On paper, it’s still playable. If France signs a bonus success against Wales next Saturday in Saint-Denis, before a resurrected England wins in Ireland, if possible without leaving the bonus to the XV of Clover, the Blues can still hope to keep their title in the Six Nations Tournament. Good… Suffice to say that Jonathan Sexton’s teammates will win the fourth Grand Slam in their history, after those of 1948, 2009 and 2018.
And it will be well deserved for the current world No. 1, as they proved again this Sunday at Murrayfield. If they were led by Scotland, then still hung at half-time (7-8), Andy Farrell’s players went to seek victory in the guts, despite the avalanche of injury that plagued them. hit (7-22).
In the 48th minute, they thus had no more valid hookers, after the premature exits of Dan Sheehan (19th) and his replacement Ronan Kelleher. With mainstay Cian Healy entering the position of number 2 and the 3rd line wing Josh van der Flier to throw in touch, the Irish have yet managed to knock out the Scots, since the test of Mack Hansen (28th) has made small with those of James Lowe (57th) and Jack Conan (62nd).
Very close to a fourth success with bonus
The fourth heated three minutes from the end, but the 2nd row James Ryan poorly ensured his transmission for Lowe, very close to the double. Ireland did not sign a fourth bonus victory in four games but it will certainly not have a big impact on the outcome of this Tournament.
It is hard to see the English, rolled Saturday by the XV of France (10-53), achieve a miracle at the Aviva Stadium where the Blues, however far from being ridiculous, had lowered their flag (32-19) a month ago.