The day after a Saturday with southern accents, the Rugby World Cup 2019 has this time left the poster in the northern hemisphere. A Sunday marking the entry in the running of two contenders for the title, Ireland and England, but also of Scotland and Italy. The Transalpins, who opened the ball, have not had any trouble getting rid of Namibia, signing at once the first box of the competition (47-22).
A great success that will not erase the doubts about this Squadra Azzurra, who still conceded three tries against the Namibians. This defensive record worries logically, while the teammates of Sergio Parisse will cross the road of New Zealand and South Africa.
In front either, the Italians were not really brilliant. Blame it on too many approximations, some clumsiness and especially plethora of bad choices, which saw the men of the Irish Conor O'Shea spoil many ammunition. Errors that have not sealed the Italian balance sheet, since Namibia was low enough for the offensive bonus to be insured as soon as the locker room returns. But if Allan (26th), Tebaldi (40th), Bellini (44th), Canna (46th), Polledri (70th) and Minozzi (76th) took turns in the promised land, Italy will have to do much better if it wants avoid taking full force the cold realism of the All Blacks or the power of the Springboks.
Ireland mate Scotland ...
The day's poster contrasted Ireland, victorious for four of the last six editions of the Six Nations, with Scotland. A duel between two historic rugby nations that has respected the logic of the past fifteen years: since 2003, the XV Clover had beaten that of the Thistle 17 times in 22 confrontations. And the eighteenth was not slow to take shape.
Fifteen minutes of play, the Greens had already scored two tries by Ryan (7-0, 6th) and Best (12-0, 14th). And when Laidlaw finally threw the Scots on the scoreboard (12-3, 21st), Furlong was responsible for definitely stopping the suspense even before the half hour of play (19-3, 25th). At the return of the locker room, the Irish have therefore applied to go to score the fourth test that would ensure the defensive bonus. A quarter of an hour was enough, since Conway, enjoying a good job of Larmour in the 22 Scottish, was able to flatten in turn (24-3, 56th).
Under the drizzle, the Greens then only had to contain the shy assaults of Scots not frankly sharp. Carty, for statistics, has even added three points in the wallet of his, to close the score of a meeting (27-3) that will not remain in the history of the World Rugby. Two lessons however: Ireland is the big favorite of Pool A where the second ticket for the quarter will be played between Scotland and Japan. And given the first games, not sure that the players Gregor Townsend have such a large margin on the Brave Blossoms, especially at home.
... and England does the minimum service
From the margin, the English also had a valuable but limited selection of Tonga. Faced with the islanders, the XV of the Rose has complicated the task by multiplying the approximations, testify the few hand faults conceded in 80 minutes. A tension that has never put the men of Eddie Jones in great danger, even if they have long run after their fourth try, synonymous with offensive bonus (35-3).
A detail all the more damaging that the XV of the Rose had started well by registering two tries in the first half-hour, on a doubled Tuilagi (24th, 31st). If behind, George brought the total of English tries to three (57th), the meter then did not move until the last moments of the match. And the English salute finally came from Cowan-Dickie (77th), at the end of what will remain as a meeting of setting for the favorite of a pool C which still counts Argentina and France, two contenders very serious quarterfinals.