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After circular 3 of the Six Nations, Ireland are the lone squad inactive susceptible of winning the Grand Slam.
Scotland suffered their archetypal decision of the tournament, coming adjacent but yet falling abbreviated successful France.
In Cardiff, England claimed their first triumph astatine the Principality since 2017 arsenic they crushed retired triumph against Wales.
Here are six talking points from the weekend.
'Dreamy' Ireland
Few would person expected to spot Italy starring Ireland this Six Nations but that was the concern aft 7 minutes successful Rome.
The Azzurri challenged the satellite fig 1 team, but Ireland showed what has present go their trademark composure and attacking guile to propulsion distant for a 34-20 triumph and support their Grand Slam ambitions connected track.
Despite a flimsy stumble, erstwhile England scrum-half Matt Dawson said the accidental to triumph each 5 matches successful the contention is "absolutely" Ireland's.
"Notoriously successful Grand Slam bids you person that crippled wherever determination is simply a small wobble," Dawson said connected Rugby Union Daily.
"Back successful my day, we played against Scotland successful the 3rd oregon 4th game. We played OK and got done the game.
"It was the crippled we knew we could and should triumph but benignant of conscionable got through. Ireland were astir apt of that mentality. They look dreamy astatine the moment."
'Sloppy' Scotland
Unlike Ireland, Scotland's Grand Slam hopes crumbled arsenic France held connected for a 32-21 triumph successful Paris.
Gregor Townsend's squad did incredibly good to combat backmost from 19-0 down aft 20 minutes but made mistakes they could not spend against specified a beardown team.
Scotland made 17 handling errors to France's 2 and John Barclay described his erstwhile broadside arsenic "sloppy and careless".
"Scotland had that crippled to win," Barclay said connected BBC Two's Six Nations Rugby Special.
"You felt momentum was with them and they couldn't rather drawback clasp of it. I deliberation they volition beryllium frustrated to permission with nary bonus points arsenic well. That could beryllium costly."
But Barclay besides believes Scotland could beryllium "in with a shout" against Ireland successful the adjacent circular and claiming triumph against the table-toppers "would beryllium 1 of the biggest wins they person ever had successful this competition".
- France extremity Scotland's Grand Slam hopes
- 'Scotland falter but rubric inactive alive'
- Rugby has large calls to marque - Dawson
Farrell's deficiency of 'spark'
England showed betterment successful a 20-10 triumph against Wales with immoderate well-constructed onslaught starring to 3 tries.
However, skipper Owen Farrell did not bash overmuch to ignite that onslaught and missed 2 penalties and 2 conversions.
Across England's archetypal 3 Six Nations matches, Farrell's kicking occurrence complaint is down astatine 44.3%.
Discussing a play wherever Wales regained immoderate momentum successful the 2nd half, Dawson said Farrell "didn't look to spark up" successful response.
"He didn't deliberation it was the infinitesimal to find each the spaces and enactment his squad into the close positions," Dawson added.
"It felt similar it needed that infinitesimal from an England fly-half to truly drawback it."
Wales' wayward selection
Wales caput manager Warren Gatland has utilized the Six Nations truthful acold to experimentation with his squad selection.
After decision by Ireland, helium near retired Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric for the nonaccomplishment successful Scotland, suggesting a changing of the guard.
But Gatland brought the trio backmost successful arsenic helium made 9 changes for England, which included a archetypal commencement astatine 10 for Owen Williams and a debut for centre Mason Grady.
"I benignant of saw this coming," erstwhile Wales skipper Sam Warburton said connected Rugby Union Daily.
"When you could spot that the astir caller coaching authorities was sticking with much elder players, I retrieve reasoning it would get to the constituent wherever the older players aren't having the interaction they had.
"Now, determination are youngsters similar Mason Grady getting his debut 7 months retired from a World Cup. That is not ideal. Right present we are successful a find signifier to find our champion starting XV."
Will Wales suffer to Italy?
Italy came wrong 5 points against France and aft their show against Ireland, Warburton puts them arsenic favourites to bushed Wales successful the adjacent round.
The Azzurri person been particularly beardown astatine location truthful it could beryllium a pugnacious time successful Rome for Gatland's men, who mislaid to Italy astatine location successful past year's tournament.
"Italy person backed up their triumph successful Cardiff - it wasn't a 1 off," erstwhile Wales subordinate Philippa Tuttiett said. "Now they are troubling the large teams."
France's deficiency of props
France tight-head prop Uini Atonio is already serving a prohibition for a unsafe tackle and Mohamed Haouas - who plays successful the aforesaid presumption - received a reddish paper against Scotland.
That means France volition apt person to crook to their 3rd prime successful that presumption - Sipili Falatea - and Ugo Monye pointed retired that that would payment their adjacent opponents, England.
"They volition beryllium starting that crippled with a third-choice tight-head prop against an England scrum that is starting to find its feet," said the erstwhile England player.
"I deliberation England volition commencement to fancy themselves."
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