I thought it hard to surpass the titanic battle two weeks earlier waged between Wales and Ireland (23 to 16) where the two teams slugged it out like prizefighters. It was too much to comprehend the sheer energy sapping assault and defence as both teams tried to force their way over the try line. Over 30 passages of play without infringement only 5 metres from the line and then another 23 uninterrupted bone shacking tackles as these huge men went toe to toe. It was like the spectacle of watching Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali in both their memorable battles, two supremely fit courageous men each unable to be cowed and so it was with each of the teams trying to grind the other down.
With the three teams Ireland, England and Wales poised to win so long as they won their match on Saturday but crucially dependent on the number of points they won by, it was edge of your seat stuff all day. England had the hardest task since they played France which, no disrespect to Scotland and Italy, France have always been a top rugby playing nation and could therefore present who ever they were playing, a tougher challenge.
It was a day of 'what ifs'. If Italy hadn't gone over for that last minute try thereby narrowing the gap of Wales win, what if Scotland had been allowed a disputed try to narrow Ireland's winning margin, and what if England in the last minute of the game had gone over when they were camped on the French try line with only a converted try 7 points needed to win the tournament by 1 point.
First up was Wales against Italy away in Rome. They had to win by a huge margin and turning at half time just about equal on points it seemed well beyond them. They came out in the second half a new team and for forty minutes proceeded to ravage the Italians with red shirted attack after attack to rack up 61 points to Italy's 20. The commentators especially the Welsh were sure it old be enough to win the title.
The second match started 15 miners later in Scotland with Ireland taking the field as the pre favourites having played the better rugby throughout the tournament only being beaten by Wales in another tremendous display by the Dragons. Given the number of points scored by Wales they now had to win by a large margin against Scotland, a side who promise to do well but somehow season after season fail. They scored 40 points to Scotland's 10 and so had a margin of 30.
It overhauled the magnificent effort made by Wales earlier but would it be enough to beat England.
Tough international don't usually produce large numbers of points since it's the win that's important and a good defence is as valuable as a good attack but in this unusual set of circumstances points were the important thing and in both previous games open attacking rugby had been the thing we witnessed and enjoyed. How would England a side of undoubted talent but who sometimes seemed to confuse the training field with a real match, where the opposition also have something to bring to the table.
Of all the games this was a match of equals where there would be no runaway point scoring and the English side had it all to do just to secure a win !
As the game progressed England playing out of their skins and the French pinning them back with a try or two it all seemed too much. And then the points stated to come as England threw the ball around probing here and there searching for a weakness. The try's were coming, was there enough time, one more try one more mighty effort 30 men pitched against each other, 5 metres from the try line, one minute to go, 2 metres, 1 metre, had they got over. Yes, no, surly yes, maybe no.
Well we now know the answer, 55 points to Frances 35, a Herculean effort by England but short by 6 and Ireland are the Severn Nations Champions for the second year running.
A truly great day of rugby and a day when sport came out on top epitomised by the praise the great Irish skipper Paul O'Connell had for England's attempt.
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