated a previous ankle injury during the 18-9 defeat to France at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Hamilton has just returned to action after a knee injury ruled him out of the first half of the season.

He said: "I was all set to walk my boxer dog Bruce on Saturday as I didn't expect to be part of the group."

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

English WAGs helped inspire Scotland to 1990 Grand Slam victory over England

I am sure my fellow resident on these pages, Brian Moore - with whom I have more than once enjoyed banter on the airwaves - will welcome a calibrated alternative view of the events of March 17, 1990, when Scotland beat England to win the Grand Slam at Murrayfield.

Glory day: Chris Gray, David Sole and Finlay Calder celebrate during the 13-7 Grand Slam victory over England at Murrayfield Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Brian believes – understandably given the way the sky fell on England that afternoon – that almost supernatural forces propelled Tony Stanger across the line for the Scots' winning try.

In his book, Beware of the Dog, which has rattled a few cages north of the border, Brian states that antipathy towards Margaret Thatcher, loathing of the poll tax and downright xenophobic anti-Englishness were behind Scotland's greatest ever victory on the rugby field.

Well, it is certainly true that the Iron Lady was not held in the highest regard in Scotland but the day she was demonised at a sporting event was when she turned up at Hampden Park for the Celtic v Dundee United Scottish Cup final in 1985.

She was greeted with a mass display of red cards in protest against health service cuts and then had to sit through a barrage of songs and chants of such profanity – including one about her husband, Denis – that they cannot be hinted at here.

By contrast, Murrayfield, with its large numbers of supporters drawn from the Scottish public and private school system, was much more like Thatcher's natural constituency.

As for the poll tax, while substantial numbers protested by refusing to pay in Scotland, there was no civil disorder.

In fact, the worst violence, which left5,000 injured and led to 339 arrests – happened in Trafalgar Square exactly two weeks after David Sole's side won the Grand Slam.

On the other hand, a certain frisson may have been created by the evident assumption on the part of several English players that they had only to turn up to collect the prize – hence their insistence on being photographed underneath the posts with the rugby WAGs an hour before kick-off, an event noted by the home support and players.

And, as my wife and I left Murrayfield that day, we came across a white woollen sweater trampled into the mud.

It bore the red rose crest, around which were the words "England 1990 Grand Slam Winners".

I have always regretted that we didn't take it home and stick it in the wash.

Still – and my dear friend Brian will be the first to say as much – it is never too late to cleanse the doors of perception.

Scotland V England Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Six Nations 2010: France's Mathieu Bastareaud goes up against Brian O'Driscoll

At Murrayfield he confronted his demons and scored two tries, and now in Paris Mathieu Bastareaud will face the world's best centre – Brian O'Driscoll.

It will be a pivotal clash in probably the key game of the 2010 Six Nations. Bastareaud is beginning to make the headlines for the right reasons again, for which he and France are grateful.

That brace of tries against Scotland has got the French rugby public back onside – there were many who felt his recall was premature after the disgrace he brought on Les Bleus by his false accusations of an assault by a street gang in New Zealand. A command performance against the Irish would surely see all sins forgiven.

It should be a personal clash to savour at the Stade de France, the ground where 10 years ago a young O'Driscoll – 21, as Bastareaud is now – announced himself to the rugby world at large with a match-winning hat-trick of tries against for Ireland against the French.

O'Driscoll has reigned supreme for a decade since then, but you fancy Bastareaud is a worthy opponent and an individual capable of being the benchmark midfield player in the Six Nations well into this next decade. A changing of the guard possibly? O'Driscoll will resist, like all great

"Mark is a very young man and his actions in New Zealand were those of an immature young man not used to the responsibilities of representing his country abroad," France coach Marc Lièvremont said. "It was a difficult personal time for him and he paid a high price but now he has been reintegrated into the squad. He has been rehabilitated and we start again.

"Mathieu is a wiser man. He has apologised to everybody who needed apologising to many times over. He cannot apologise any more, the incident is over. He can only play good rugby and conduct himself in the appropriate fashion. His abilities have always been evident and now he is a hungry man with points to prove, which is always good in a player."

A cousin of the France and Arsenal centre-back, William Gallas, Bastareaud burst on to the scene at the 2007 Under-19 World Cup in Belfast and was always going to be fast-tracked into the senior team. A product of Créteil rugby club and humble SU Massy of the French third division, Bastareaud was eventually signed by Stade Français.

Built like a dump truck and weighing 17st 7lb with power to add, Bastareaud can claim to be the heaviest centre playing Test rugby. He has, however, surprising pace, which sometimes catches out opponents steeling themselves to tackle a straightforward battering ram, and he also possesses a better than average pair of hands, which gives him other options.

"We are going to polish up our report to Paddy O'Brien [head of the International Rugby Board's referee commission]. Refereeing is a factor of the game we can't control but we'll still try to solve the problem."

Wales V France Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Six Nations 2010: Ireland recall victory over Scotland that set the ball rolling

Heaven knows what the so-called Celtic Tiger era was all about, but nothing seemed to epitomise those frantic, party-hearty, naughty, boom years more than Ireland's amazing 27-25 win at the Stade de France 10 years ago.
On a bright Sunday afternoon in March Ireland, without a victory in Paris in 28 years, conjured rugby from the gods. Brian O'Driscoll scored three tries in 80 minutes, which equalled Ireland's total in Paris for the previous 20 years, and David Humphreys, who had missed a kick to win the corresponding game at Lansdowne Road the previous year, nervelessly smacked over the winning penalty three minutes from time.

For Ireland – the sporting nation and the country itself – it was a high point after years in the doldrums and as the new millennium dawned, all dreams now seemed permissible. Much of that has dissolved before our eyes and the economy is in tatters again, but for Irish rugby it really was the beginning of something good, one of the few enduring legacies of the Celtic Tiger.

Admittedly it has not always been the smoothest of paths. Rather typically, at the time, Ireland slipped to a disappointing home defeat against Wales just two weeks after that glorious day in Paris, showing an inconsistency they have had to battle against, and further down the line the 2007 World Cup debacle remains as inexplicable as ever. But that win in Paris undoubtedly provided the emotional juice and inspiration for just about everything good that followed.

"I was just a young kid that day wearing a jersey about four sizes too big for me. I looked faintly ridiculous," recalls O'Driscoll. "I was pretty naive in many ways but that was a really good thing because I had no preset idea as to how big the occasion would be and how big the win was. That came home when you saw all the emotion on the faces of our older players.

"It was another important rugby match at a big venue but there was no baggage or fear as far as I was concerned. It changed my life though. The day we got back I went to a schools cup final in Dublin and got absolutely mobbed for an hour or so by kids wanting autographs, which was entirely new to me. Something very big had clearly happened. It was a huge boost for Irish rugby."

O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara and John Hayes remain in the Ireland team from that day, 90+ cap veterans who have fulfilled most of their rugby dreams, although they have yet to win in Paris again, something which is high on their personal agendas on Saturday.

Others, such as Peter Clohessy and Mick Galwey, were experiencing something very special after long years at the coalface while Keith Wood, who had just started his second term as Ireland captain that season, was inspired enough to defy serious groin and shoulder injuries for another three years until the 2003 World Cup.

Ireland V Scotland Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Rugby: EK rugby star Ally targets Six Nations crown

RUGBY star Ally Strokosch believes it’s time Scotland realised their potential and lifted the Six Nations crown.

The 26-year-old from Stewartfield (pictured right) will have to watch from the sidelines at Murrayfield on Sunday as Scotland open their championship account against France.

The Gloucester flanker suffered a heartbreak injury and is out of the match – but says now is the time for the Dark Blues to stand up and be counted after years of talented teams failing to live up to their billing.

Ally told the News: “I definitely believe we can win the championship this year and that is our plan. We’ve set ourselves a target and that target is to win it. I think we are better prepared than last year and we are not a young team anymore.

“We’ve got a good side and it’s time all the potential we’ve talked about for the last few years was realised.

“France will be a tough start for us, but a lot of our guys have faced the French players regularly in European rugby and beaten them, so we know them well and what to expect.

“We had a good build up with the performances in the Autumn Tests (where Scotland beat Australia) and, although we lost the third game, that should stand us in good stead. We need to build our defensive display, though, and be quicker in the attack when we play France.

“But confidence is high and so is the spirit in the squad.”

After recording their first win over Australia in 27 years back in November, the Scotland camp will, no doubt, still be buzzing from the famous 9-8 victory.

However, if Andy Robinson’s Scotland side are to record victory over France this weekend they will have to overcome their terrible opening day hoodoo. For the Scots have lost nine of their last 10 opening matches in the Six Nations and this is something Ally says they are determined to change as the team aim to beat France, England, Wales, Ireland and Italy to the coveted title.

The former East Kilbride Rugby Club player added: “It’s a record we want to change. We are by no means the finished article yet, but I’m confident we can have a big impact this year – and we need to start with a good performance against France.

“They will be one of the biggest threats this year along with Ireland and Wales. Ireland are full of quality players at the moment and they won the Grand Slam last year, so they will go in as favourites. And Wales won the Grand Slam two years ago, so they are in there, too.

“It will be great to see how it unfolds this year, but we need to focus on beating France first.”

After this weekend’s match, Scotland travel to the Millennium Stadium on February 13 to face Wales, to the Stadio Flaminio on February 27 to face Italy before the Calcutta Cup match with England at Murrayfield on March 13 and a potentially huge match with Ireland on the final day, March 20, at Croke Park.

The Scots are looking forward to a home tie with England as they aim to avenge their 26-12 defeat at Twickenham last year.

“It’s always good to play England,” said Ally with great zeal. “It’s great to have them at Murrayfield this year and have the crowd behind us.

“To be honest, I’m not really that bothered where we play them anyway – I just care about winning the match.”


Ireland V Scotland Hospitality


Six Nations Hospitality

Six Nations: Why Ireland can achieve the almost impossible dream

If nothing else the 2010 Six Nations Championship will break new ground on the musical front. In their wisdom, the organisers have commissioned an official anthem, cunningly entitled Six Together, to give the tournament – ahem – a "new sonic identity". The idea is to combine a Welsh harp, Irish pipes, Scottish bagpipes, a French accordion, an Italian mandolin and an English cathedral choir on the same record, a concept which could easily broaden the definition of Eurotrash. Come back Max Boyce, Harry Lauder and Pavarotti, all is forgiven.

It is too late now but Bryan Ferry's version of Let's Stick Together, or Tom Jones's Delilah, would have been more appropriate. What is the Six Nations if not a collective, cross-border celebration of history, fraternity and late-night karaoke? If it has a traditional backing track it is the sound of raucous cheering drifting from the pubs of Rose Street and Baggot Street and gales of laughter on matchday trains. I remember staying in a guest house close to Lansdowne Road and discussing the afternoon's game with the landlady. Her son would be there, she said, although he did not have a ticket. "Just you wait and see," she said, winking. Sure enough, an hour prior to kick-off, an ambulance drew up outside the front door. Into the back jumped yer man, who promptly lay down on a stretcher and covered himself up with a blanket. Within seconds the ambulance had disappeared around the corner to be ushered straight into the ground. The Irish are truly a resourceful people, economic downturn or not.

Which is another good reason why Brian O'Driscoll's side may just be worth backing to collect a second title to add to the long-awaited triumph of 2009, their first grand slam since 1948. Hang around long enough for an ambulance and the chances of two arriving improve. To win consecutive Six Nations slams, however, is about more than mere good fortune or the law of averages. England have achieved the feat twice since the Great War, Wales have not managed it for a century and Scotland, Ireland and Italy are still waiting. Only France in 1997 and 1998 have cracked the code in the professional era and both of those successes were in the old Five Nations.

What people always forget is the tournament's X-factor: the ceaseless undertow of ancient rivalry. No one likes an uppity neighbour, as Wales discovered last season.

"There's more pressure on defending champions and we found that last year," said Warren Gatland, the Wales coach who used to be in charge of Ireland. "Everyone targets you as the game to win. I wouldn't normally have expected France to be doing a lap of honour in Paris, having beaten Wales. Ireland will go in as favourites but they've got two tough games in England and France and our meetings with them are really close. On the plus side, they've got two teams playing well in Europe at the moment, a lot of experience and a lot of confidence."

Ireland also have a coach, Declan Kidney, who knows more about the psychology behind sustained success than most. Under Kidney, Munster developed from perennial nearly-men into ruthless champions. If some of the players involved are long in the tooth – John Hayes is about to become the first man to play 50 Six Nations games – the mentality has been absorbed by the next generation. Talk to the likes of Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip and they will tell you, not cockily but matter‑of‑fact, that they expect to win every game. Winning is a habit and Ireland are disinclined to kick it, particularly with O'Driscoll at the helm. "We're owed nothing in this Six Nations" he said. "You don't retain anything, you give it back and then you try and win it again. We need to start from scratch. It will be the same attitude we've had for the past 10 years. You try and build into a competition, you don't win it in the first couple of weeks. That's how you lose it."


Ireland V Italy Hospitality


Six Nations Hospitality

Mathieu Bastareaud back for France determined to repair his damage

Euan Murray wraps his arms around his 18st body and shivers. The Northampton Saints and Scotland tighthead prop is a mountain of a man, but he looks vulnerable when facing the subject of his religious choices.

This Sunday, as Scotland take on France at Murrayfield in their first match of the Six Nations, the 29-year‑old will not be on the pitch. He has decided to forgo Sunday matches, and all non-religious activity that affects the Christian Sabbath – including interviews with Sunday newspapers.

Tired of explaining himself, he recently informed his club that he would no longer discuss the decision, and so as we approach the subject Murray sighs. He rearranges his feet on the coffee table in front of him, and sinks deeper into his coat, visibly retreating. "What do you want me to say about it? I don't think I need to say much about it. It's a decision, a difficult decision I had to make. And I'm happy with my decision."

There is a stony silence. The interest in his story has been intense and there is a weariness apparent over being cast in the role of religious curiosity of the week. But it is impossible for Murray not to discuss the subject in detail because his two great loves – rugby and Christianity – are so inextricably linked. Even as he speaks the language of the two collide. "Take my yoke upon thee …" he says, quoting the Bible, before pausing to note the irony. "You know like the yoke we use in training?"

To sacrifice one for the other has been tough and there is a revealing sadness in his voice as he describes what it has been like to miss games for Northampton. "I missed being part of it," he says quietly. "Someone actually told me the score the last time and I was really, really happy that we'd won."

Does he sometimes wonder if he's made the right decision? There is a very long pause. "I believe that biblically I've made the right decision." And emotionally? Murray blows out his cheeks. "Well, when you really become a Christian, life's a battle. You're going against the tide. The crowd are going one way and you're going another. It's always going to be a battle to be different. The easy thing is to go along with the crowd, everybody's doing it. You know? Try going the opposite direction to a crowd. It's hard. You won't get very far."

Murray was raised as a Christian, his mother taking the family to church in Glasgow. But he only turned to Christ in earnest after he was knocked unconscious in a game against Munster in September 2005. For those who witnessed the incident, the images are distressing. A collision with Anthony Horgan's knee sent Murray's head snapping back. As he lay on the pitch, his face contorted, his body writhing, he suffered a horrific seizure. Those around him thought he was dying. When he finally regained consciousness he entered a state of delirium, swaying on his feet and battling with the paramedics as he roared in confusion.

"Sometimes it takes a bang on the head to wake someone up," he says. "Some people don't get that chance. For some people it's bang, dead." He laughs.

He suggests that the path many professional sportsmen follow is "rotten". He tries to explain. "All the shiny bubbles," he says, holding out his big hands and shaking his head in sadness. "The money, the possessions, the fame, the great elusive relationship – all bubbles that appear perfectly spherical, all the colours of the rainbow. They're bright and shiny and light as a feather, and you chase them because it's good fun, but the minute you get them they burst and they're empty." He pauses. "I'd had enough of chasing bubbles."

In a portrait of Murray it would be misleading to only reference the religious sportsman. As a young boy growing up in the countryside south of Glasgow he worked on a farm, mucking out the outhouses, feeding the milk calves. "I loved working with animals, and the manual hard work," he says. "It made me strong."

He went on to qualify as a veterinarian – "because I love puppies and kittens," he jokes – only embarking on a professional rugby career at the advanced age of 23. Even so, during that first year of rugby he still practised as a vet one day a week, before deciding to give it up and focus on the game.

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Six Nations: 'Rugby is not what fuels my happiness,' says Euan Murray

Euan Murray wraps his arms around his 18st body and shivers. The Northampton Saints and Scotland tighthead prop is a mountain of a man, but he looks vulnerable when facing the subject of his religious choices.

This Sunday, as Scotland take on France at Murrayfield in their first match of the Six Nations, the 29-year‑old will not be on the pitch. He has decided to forgo Sunday matches, and all non-religious activity that affects the Christian Sabbath – including interviews with Sunday newspapers.

Tired of explaining himself, he recently informed his club that he would no longer discuss the decision, and so as we approach the subject Murray sighs. He rearranges his feet on the coffee table in front of him, and sinks deeper into his coat, visibly retreating. "What do you want me to say about it? I don't think I need to say much about it. It's a decision, a difficult decision I had to make. And I'm happy with my decision."

There is a stony silence. The interest in his story has been intense and there is a weariness apparent over being cast in the role of religious curiosity of the week. But it is impossible for Murray not to discuss the subject in detail because his two great loves – rugby and Christianity – are so inextricably linked. Even as he speaks the language of the two collide. "Take my yoke upon thee …" he says, quoting the Bible, before pausing to note the irony. "You know like the yoke we use in training?"

To sacrifice one for the other has been tough and there is a revealing sadness in his voice as he describes what it has been like to miss games for Northampton. "I missed being part of it," he says quietly. "Someone actually told me the score the last time and I was really, really happy that we'd won."

Does he sometimes wonder if he's made the right decision? There is a very long pause. "I believe that biblically I've made the right decision." And emotionally? Murray blows out his cheeks. "Well, when you really become a Christian, life's a battle. You're going against the tide. The crowd are going one way and you're going another. It's always going to be a battle to be different. The easy thing is to go along with the crowd, everybody's doing it. You know? Try going the opposite direction to a crowd. It's hard. You won't get very far."

Murray was raised as a Christian, his mother taking the family to church in Glasgow. But he only turned to Christ in earnest after he was knocked unconscious in a game against Munster in September 2005. For those who witnessed the incident, the images are distressing. A collision with Anthony Horgan's knee sent Murray's head snapping back. As he lay on the pitch, his face contorted, his body writhing, he suffered a horrific seizure. Those around him thought he was dying. When he finally regained consciousness he entered a state of delirium, swaying on his feet and battling with the paramedics as he roared in confusion.

"Sometimes it takes a bang on the head to wake someone up," he says. "Some people don't get that chance. For some people it's bang, dead." He laughs.

He suggests that the path many professional sportsmen follow is "rotten". He tries to explain. "All the shiny bubbles," he says, holding out his big hands and shaking his head in sadness. "The money, the possessions, the fame, the great elusive relationship – all bubbles that appear perfectly spherical, all the colours of the rainbow. They're bright and shiny and light as a feather, and you chase them because it's good fun, but the minute you get them they burst and they're empty." He pauses. "I'd had enough of chasing bubbles."

In a portrait of Murray it would be misleading to only reference the religious sportsman. As a young boy growing up in the countryside south of Glasgow he worked on a farm, mucking out the outhouses, feeding the milk calves. "I loved working with animals, and the manual hard work," he says. "It made me strong."

He went on to qualify as a veterinarian – "because I love puppies and kittens," he jokes – only embarking on a professional rugby career at the advanced age of 23. Even so, during that first year of rugby he still practised as a vet one day a week, before deciding to give it up and focus on the game.

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

RUGBY: Kidney gears up for Six Nations test

IRELAND coach, Declan Kidney, said having a competitive squad would be key to following on last year's success in the Six Nations Championships.

There was no talk, however, of Grand Slams, with Kidney preferring to focus only on the visit of Italy to Croke Park on Saturday and the opening game in a new campaign.

Kidney was basically saying the slate was clean again and the side had to build once more towards achieving what they did last year.

The Irish management made a few tough calls on Tuesday when announcing the team to start against Italy.

But Kidney said competitiveness in the squad would breed success.

"Having players all bidding for the same places is what you want.

"It is crucial and if you do not have it, then the team, the squad, do not grow."

He added: "Last year we tried to put ourselves in a position where there would have to be calls to be made when selecting the teams.

"You look at the players and see how they are going. You just have to be honest and make the calls on form, which players are going better.

"Some of the decisions are so marginal it is almost inexplicable, others are based around combinations and also the opposition we face."

Andrew Trimble was one of several close calls made by Kidney, but he said the Ulster winger had come through well after a difficult spell with injury.

"In Andrew's case, he had an injury situation where it was do you get it sorted, or do you play?

"Ulster, Andrew and ourselves decided the right option was not to take him on the summer tour to North America.

"He got what he needed done, had a big pre-season and when he started playing in September he showed great form. He has continued to do that on a consistent basis.

"Andrew was probably unlucky in November not to get a game, but Shane (Horgan) deserved his outing on that occasion.

"This time around he (Horgan) loses out and Andrew gets his chance."

Last year, Ulster skipper and hooker, Rory Best played a big part in the Grand Slam and he also captained the Ireland side which toured North America.

But he has not played since following a neck injury which required surgery. Remarkably, Best has returned to playing earlier than expected and with him fit and ready to go, Kidney had no problem naming him on the bench.

"It is a credit to Rory. It was a major injury, but the way he has got himself back and fit again. Indeed I think he is probably fitter than he has been for some time.

"I think the importance of the club system to us as well was reflected in that he was able to play for Banbridge just two weeks ago and then get an outing against Saxons last Sunday.

"The fact that he has presented himself as being fit and ready to go is a credit to himself as much as anyone else.

"He was a senior player for us last year and we are going to need all that experience coming into the game."

Wales V France Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

SIX NATIONS 2010: Jonny Wilkinson back in the firing line

For now, Jonny Wilkinson has put aside his contented new life on the Cote d'Azur. The joys of swimming in the sea and cycling in the mountains, freediving and al fresco dining - and, of course, the challenge of French club rugby - are temporarily on hold.

He has swapped it all for his designated place at the eye of a storm with England, in Surrey, at Twickenham and beyond in this RBS Six Nations.

The 30-year-old will attempt to galvanise England's misfiring attacking game armed with the shield of healthy perspective. After the missing years of savage injuries, from 2003 to 2009, when his future was repeatedly called into question, the former Newcastle fly-half is simply revelling in a long spell of unbroken rugby.

A few unflattering reviews cannot diminish his upbeat mood, not when he admits that, had circumstances been different, his playing days could have been over already.

When Wilkinson lined up for England against Australia on November 6, it was his first Test for 18 months and the first time manager Martin Johnson had been able to select his former team-mate.

That day, he performed admirably in a losing cause, but the next two matches - against Argentina and New Zealand - saw him struggle to impose himself and inspire a side weighed down by caution.

This was not the commanding Jonny of old and the upshot was an overwhelmingly negative reaction which stung him. More than two months on, he insists he took all the comments in his stride - emphasising that criticism had increasingly come with the territory in his England career.

'It didn't really have an impact on me,' he said. 'It doesn't affect my life whether someone decides that I am the best thing since sliced bread or that I am rubbish. All I can do is try my best for the team.

'My career has been dominated by talk of injuries, but in recent times with England I have experienced people questioning me regularly. The first time was during the 2007 Six Nations, then there were more questions in the 2008 Six Nations.

'I wouldn't want to be in an England team if I didn't deserve to be. But I will keep going while I can do a job and, at the moment, I feel relatively happy about the way I am playing.'



The most persistent barb directed at Wilkinson in November was that he played too deep behind the gain line. Since then, England's attack coach Brian Smith has made it plain that he wants the first receiver to play flat and the man in possession of the No 10 shirt is willing to oblige, if it helps the team function better.

England V Wales Hospitality

Scotland V England Hospitality

Ireland V Italy Hospitality

France V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality