The first fifth of the 6N is over with France putting a very dull sword to the Scots who were persistent and ineffective under Andy Robinson as much as they were under Frank Hadden. I wouldn't blame Robinson too much for the blandness of Scottish rugby. In keeping with what I have reminded all that the Scots are just a hurricane of go nowhere rugby.
Lots of action in the open play that fizzles out long before a TRY is even considered.
In the pack, as expected, the French front row made hunchbacks and bobbleheads of the poor frustrated Scots and the boys in blue are damn lucky Nigel Owens was the referee. He just doesn't like the French because the Scots should have been penalized at least ten times for collapsing the scrum in about as many different ways as you can do it but in their case only two, either side dropping or boring in like a wedge of Swiss cheese.
The French cleverly tried to screw the scrum in an attempt to enunciate just how bad the Scots scrummage was but it came to an end when Owens gave the French a penalty.
Bastaread got his two soft trys but I would have to say that they were about as difficult and absolutely very much like the Adam Jones' try for Wales. I do believe Karl Miffentoff could have got one of those in his usual euphoric and stumbling state.
Bastaread will have a tougher time against better opposition because he knocked the ball on several times and was lazy in what some called the French pressure defence which was arguably misinterpreted. I would have described the backline defense anti-inflammatory at best.
Benjamin Fall failed to make the wing position his and I would suspect that the recall of Caveman Chabal will be met with much enthusiasm.
Morgan Parra was consistent. Trinh Duc forever tried to run the ball without success.
Jauzion was invisible. Rougerie was a bright spot briefly, Vincent Clerc was not to b e found and Clement Poitrenaund of all the backs looked the best and he did nothing.
That goes to show you how bad the Scots were and it was at the set pieces that their descent accelerated. Of course, Phil Godman should never have been there in the first place and Andy Robinson would do well to pepper next week's side with Cris Paterson or Dan Parks at ten.
But, more importantly, he will be devoid of backline displeasure if he doesn't make the necessary tight five adjustment by taking five giants steps into the realm of , at the very least, mediocrity.
It's not balderdash to suggest that all six nations will undergo some beneficial transformation because this week's preformances were less laudable than laughable.
I do admit to a few chuckling sighs when I found myself getting somewhat excited watching these potables, not notables, playing a form of European rugby not exactly champagne. I'd have to describe the action as cold beer diluted with piss.
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