The World's Oldest Oval Tournament kicked off at the start of the weekend on Friday evening in the ever-fascinating setting of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium to host the opening final match, Wales v England. The inauguration of the Six Nations takes place between fireworks, flames ten meters high at the corners of the field and impacts that give the independent doctor overtime for the concussion – if a player is shaken after a blow to the head, he must be checked by an independent doctor for five to ten minutes. On Saturday afternoon the other two matches: the impossible climb for the blues against the Irish four-leaf clovers on one side and the Scottish highlanders against the French cockerels on the other. The lowest common denominator of the three matches is clear: all predictions fell apart and, when identifiable, the favorites had to work hard to bring home the victory or even lose – all with the exception of Italy , which gave no surprises to the almost 70 thousand at the Olimpico.
Italy vs Ireland
Ireland arrives in Rome strengthened by a November of surprising test matches and ready to bid for the final victory, always keeping an eye on this autumn's World Cup. Yet it is not the usual Ireland, thanks to the numerous reinterpretations made by the coach in the XV squad. However, it is not enough for Italy to play against the formation of the Irish "reserves" to give that extra push awaited by the many spectators. The match ends as it should have ended, 26 – 3 for the all-greens, with the Azzurri practically non-existent on the ill-treated grass of the Olimpico in Rome. One figure is emblematic of the match: 70% Irish and 30% Italian ball possession, among other things, all concentrated in the defensive or neutral area of the pitch. Even captain Parisse can only admit the defeat of the day, commenting with a curt "As for the game, we were zero". That's right, zero, Italian actions can be counted on the fingers of one hand and only once or twice have we faced the opponents' 22m – although it must be said that Haymona's try in the final had to be validated due to the obstruction foul suffered by Parisse himself (obviously the result would not have changed much).
Disappointment, in short, but everything in the norm.
France vs Scotland
Another match, this one, which at least on paper shouldn't have given great emotions and which seemed – like every year – already marked out from the start, something similar to Italy-Ireland in short. But no, the highlanders land at the Stade de France convinced that they too can tell something, and the story is very beautiful. Throughout the first half the ogre Bastardeau's cockerels are pressed to defend and formulate plans to neutralize the young, agile and often technically impeccable Scots. The first 40' close on 9-8 for the French, authors of only free kicks given by the inexperience of Prince Edward's army, while they score a very prestigious try. In the interval the roosters' necks are probably wrung and the return to the field is of a different category than in the first half. The balances are balanced and the too much competitive ardor of the inexperienced Scots gives a few punishments too many and, finally, also a goal worthy of the best champagne rugby to which the French have always accustomed us. In the 80th minute it's 15-8 for the hosts, on the strength of a great show of character against an opponent who could be a candidate for one of the best surprises of 2015 – including the World Cup.
Wales vs England
The biggest match in the biggest tournament in Rugby history. This is how the commentator Antonio Raimondi introduces the challenge between the dragons and the red roses of Her Majesty. The match was accompanied throughout the week by strategic skirmishes via the media on both sides, testifying to the importance of the match: the English coach had his team train indoors with Welsh anthems blaring from the loudspeakers, while the controversy over the opening or otherwise of the roof of the Stadium was resolved only the day before the meeting. The Welsh enter the field with a distinct delay to make their English colleagues impatient, left waiting in the middle of the field in the dark, amidst the silence of over 70 present. Once the game has started, the background is no longer cumbersome and what matters is who tackles and who advances the most. The answer to both questions is clear: the Welsh. There seems to be no history against an England without its 12 starters out due to injuries, away at the most hostile Stadium in the world and with the weight on their shoulders to be ready for the World Cup which they will host in a few months - to understand each other it's like the World Cup in Brazil for football fans. The big teams, however, are great precisely because in these economic situations they always manage to make their game count. It took them a long time, about sixty minutes, to restore the balance on the pitch, but in the end they have the upper hand and take the game home against all reasonable odds. Of course, it must be said that the first English try was spoiled by a holding foul by the English player on the ground who was not guilty and whistled by the referee, who if promptly sanctioned would have given another face to the final result of 16 – 21 for Queen Elizabeth's red roses.
God Save The Queen, in short.
