England's exciting victory over France was the highlight of the second round of the six nations.
But the first fortnight of action in the 2025 championship has once again demonstrated why it is the best rugby tournament in the world.
Here are my conclusions of the second weekend …
Arrogant France?
People say there is arrogance about English rugby. But you have to question the French attitude on Twickenham. The way they reacted to crucial moments ended up costing them dear. I think Fabien Gallthie and his players hoped to win. There is nothing wrong with that.
All the big sides have a healthy confidence over them. But how you drive to be the favorite is crucial. Every time France tried or made an error, they seemed to shrink from shoulders as if they thought they would not matter and soon score again. Ultimately, his waste was the reason why they lost the game. It was Laissez Faire.
I have trained teams when you are the great favorite and sometimes the complacency slides and you are wrong. I think that's what happened to France. GALTHIE as chief coach and his team have great questions to answer. He was amazed by some of the rugby they played on Saturday. France is able to be a truly good team. But this is a great verification of reality.
France was forced to pay for his waste in possession against England
It seemed that Fabien Gallthie and his players from France just expected to win
Clearly, they are not there yet, having lost in the quarterfinals of their local World Cup and now made a Horlicks of an offer from the title of the six nations that leaves them looking only at a championship in five years with Gallthie. That would be a bad return given the shape of its players in the country with Toulouse and Bordeaux.
It's time for a new Wales coach
There comes a time as an international coach when you know you can't do more and that your time is over. Warren Gatland has reached that moment with Wales and I think in the background, he will recognize that this is the case.
Gatland is a really great coach and his first spell with Wales was full of trophies. Gatland's loyalty to Wales is evident in how the project is attached. But now you will know that it is time for a new face and a new voice to try to the team at the end of these six nations.
There is also a case for a change of training now because Wales was even worse in his defeat for Italy than in his 43-0 hammer by France. Gatland clearly does not have the quality of the player he had in his first spell. But there is also no clear travel address in terms of play plan and game style.
Wales covered new depths in Rome. And that spell great problems for Gatland. As things go, you may not see the end of the championship.
Warren Gatland should recognize that it is time for his spell as Chief of Wales to come to an end
Twickenham fortress
The English rugby house has become a stadium where it has been too easy for winning opposition teams. But being on Twickenham on Saturday for victory over France was an exciting experience.
When Elliot Daly scored his deceased attempt and end Smith became to win the game, the atmosphere was simply electric. If you could bottling that feeling and emotion and selling it, you would be very, very rich.
Yes, they set up their luck, but in the last 20 minutes, England and Twickenham came alive together. That feeling is what England has to keep every time they play in their homeland. I used to talk about getting them out in the green seats that cheered how England was playing.
That is what happened on Saturday and making Twickenham an intimidating fortress once again can clearly help Steve Borthwick. The same must happen for the calcuta cup below.
The atmosphere on Twickenham was electric, since England managed to overcome France
Italy shows a bit
As bad as Wales was in Rome, I thought Italy played a good rugby in horrible conditions. In the last seasons, the Azzurri have been dangerous in the attack, but they sent many points to the defensive.
This weekend, heavy rains in the Olympic Stadio meant that the Italy-Wales game was never going to be a classic. What impressed me from Italy was that they not only treated the label of the favorites well, but also achieved the game in an impressive way.
The home strikers did an excellent job and their media masters Martin Page-Relo and Paolo Garbisi controlled things well. It was a promising sign of Italian progression. Page-Relo and Garbisi led the kick game of Italy, which was miles better than what Wales produced.
Italy played a good rugby in horrible conditions during his clash against Wales
Classing with class!
Ireland has a very elegant young player in Sam Prendergast. His aerial game is the best I've seen for a long time.
I can't give Non -praise for that. The Irish battle No 10 between Arrentgast and Jack Crowley is getting many headlines, a little as if Marcus and End Smith with England.
Ireland's Sam Prendergast's air game is the best I've seen for a long time.
In the comfortable victory of Bonus Point over Scotland, Purkey was exceptional. Yes, I was playing behind the dominant pack of the game. But I thought Purast was wonderful and showed why he is starting in front of Crowley.
Scotland was not helped by losing Star Backs Finn Russell and Darcy Graham for head injuries, especially since they had gone to a bank division of 6: 2.