Guernsey Press

5 things we learned from round three of the Guinness Six Nations

Ireland remain on course for title glory, Scotland won the Calcutta Cup again and Italy claimed an historic draw in France.

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Ireland and Scotland savoured victories in the third round of the Guinness Six Nations and Italy claimed an historic 13-13 draw against France, the first time the Azzurri have avoided Championship defeat away to Les Bleus.

Here, the PA news agency looks at five things we learned from the weekend’s action.

Mouthguards concern

Scotland v England – Guinness Six Nations – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend expressed concern about new technology surrounding mouthguards (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Ireland appear unstoppable

Ireland v Wales – Guinness Six Nations – Aviva Stadium
Ciaran Frawley (centre) celebrates with Ireland team-mates after scoring against Wales (Niall Carson/PA)

Scotland have England’s number

The last time Scotland won four Calcutta Cups in a row Queen Victoria was on the throne and Lord Salisbury was Prime Minister. The year was 1896 and England failed to get on the board in a 11-0 Glasgow defeat. Over a century on, England slid to a 30-21 loss as Duhan Van Der Merwe supplied the Murrayfield magic in front of Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Van Der Merwe became the first Scotland player to score a Calcutta Cup hat-trick in moving to within one of the country’s all-time record try-scorer Stuart Hogg.

Feyi-Waboso hits right notes

New England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is known to tickle the ivories and apparently impressed head coach Steve Borthwick with his piano-playing at the team hotel. Borthwick would also have admired the way Feyi-Waboso sped through for his first Test try after coming on as a Murrayfield replacement. The powerful 21-year-old, who was born in Cardiff to Nigerian parents, spotted space and cut a delicious line to score. It was a touch of class to a predictable attacking performance from England, and calls for a starting spot are now set to be deafening.

Winnett is a winner

Ireland v Wales – Guinness Six Nations – Aviva Stadium
Full-back Cameron Winnett shone for Wales in their Six Nations defeat to Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA)
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