England strike telling blow in Lions year, Ireland hit back in the best way and why you can't beat Cardiff under the ligths

Five things we learned: Scotland grow sick of the brave tag and Italy fail to end the argument for introducing a Six Nations relegation play-off

The clash in Cardiff between Wales and England did not disappoint (Getty)

England strike telling blow in Lions year

England’s 30-3 Six Nations defeat in Cardiff in 2013 had a decisive impact on Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions squad that summer, with the way the red rose wilted under the intense Millennium Stadium atmosphere paving the way for captain Chris Robshaw to miss out on the squad.

This time around, it was England that did the talking and sent a message to Gatland – leave us out at your peril. With two rounds down, England remain the only unbeaten team left in the Six Nations, and the likes of Elliot Daly and Maro Itoje are putting their hands up for a first XV birth in Gatland’s squad.

The positive is that Wales did not wilt like England did four years’ ago, but while the individuals in red at the Principality Stadium did not play themselves out of the squad, those in white may have played them out of the starting line-up.

Ireland find the right way to blow off the cobwebs

The best medicine for an opening weekend is to take on the weakest team in the Six Nations and run nine tries past them in a 63-10 rout. Ireland sent out a statement that they’re far from done in this year’s championship, and claimed the first try-scoring bonus point of the tournament to boot.

That additional point is an important one, as it currently puts them in front of Wales, Scotland and France, with all four picking up losing bonus points in the one game they each lost. With England still due to travel to Dublin on the final weekend of the championship, Ireland need to make sure they win all their matches and hope they’ve racked up enough bonus points to beat England to the title. This championship is still far from over.

Scots grow sick of being the brave

Ask any fan who watched France’s 22-16 win over Scotland to describe Vern Cotter’s side and more often than not you’ll hear the word “brave” crop up. It’s a label quite frequently used in relation to Scotland in the years under Vern Cotter, but it is not one they enjoy hearing as it usually refers to a defeat.

Had Scotland held on against the French when they took the lead through Tim Swinson’s try, they would be celebrating a famous victory in Paris that ended their 18-year barren spell. Instead, the loss brings back the idea that Scotland are still just a yard short of challenging at the very top of the tree.

Italy stuck in a decline

The table makes bleak reading for Italy. Conor O’Shea’s side have already shipped 96 points in their two opening defeats, and a five-point gap has already opened up between them and the nearest challengers.

But what will be more alarming, particularly for O’Shea, is how they collapsed in Rome on Saturday afternoon. While Italy may not win many matches, they at least make matters difficult for the opposition, especially when in front of their home fans. That they had already shipped 28 points by half-time made bleak viewing any Italians, and also added weight to the calls for relegation to be introduced.

There’s nothing quite like Cardiff under the lights

In The Independent’s predictions for the Six Nations, the anticipated highlight for me was a first trip to Cardiff for Wales vs England. It didn’t disappoint. From the Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir rousing the fans to the flamethrowers shooting high into the air as the teams emerged, everything was built up for a thunderous occasion.

Luckily, the match delivered. What played out was a true rugby Test, with bodies scattered across the turf in exhaustion at the end, one side devastated, the other leaping for joy at snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. If only every rugby match proved so spine-tingling.