Comments, love/hate mail etc welcome at: sportonline@rte.ie
By Tadhg Peavoy
1906 Thanks for joining me today folks. I have to say I really enjoyed both games immensely. In my view, it was the best day of RBS 6 Nations 2011 so far. Both encounters were contested by very evenly matched sides, on the day. Both matches were also dotted were some top-tier rugby from both teams - here's hoping for more of the same from England-Scotland tomorrow.
As always, thanks for your company. See y'after.
1858 In response:
To Kieran O'Mahoney: I think the key is not the personnel, but maybe the time of substitutions. Bringing Sexton on at such a delicate moment in the game, when O'Gara was playing well, was foolhardy, no? More patience in making changes may work better.
To Simon David-Rees: A fair point. It may have been the wrong ball and an unfair try, but as I said earlier, Ireland were not good enough to dig out a second try. Agreed.
To Kevin McEvoy: I think Fitzgerald is a fine player, but in my opinion switching Earls to full-back and Fitzgerald to wing could make far more of both players best attributes.
1855 Now for some comments from you guys:
Kieran O'Mahoney says: Declan Kidney needs to take some John Terry advice. By this I mean that he needs to man up and tell some of the players (Sexton and O'Leary come to mind) that they are not playing well enough or are not good enough. With the constant chopping and changing he is essentially telling the world that he doesn't know his best side and it's not doing confidence or continuity any good.
Simon David-Rees: Up to 5 minutes ago I was enjoying the balance of your Wal-Ire commentary, I thought it was great.
Now you're spoiling it all by continuing to moan about the wrong ball being used.
Get over it, get back to being professional please.
Simon
Kevin McEvoy: Why is Fitzgerald still on the pitch. He is clearly playing as an extra man for Wales - as he did for Scotland last time...
Kevin McEvoy
1847 A rollercoaster of a match which Ireland could have won. Much like the Arsenal v Barcelona match during the week the whole match turned on a wrong decision. In the Barca-Arsenal match Robin Van Persie was sent off for an overly strict second yellow card, which killed off Arsenal's chances.
Here, Wales's try should have been disallowed. The ball went into the crowd and a new ball was clearly used to take a quick lineout; this is illegal and can be not be allowed. The touch judge saw the offence and did nothing.
That put Ireland on the backfoot, with a home crowd against them. The harsh truth: they were not good enough to dig out the result under massive pressure.
The moment were the game could have been won: Paddy Wallace with a one-man overlap five metres out.
All that said, Ireladn lose. The Triple Crown and Championship is gone.
FULL-TIME: WALES 19-13 IRELAND
80 mins The lineout is good and taken well. Ireland a metre short of the line. Wales kill the ball by not rolling away.
Ireland take the penalty quickly. O'Brien picks and goes. Five metres and Ireland go wide to the left. Wallace is out there, he cuts inside and loses his footing with the line at his mercy - he just had to straighten his run and pop outside to Keith Earls who was waiting to pounces for the try. Literally the game was there to win, but for that...Ireland lose.
79 mins Ireland go phase after phase, crucially Wales infringe and Sexton kicks the penalty to the corner - last chance, can they do it?
78 mins Ireland win the lineout and go wide to Wallace on the right wing.
77 mins Stringer to Sexton. Court is next to attack as Ireland enter the 22.
O'Connell picks and goes, but knocks on. Wales hammer it downfield and into touch on the Ireland ten-metre line.
76 mins Wales eventually go in off their feet. All the Ireland subs are now on.
75 mins Wales in possession, they maul it and maul it. Ireland can't a look in possession-wise.
76 mins Hook pops a crossfield kick to Ireland. Wallace returns it deep, then Hook goes back to Sexton - he slices it into touch.
75 mins It's phase after phase for Wales. They make no ground, but wind down the clock.
74 mins Wales hold possession well, grinding the gears forward. They reach the 10-metre line.
72 mins Peter Stringer kicks directly into touch from outside the 22. Poor. Ireland are rattled. Wallace is on for D'Arcy.
1834 Pictured below: Mike Phillips scores Wales's try.
70 mins Ireland kick long to Wales, Halfpenny receives and is smacked hard by Heaslip in the tackle. Wales get rid, but only to Fitzgerald. Earls comes across to get involved and carry forward. He feeds O'Brien who batters forward, but he puts a foot in the right touchline. Lineout Wales.
67 mins Wales 19-13 Ireland (Hook penalty)
Wales kick the penalty to touch and take the lineout. They then bash up the middle. O'Brien is picked out as being offside at previous lineout. Penalty Wales - Hook will kick from inside the Ireland half on the left-hand side. To go six points ahead...he gets it.
66 mins Ireland put togetehr 11 phases, but are shunted back by Wales and lose ten yards to go outside the Wales 22. Eventually Ireland concede for holding on. Wales in control here.
65 mins Wales win and boxkick clear. Ireladn win the next lineout.
O'Connell drives Ireland to the 22, before Heaslip picks up the attack.
Wallace is next to make hard yards. It comes back to O'Driscoll who probes away, but there is no gap.
64 mins Hook returns it to Ireland. Heaslip decides to run it back. it's a good idea and sets up. Sexton decides a cross-field kick. It hits the corner. Wales linout - good position for Ireland.
63 mins Hook is returned the kick by Fitzgerald and he hammers it back to Bowe who marks and kicks long. Once more Hook kicks back to Fitzgerald. He passes to Sexton who kicks long.
62 mins Ireland scrum: Heaslip controls. It goes back to D'Arcy who tries a grubber ahead, useless idea. Hook kicks deep to Fitzgerald.
62 mins The lineout is slapped back by Warburton. Wales secure, only just. Lydiate takes into contact, Ireland smother it and snaffle the ball in the ruck.
Second half possession: Wales 67 - Ireland - 33.
61 mins It goes out of play and Wales will take the lineout.
60 mins Ireland win the scrum and hoof it to the Welsh corner, where Halfpenny receives and sends the ball back to Ireland.
59 mins The scrum collapses: it will be reset. What a flurry of activity that was. Terrible decision to award the try though!
58 mins Wales maul it into the Ireland 22. Ireland are warned to roll away. A scrum is awarded to Wales.
57 mins Wales kick to touch. They go wide to midfield. The Welsh Dragons have their tails up...
56 mins Scrum Ireland: Ireland infringe and it's a penalty to Wales.
54 mins Ireland break downfield and Earls screams down the left wing - that opens up the Wales defence. Ireland spin wide to the right in the Wales 22. Two metres from the line O'Callaghan pops up to Fitzgerald who scampers across for a try! But no, forward pass.
There is a penalty back though for a Wales infringement. Sexton kicks from inside the 22. Incredibly he misses a sitter!
52 mins That try should not have stood! The ball went into the crowd. That means it was interfered with by a third party and was a different ball. Both those rules mean that the try should be disallowed.
50 mins Wales 16-13 Ireland (Phillips try, Hook conversion)
Ireland win the lineout with O'Callaghan. It comes back to Sexton who tries a crossfield kicks to Bowe. It is awful and straight out. Wales have a lineout back. They take it quick and Phillips is the man to receive it. He scampers down the touchline with Ireland asleep. Bowe tries a desperate last-minute tackle which is in vain.
Hook converts the try.
49 mins Lineout Ireland on the halfway line: Best to take the throw.
Sexton is on for O'Gara at outhalf.
47 mins AW Jones takes the lineout. Wales go wide off this platform. It reaches Williams who chips ahead, the ball ends in the dead-ball area - where O'Driscoll comes to clean up. Ireland clear long with a 22-metre drop-out.
46 mins AW Jones and Yapp carry forward but it is overturned and Ireland kick long. Phillips sees Ireland are flat and kicks over the top of the Ireland defence. Earls makes it back and pings a kicks back to the Welsh half.
45 mins Ireland win their own lineout and Stringer boxkicks long, where Bowe races underneath to claim it. He must release as there is no supports and Wales attack.
44 mins Heaslip wins the lineout with a superb jump. Ireland lose it in contact, and Wales's Hook hammers a kick to the Ireladn corner - magnificent kick!
Ireland take a quick lineout and at the ruck Wales are penalised. But, O'Gara slices the clearance into touch.
43 mins Wales win the lineout and go wide to midfield. But O'Connell turns it over at the ruck. Ireland kick long and Wales fail to control it, instead knocking the ball in to touch.
42 mins Roberts hammers up the middle with ball-in-hand. Wales make the Ireland 22. Ireland turnvoer at the ruck and Stringer make a woeful pass to O'Driscoll, under pressure Drico kicks to touch - but only to the 22-metre line.
41 mins Wales kick-off to Ireland. Ireland receive and Stringer boxkicks long.
1801 The rain is pelting down in Cardiff, making conditions precarious for ball carriers.
1759 Pictured below: Brian O'Driscoll's try was his 24th in the RBS 6 Nations, equalling Ian Smith's all-time Championship record.
1757 Pictured below: James Hook's three penalties have kept Wales within touching distance of Ireland.
1754 Pictured below: Eoin Reddan had to leave the pitch after only two minutes, following a rugby ball in the face.
1750 A superbly engaging half of rugby. Ireland came out of the blocks like greyhounds, hitting Wales with force. That dynamic commencement led to an early try. Wales hit back and dominated the next half an hour to trail by just a point at 9-10.
However, Ireland took over the reins for the 30-40 minute period and were almost in for a try through O'Brien. A penalty from the same phase of play leaves four between the sides. Back for more soon.
HALF-TIME: WALES 9-13 IRELAND
39 mins Wales 9-13 Ireland (O'Gara penalty)
Stringer claims a high ball from Hook. Ireland set up with O'Connell on halfway, before attempting some pick and goes around the base of the ruck. They almost lose it, but a loose ball goes backwards. Ireland break left to Earls who feeds Bowe inside him, he batters away at Wales - before offloading inside him. Ireland work it infield to O'Brien who fends off the Wales defenders like they were cardboard cutouts standing in his way. He is pulled down just short of the line.
Ireland then spin wide, having been under the posts, to O'Driscoll - he tries to find Fitzgerald, but the pass is awful and through Fitzgerald's legs! A try wa on there. But, the referee calls play back for Wales offside and O'Gara knocks over a penalty from directly in front of the posts.
37 mins Wales 9-10 Ireland (Halfpenny penalty)
Penalty Wales as Ireland fail to retreat from an offside position. Halfpenny will take this one as it's way out near halfway - nos mistake. One-point game.
36 mins O'Connell wins the lineout. Ireland drive forward with O'Callaghan and then go wide to Earls - he jinks inside to find the safety of his pack. But Ireland let the ball go loose and Bradley Davies punts it downfield.
35 mins Ireland lineout: O'Gara is swallowed by Roberts after Ireland try to go wide early.
Stringer feeds Bowe who crashes into the midifield. But Ireland lose it on the Wales 22. Phillips boxkicks clear to touch.
34 mins Penalty Ireland for Wales holding on at the ruck. O'Gara will kick to touch. A superb kick bring play to the Wales 22.
33 mins Wales 6-10 Ireland (O'Gara penalty)
Scrum Wales: Wales collapse and it is penalty Ireland. The Welsh front-row failed to bind correctly!
O'Gara to kick at goal from outside the Wales 10-metre line, to the left of the posts - a superb kick just makes it over.
32 mins Wales playing better now - Ireland making errors in attack and struggling to defend rucks legally.
31 mins Best and O'Callaghan take pop and drives. After that ruck it goes to D'Arcy who knocks on in the tackle. Sloppy. Scrum Wales.
30 mins Phillips boxkicks to Heaslip. Stringer distributes from the ruck, but Ireland spuill it forward and Wales seize the attack. They go wide to Williams once more.
Inside the Ireland 22, Yapp picks and goes and coughs up possession, Ireland hammers the ball downfield! David Wallace made the steal, Gordon D'Arcy kicked clear!
29 mins It's been all Wales since Ireland scored. Ireland must weather this storm.
26 mins Wales 6-7 Ireland (Hook penalty)
O'Gara kicks long to Hook, who slips as he tries to take it, but gathers himself and runs back. Wales go wide from a ruck on the right wing across the line to Lee Byrne hitting the line with pace. At the next ruck Ireland give away another penalty - this time for not rolling away against Cian Healy.
Hook to kick from inside the Ireland 22...he makes no error.
24 mins Ireland pick and drive with Healy, before Stringer feeds O'Connell.
Ireland outside the 22, but Stringer loses it at the ruck and the attack ends.
23 mins Rory Best throws to O'Callaghan in the lineout. Ireland go wide to Fitzgerald who knocks on in the pass, but the ref doesn't see it - Ireland continue on.
22 mins Rees finds Davies. Wales kick long to Fitzgerald, he tries to feed Earls, who slips and hands possession to Wales.
Wales go wide to the right where Williams is, he cuts inside and tries to jump out of a Fitzgerald tackle, but the Leinster man takes him down.
21 mins It comes to O'Driscoll who kicks to the corner and puts the Welsh on their own line.
20 mins Ireland restart to Wales: it is short, but Wales still claim it. Ryan Jones makes the catch and Wales go wide right. But, Ireland steal it.
19 mins Wales 3-7 Ireland (Hook penalty)
Wales ruck it into into the Ireland 22. Bradley Davies picks and goes. Then Wales go wide to Shane Williams, but he is driven back in the tackle. A penalty is called for Rory Best going in off his feet at the previous ruck. Penalty in the Ireland 22. This time it is right in front of the posts. Hook will go for goal again: easy.
18 mins O'Gara slices a kicked clearance into touch. Pressure still for Ireland here.
17 mins Hook to go for goal from wide on the left of the posts...it hits the post!
17 mins AW Jones picks and goes and Ireland are deemed not to have released the tackler. Penalty Wales in the Ireland 22. They will kick for goal.
16 mins Warbuton picks and goes and Wales then skip pass in the centre to Roberts who is hauled down.
15 mins Some ping pong is exchanged, which ends with Ireland pinging it in to touch from Fitzgerald. Lee Byrne was steaming on him and he had to get rid of it quickly. Danger for Ireland here.
14 mins Craig Mitchell is off for John Yapp.
12 mins Hook kicks long to Ireland. Earls and Heaslip take a quick lineout and in first phase they go wide to the right wing to Bowe who rampages forward. However, he runs out of room and Shane Williams brings him down.
11 mins Scrum again: Ireland hold it and Heaslip picks at number eight. Ireland set the ruck and Cian Healy takes a pop and drive. It goes back to Fitzgerald who grubbers ahead, but Wales secure it and the Irish attack ends.
11 mins Scrum Ireland: Front rows collapse - they will reset.
10 mins Wales go up the middle with Roberts and a crash ball. Ireland win a scrum as the ball goes forward.
9 mins Wales run it back and go wide right to Leigh Halfpenny who takes on Keith Earls, but the Munster wing makes the tackle.
8 mins Ireland proceed to lose it and James Hook hammers a kick back to the Ireland corner. But, it is so good, Ireland have time to take a quick lineout and kick long to Wales.
6 mins Wales win back and Hook kicks long to ROG, who returns the kick to touch. Good kick for territory from O'Gara. Wales lose the lineout.
5 mins Wales are down in the Ireland half. Roberts takes a crash ball up the middle and Wales recycle.The ball goes to touch and Ireland win their own lienout.
2 mins Wales 0-7 Ireland (O'Driscoll try, O'Gara conversion)
Ireland ruck it in the 22. O'Connell drives from a static start. Rory Best is next to have a pop followed by David Wallace as Ireland attempt to batter forward.
Ireland retain possession as Stringer feeds Tommy Bowe from a ruck. Bowe takes a straight line and feeds Brian O'Driscoll on his outside. Captain Fantastic slices through the Welsh defence for a superb try! O'Gara knocks over the conversion.
O'Driscoll has now scored 24 Six Nations tries, equalling Ian Smith's record.
2 mins Reddan is being substituted as he cannot continue and Stringer comes on.
1 mins Reddan still down and looks dazed, but okay.
1 mins The ball goes in to touch, but Eoin Reddan is down getting attention. He blocked the ball with his face and that will really hurt.
1 min O'Gara to kick off to Wales. Wales take comfortbaly as the ball is deep. Lee Byrne tries to kick long, but it is charged down.
1704 We're about to lift off.
1703 The teams and officials again:
Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys); J Hook (Ospreys), M Phillips (Ospreys); P James (Ospreys), M Rees (Scarlets, captain), C Mitchell (Ospreys); B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys); D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements: R Hibbard (Ospreys), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), two from R McCusker (Scarlets), A Powell (London Wasps) and J Thomas (Ospreys), D Peel (Sale Sharks), S Jones (Scarlets), M Stoddart (Scarlets)
Ireland: L Fitzgerald (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D'Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster); R O'Gara (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster); D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster); S O'Brien (Leinster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster)
Replacements: S Cronin (Connacht), T Court (Ulster), L Cullen (Leinster), D Leamy (Munster), P Stringer (Munster), J Sexton (Leinster), P Wallace (Ulster)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (RSA)
Assistant Referees: Craig Joubert (RSA), Peter Allan (Sco)
TMO: Geoff Warren (Eng)
1702 The Land Of My Fathers is belted out in the Millennium Stadium - what a great anthem.
1701 The lads look focused. Brian O'Driscoll has had a haircut, the rumour is that Amy Huberman cuts it for him and then he paints her nails. Bless.
1700 Ireland's Call is sung by an all-male choir. Pretty impressive sounding actually. Give me Charlotte Church any day though...
1659 The moment's silence is impecably observed and we move on to the anthems.
1658 A moment's silence will take place for those who have died in Japan over the last few days.
1657 Wales make their way from the dressing room. The Cardiff crowd go wild, as though a young Tom Jones was about to perform.
1656 I never make predictions as I always get them wrong, but today I am going to get off the fence! Ireland to win by eight; in other words, get yourself down to the bookies and bet on Wales by eight!
1655 Pictured Below: As promised, an image of Irish fans acting like eejits in Cardiff. Go on the lads!
1653 Brent Pope has gone for a purple tie, shirt and hankie combo in studio today! While from looking at George Hook's brown jacket, purple tie combo it is obvious his wife is on holiday and he has had to dress himself!
1652 My producer is quickly getting you a picture of some eejits dressed as leprechauns from Cardiff. They will be with you shortly!
1645 Things filling up nicely in Cardiff now. Don't go away.
1642 The highlights from Ireland's Grand Slam win in 2009 are being screened now. I distinctly remember being in Cardiff for that one and being embraced by a rather large Welshman, who was surely a former front-row forward, upon Ireland's victory. He offered me a pint of ale and a rollie cigarette to celebrate!
1641 The teams for today are:
Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys); J Hook (Ospreys), M Phillips (Ospreys); P James (Ospreys), M Rees (Scarlets, captain), C Mitchell (Ospreys); B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys); D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements: R Hibbard (Ospreys), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), two from R McCusker (Scarlets), A Powell (London Wasps) and J Thomas (Ospreys), D Peel (Sale Sharks), S Jones (Scarlets), M Stoddart (Scarlets)
Ireland: L Fitzgerald (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D'Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster); R O'Gara (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster); D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster); S O'Brien (Leinster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster)
Replacements: S Cronin (Connacht), T Court (Ulster), L Cullen (Leinster), D Leamy (Munster), P Stringer (Munster), J Sexton (Leinster), P Wallace (Ulster)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (RSA)
Assistant Referees: Craig Joubert (RSA), Peter Allan (Sco)
TMO: Geoff Warren (Eng)
1629 Wales haven't won at home for a year and will target this match as a great chance to end that duck.
1625 We'll have a match report from Italy's famous victory up shortly, and in 30 minutes, Wales and Ireland kick off in Cardiff. Bring it.
1616 France had their chances, they could have scored ten more points in the first half and been 28-6 clear. They didn't, Italy rallied when all seemed lost. Masi inspired from full-back with excellent fielding of high balls and by driving forward on the attack. Between Masi's try and the converted winger cum field-goal kicker Bergasmaco's points Italy ground out this win.
The other key point is that Wales, Scotland or Ireland would not have held out the French scrum at the end and would have conceded a penalty. England or Italy's scrum can match France's; in short, the Italian scrum saved a certain penalty against them at the end.
Pictured below: Alessandro Zanni of Italy is tackled France's Aurelien Rougerie.
Pictured below: Andrea Masi crosses for Italy's crucial try in Rome.
1615 Wow.
FULL-TIME: ITALY 22-21 FRANCE
82 mins The scrum it set again! Parisse picks and goes and attempts to drive France forward But, he loses it in the ruck. The ref says penalty Italy and at two minutes into injury-time the ref says it's all over! Italy are the winnners! Forza Italia!
81 mins Scrum France: Another scrum is demanded by the ref. They set again, and drive it forward. The ball pops out and it goes forward! Knock-on surely! No, the referee says scrum again. That should be a knock-on by France and Italy scrum - controversial decision.
80 mins France win a scrum on the Italy 22. One second left in the game.
79 mins France still on the ball. Trinh-Duc feeds Rougerie, who pops to Huget. France patiently hold on and go through the phases. Trinh-Duc is in the pocket.
78 mins Scrum on the Italy 22: Italy hold onto it and set up the ruck. They inch forward in the loose. Then Burton kicks long to Medard. France go to contact where they win a penalty for Italy killing the ball.
77 mins Italy win a scrum as France spill it forward - what a chance for Italy.
75 mins Italy 22-21 France (Bergamasco penalty)
Burton kicks long to the France 22. Huget receives and takes a quick lineout. But Italy smother them and force the French to hold on to it - the ref says they do so illegally on the ground.
Bergamasco will kick the penalty from wide on the left and what a kick - perfect! Game on!
73 mins Italy in a penalty in the next phase and Burton, who is on at outhalf, kicks to the corner. Parisse takes the catch.
71 mins Italy win the resart and set up the ruck in their own half. However, Fabio Semenzato boxkicks - crazy decision. They need to hold on to the all and grind it out. But, the linout is over the top and an Italian forward catches and makes a break, but he knocks on in contact with the French under serious pressure! So many errors from Italy today!
69 mins Italy 19-21 France (Bergamasco penalty)
Italy go again, Bergamasco batters into the 22 and at the ruck France put their hands all over it. Penalty to Italy - Bergamasco from wide on the right: superb kick which drifts right to left and over the posts!
66 mins Italy 16-21 France (Parra penalty)
But, Italy try to run the ball out of their own half. They get caught for holding on in the ruck and concede a penalty to France. How costly could this be...as Parra knocks over the points!
66 mins Italy have only ever beaten France once in 31 attempts in a friendly match in 1997. This would be the biggest upset in the history of the 6 Nations.
65 mins France back on the attack on the right wing. They move it back to the middle where Thierry Dusautoir charges up the middle, then Trinh-Duc attempts to go for a drop goal - it drifts wide to the right of the sticks.
59 mins Italy 16-18 France (Bergmasco penalty)
Italy right back in this one. From nowhere. And on the France 22, the French are caught offside at the ruck.
Bergamasco to kick again from in front of the posts, outside the 22...he gets it!
58 mins Italy 13-18 France (Masi try, Bergamasco conversion)
Italy barge into the 22. Masi feeds Zanni who almost gallops to the line, but is hauled back by France. But, Masi is in support. Zanni sets up the ruck and Tommaso Benvenuti is fed on the wing, Masi sprints up on his inside and carves past France and over the line. So deserved for Masi, he has been far and away the best Italian player today. Bergamasco knocks over the conversion.
58 mins Geldenhuys on for Derbyshire for Italy.
57 mins No, I'm wrong - they decide to kick. Bergamasco, from wide right in the 22. He's missed it again - shocking stuff. Italy cannot win games by leaving so many points behind.
56 mins But, France kick it back to Italy to go again. They make it in to the 22 where the ruck is set. The ball appears to be loose and Rougerie claims it, but the ref says the ruck was still formed, so another Italy penalty - this time it's in the 22 and they will surely go for the corner.
53 mins France attack one more. They set up in the Italy 22. Parra tries to snipe past the Italy defence, before Pierre picks and goes. The ball pops out the side of the ruck and Italy grubber downfield to France. Huget gathers, but holds on in the ruck. Penalty Italy on the 10-metre line. Bergamasco to kick at goal. It is short and drops into French arms.
51 mins All over for Italy I reckon. All heart, no killer instinct from Nick Mallett's charges.
50 mins Italy 6-18 France (Try and conversion Parra)
France win the lineout and spin wide to the right. They set up in the 22.
Trinh-Duc makes a half break in the middle of the park, with Salvatore Perugini flapping at him. It's a huge mismatch between outhalf and prop. The former speeds past him, creating the gap, before being tackled. As he does he offloads to the speeding Morgan Parra who crosses for the try. He converts his own five-pointer.
48 mins They pack down: Perugini is on for Lo Cicero. Luc Ducalcon is on for Nicolas Mas.
France destroy Italy in the scrum and win a penalty. They kick it to the corner. One try here and the Azzurri are in serious trouble.
47 mins Masi kicks long and Jauzion knocks on. Scrum to Italy in the France half.
46 mins Chabal wins the retart - leaping high into the air. Italy must score next to keep in touch, or they could be dead and buried.
43 mins Italy 6-11 France (Parra penalty)
Bonnaire chips ahead of him into the Italy 22. Italy gateher but then don't release at the breakdown adn concede a penalty. Parra will kick for goal - once more, against the run of play. Italy are being punished here.
Parra kicks from on the 22, right of the posts....easy.
42 mins Masi is popped the ball by Orquera and storms into the France 22. He is five yards short and Italy recycle. Crazily, Orquera decides to grubber kick and Italy lose possession! Crazy, stupid and foolish - France were on the ropes there.
41 mins The teams are back out in Rome. Trinh-Duc kicks off to Italy. Dellapse gathers it and Italy set up the ruck, before kicking long. However, Italy steal from France at the next ruck and are in the France half.
1513 An ugly, error-filled, nasty half. The possession was all Italy's, but France lead by two and should have had ten points more. Plenty to play for in the second half.
In other news, George Hook's wife is in Amsterdam and he had to dress himself this weekend!
HALF-TIME: ITALY 6-8 FRANCE
39 mins Scrum France: Parra puts in, they win and spin wide to Rougerie who knocks on, but Italy are deemed to be offside. A huge let off for France in their own 22.
38 mins Nallet takes the lineout and Servat goes around the back of the linout, before a massive garryowen is kicked. Once more Masi is under it. He surges forward and is pulled down, but France don't roll away and Italy win a penalty.
37 mins Chabal powers into the Italy 22. Pierre adds more yards, before a switch move sees Clerc almost go over. At the next phase France spill forward in the ruck and Italy kick clear to touch.
34 mins Italy kick long, but it's straight out. France lineout.
34 mins The Mexican Wave is going around the stadium, showing how bored the crowd are!
33 mins Italy knock on the possession on their line and Italy must scrum to defend.
France collapse their own scrum and Italy win the penalty.
31 mins Italy are kicked back possession and try to go forward with their pack, but they play on the ground and hand France a penalty inside halfway. Parra will go for it.
It's just outside the 10-metre lin, but the legs are good, it comes back off the post though!
30 mins Robert Barbieri tries to take up the mantle and succeeds only in knocking on. Poor from the flanker.
29 mins Nallet wins the lineout and France set up. Servat picks and goes, before Jauzion kicks long to Masi. He drives right back at France.
28 mins France recycle several times, but are locked on halfway and Parrisse eventually steals at the breakdown. Orquera kicks the possession to the corner - great kick to the 22.
27 mins The lineout is not straight and France will get a scrum.
25 mins Clerc tries to kick to the Italy corner, but no joy. Italy return it, before it reaches Medard. He also kicks for the corner, and makes it.
22 mins Italy 6-8 France (Bergamasco penalty)
Canale cuts in off the wing and makes the 22. Italy recycle and go into midfield. Orquera forces a pass out to the wing, but France are offside and Italy get a penalty. Italy will kick it.
Bergamasco to take it from inside the 22, to the right of the posts. Easy.
21 mins Handling error from France in their own half, which they recover and hammer downfield. Parrisse is on to it and runs straight back to France territory.
21 mins Italy 3-8 France (Parra penalty)
Thierry Dusautoir says they will go for the posts. Parra makes no mistake right in front of the sticks.
20 mins France scrum: Italy are shunted back and pop up - penalty France.
19 mins Scrum under the Italy posts. Rougerie knocked on after a flowing France move with the line at his mercy.
17 mins From the kick-off France receive and Huget makes a fine break up the middle, he offloads into space, but can only find Marconnet - the prop is swallowed up by lighter, faster defenders!
13 mins Italy 3-5 France (Clerc try)
All the possession is for Italy and Orquera dances into the French half. Italy pick and go right to the line, before losing the ball on the line and seeing France kick the ball the length of the field. Italy scamper back and clear, but only to France hands.
It finds Clerc on the wing who chips over Canale and outsprints him to the line to collect and touchdown for a try. So harsh on Italy who have been all over the French.
Parra misses the conversion from an acute angle on the left touchline.
11 mins Canale kicks long for Italy, it is too long and runs into the dead-ball area - France to take the 22 dropout.
9 mins The scrum must be reset as it just won't settle. France win the reset against the head, before spinning wide. They recycel and go up the middle with Marconnet. France crab across the pitch as Italy hold firm. Trinh-Duc kicks long and Bergmasco gets under to catch, before Masi hammers back downfield, but only as far as Clerc who runs back to the Italian defensive wall. Very little space out here at the moment.
8 mins Italy hammer it back upfield, but Yohan Huget fumbles the catch. Scrum Italy deep in France territory.
6 mins France back in control now and edge their way upfield, before Trinh-Duc hammers a long garryowen. But Masi is under it and claims with ease. Great start from Italy.
5 mins Italy kick deep for possession into the France half. The lineout is good from Del Fava and Italy hit the line in the midfield. Retaining possession, Lo Cicero and Castrogiovanni make hard yards, before they spin wide left to Gonzalo Garcia who gets cut in two in a tackle before coughing up possession.
1 mins Italy 3-0 France (Bergamasco penalty)
Action is off in Rome as the Italians kick-off to France. The French knock-on from the kick-off and Italy have a scrum in the France 22. France commit too early and Italy win a free-kick. From the kick the French knock-on deliberately and Bergamasco kicks over the resulting penalty.
1426 Inno di Mameli (Mameli's Hymn) belts out around the ground, followed by La Marseillaise. You gotsta love that Italian national anthem - gets the hairs on the back of my neck every time!
1416 We're 15 minutes away from kick-off at Stadio Flaminio.
1414 Get your thoughts in to me folks throughout the day. I will endeavour to get to as many as I can.
A special hello to Hume and Mary Jo Crowe, reading and listening in Texas.
1410 All the talk in the TV studio among The Three Wise Men is that Ireland could well struggle against Wales later on. But, Kiwi Bren Pope reckons Ireland are far better than Wales and should romp home.
1405 The teams for today are:
Italy:
15 FB Andrea Masi
14 W Tommaso Benvenuti
13 C Gonzalo Canale
12 C Gonzalo Garcia
11 W Mirco Bergamasco
10 FH Luciano Orquera
9 SH Fabio Semenzato
1 P Andrea Lo Cicero Vaina
2 H Carlo Festuccia
3 P Martin Castrogiovanni
4 L Santiago Dellape'
5 L Carlo Antonio del Fava
6 F Alessandro Zanni
7 F Robert Barbieri
8 N8 Sergio Parisse
Replacements:
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Salvatore Perugini
18 Quintin Geldenhuys
19 Paul Derbyshire
20 Pablo Canavosio
21 Kris Burton
22 Luke McLean
France:
15 FB Maxime Medard
14 W Yohan Huget
13 C Aurelien Rougerie
12 C Yannick Jauzion
11 W Vincent Clerc
10 FH Francois Trinh-Duc
9 SH Morgan Parra
1 P Sylvain Marconnet
2 H William Servat
3 P Nicolas Mas
4 L Julien Pierre
5 L Lionel Nallet
6 F Thierry Dusautoir
7 F Julien Bonnaire
8 N8 Sebastien Chabal
Replacements:
16 Guilhem Guirado
17 Luc Ducalcon
18 Jerome Thion
19 Imanol Harinordoquy
20 Julien Tomas
21 Damien Traille
22 Clement Poitrenaud
1403 Surely a hammering is on the cards for the Azzurri today. They should have beaten Ireland, were miserable against England, and had so much possession without landing a killer blow against Wales. A first win in the Championship versus France would make their season - is that a pig I see flying by...
1401 For those of you lucky enough to be able to watch the TV coverage, it has started now. For the rest of you. You're stuck with me, as you probably know by now!
1245 It's weekend four of the RBS 6 Nations and time to see whether Ireland are a potential top-two team, or an also-ran bottom four side. We shall see.
Read Brendan Cole's take on Ireland's crucial clash with Wales right here.
