Tuesday, February 7

Cut all the gimmicks and gizmos, let the rugby entertain us - The Telegraph - Which imbecile decided it was a good idea to spice up Six Nations matches with pop music every time there was a stoppage in play?

Six Nations 2012: six talking points from the first weekend - The Guardian - Naughty boys can be good for the game; hello Alex and George; Scotland cannot score

A tale of two tackles - Scrum.com - "This year's Six Nations exploded into life at the third time of asking with Wales and Ireland playing out one of the most thrilling clashes in recent memory." Graham Jenkins writes

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Wales ignite Six Nations - BBC - Bryn Palmer reflects on a Wales victory that thrilled everyone - except Ireland supporters

Four years too late - Scrum.com - "South Africa's rugby issues remain a major challenge, even if the best man for the job has finally been appointed as Springbok coach." Stephen Nell writes

England youngsters can turn on the style in Rome - London Evening Standard - England are very much a work in progress but having been a member of a highly experienced team that lost to Scotland at Murrayfield in 2000, the significance of Saturday's 13-6 victory should not be underestimated.

Lancaster leeway - Sky Sports - Stuart Barnes wasn't impressed with England, but is refusing to judge this young team too soon.

Loose Pass - Planet Rugby - This week we will mostly be concerning ourselves with conflicting agendas, conversion values, consistency in the Six Nations and concerns for England...

David Kelly: Where's the plan? - Independent.ie - When Ireland won the Grand Slam in 2009, the ingredients appeared to be relatively simple.

Square-dancing at the scrums engages full force of Brian Moore's law - The Guardian - The former hooker, Brian Moore, should be cherished for using 'cadence' in commentary and his explanation of rugby's legal niceties

Murray-failed - BBC - Chief sports writer Tom Fordyce: "Andy Robinson promised his side would unleash chaos. He didn't expect it would be in their own minds."

North the inspiration as Wales beat Ireland in dramatic fashion - The Telegraph - Here was a breathtaking, blistering, barnstorming afternoon, a game with more searing rugby in its first 15 minutes than seen throughout the entire 80 at Murrayfield on Saturday, a match absolutely deserving to be settled by a good old-fashioned hero, not by questionable officiating decisions.

Six Nations 2012: Wales lose invisible man in battle of tackling styles - The Guardian - The absence of Dan Lydiate might mean a change of approach for Ireland, but it's a dangerous way to start the Six Nations

Serge Betsen glad to break ranks and talk up England's cause - London Evening Standard - Exclusive: Frenchman ignores national rivalries to explain why a team who have suffered since winning the Six Nations can look ahead with optimism

Jeremy Guscott's Six Nations Q&A - BBC - The Former England and Lions star on 'New England', which Wales back was his player of the weekend, and the toughest game he has ever seen

Sporting VIPs and Royalty to Come to USA 7's - Rugby Magazine - Several sporting celebrities and international dignitaries will be attending the USA 7s in Las Vegas this week.

Is a defence coach the best form of attack? - Independent.ie - The question is straightforward and, after the dispiriting loss to Wales, extremely relevant: "Has Les Kiss got too much on his plate?"

Andy Robinson will walk if wasteful Scotland carry on like this - The Telegraph - The Scotland coach, Andy Robinson, wanted a welcome of mayhem for England at Murrayfield on Saturday, but the only pandemonium evident was in the Scotland management box.

Premiership dreams - BBC - Nottingham Rugby club look to make the most of their new-found stability to gain promotion to the Premiership.

England lay foundations for future to banish 'unspeakable past' - The Guardian - A new generation and new hope but the new coach, Stuart Lancaster, may not be around long enough to build on his promising start with England

Six Nations 2012: France can sweep the grand old lady off her feet - The Guardian - The annual carnival of communal bonhomie gets under way with all the sides having plenty to prove

SHIT/GOOD™ Ratings: RBS 6 Nations, round one - Blood and Mud - Our stab at who's worth your time and who's worth a kicking after the weekend.