M6N Round 1 Recap
- therookiereporters
- 11 hours ago
- 4 min read
Round 1 of the M6N started off with a bang! Here’s everything you missed from the first fixtures of the competition.
France v Ireland
The game kicked off late on Thursday by Ireland. Bielle-Biarrey scored the opening try of the series in the 12th minute with an excellent run down the left wing. Jalibert went on to score the second try less than 10 minutes later from a scrum breakdown, giving them a 12 point lead (Ramos unfortunately missing his second conversion with the ball rebounding off the post). Ramis redeemed himself with a successful penalty, adding 3 points to the board for France. To make it a third was Ollivon with 33 minutes on the clock. Thomas Ramos increased the score further to 22-0 which remained the same until halftime.
The second half was opened again by Bielle-Biarrey and Ramos, increasing their lead by another 7 points. Ireland scored their first points with Timoney scoring after a lovely layoff from Prendergast. They came storming back to claim 14 points with Prendergast and Milne. In the last minute, Attisogue powered down the line and Ramos scored another conversion to take a 36 point win.
Italy v Scotland
Italy and Scotland were the next to play each other in the M6N 2026, both sides fairly equally matched overall. Italy started on the front foot after a sneaky break through the Scottish line which scored them 5 points with a try from Lynagh. Menoncello was the next to score 13 minutes into the game and Garbisi scored his conversion, elevating their lead over Scotland to 12. However, Scotland were not going to back down, and a line out 5m from the try line was capitalised on as Dempsey got them their first point, while Russell sailed the ball through the goal, making it 12-7. With the rain pouring down on the field we had a very greasy ball and more uncharacteristic mistakes, including a crossover foul by Scotland, resulting in Garbisi adding 3 points to Italy’s lead with the penalty.
The second half started with a light drizzle, but the rain soon came out in full force. This time, Scotland were the first to score, picking up 3 points due to an Italian player being offside. The mistakes weren’t exactly few and far between, with the flood of rain and a high tackle by Scotland meaning Italy took home another 3 points. Our first HIA came for Dobie, who was briefly replaced by Graham before being given the all clear. Another first for the competition was the appearance of the TMO and a yellow card that went to the bunker (but remained a yellow) for Scotland’s Turner, after a high tackle and shoulder-head contact. In the closing stages of the match, Horne took a try, making the final score 18-15 to Italy.
England v Wales
To round out our first week of games was England and Wales at the Allianz Twickenham Stadium. George Ford was the first to score, with a penalty kick less than 3 minutes in to take 3 points. Time was called off a while later to attend to an injured Steward for England after a contest in the air. 7 minutes in, Arundell (whose last match was in the 2023 World Cup) scored the opening try for England, with Ford having a successful conversion making it 10-0. Nicky Smith was awarded a yellow card for consistent lack of discipline 16 minutes in. Another yellow card was given to Dewi Lake, their captain, for discipline also, one minute later. Wales had to sub two of their players to form a legal scrum after losing Smith and Lake. Arundell scored England's second try, catching a kick from Ford into the try zone. Ben Earl scored 23 minutes in against the 13 man opposition and Ford sailed the ball through the goal to increase their lead to 22 points. Arundell makes it a hat trick 35 minutes in, sprinting down the left after the breakdown of a scrum, and Ford adds another 2 points afterwards, making it 29-0 with the bonus point.
To make it 5 tries for England was Roebuck just 4 minutes in, with Ford taking their lead further, making the scoreboard 36-0. A yellow card was then awarded to Maro Itoje, less than a minute of being on the pitch after being warned multiple times of fouls. Josh Adams then went on to score their first try 51 minutes in. Edwards scored Wales a conversion to decrease England’s lead by 7 points. A third yellow card for Wales was Duden to Ben Thomas 65 minutes into the game while Henry Pollock made his next cap for England replacing Roebuck. Less than two minutes after entering the field, Pollock went and scored a try, however the tackle by Plumtree went to TMO for a high tackle. This resulted in yet another yellow card for Wales and a penalty try for England, meaning the score went to 43-7. Tommy Freeman then dived to the try line 68 minutes in, however a neck roll by Cowan-Dickie conceded a penalty. Another yellow card was then awarded to Tom Curry making it 6 in the match as a whole. With less than a minute to go, Freeman went for the double, making it 48-7.
Round 2 Schedule (GMT)
Saturday 14th Feb 14:10
- Ireland v Italy
Saturday 14th Feb 16:40
- Scotland v England
Sunday 15th Feb 15:10
- Wales v France
Article written by Alice Seager ©️Alice Seager
