When I was in the UK last week, I attended a charity function in the company of many great names in Welsh Rugby, both on and off field. One was Jonathan Davies, the Scarlets centre who’s outstanding in any era. His highlights reel showed how much the national side miss players like him and the list is long (Warburton, Biggar, North, Wyn Jones, HalfPenny, Owens, G Davies just to mention a few). Also in attendance was the quixotic former England coach and Harlequin Dick Best. He is known for the famous comment that in rugby (and not only) one moment you are a cock rooster, the next day a feather duster. Sport can be cruel and adds to the mystique. However, if the stadium cover is shut and the French cockerel-strutting mavericks come to town in the mood, Welsh supporters will be hiding behind the sofa because it could get ugly. Everyone knows that England should have scored 70 at Twickenham.

After Round One, Le Crunch in Paris between England and France looks even more likely as the decider for this year’s Championship. I did not think the Irish were poor last weekend, just predictable, their playing patterns easy to defend. As people have pointed out, a heavy Lions presence can hurt you in the following season, plus some top names fading from prominence. The Bordeaux inspired counterattacking Gallic influences were on a different level and the capacity to defend pace and quality lines of running have always been a challenge for any side on the receiving end in Paris, bar perhaps the Springboks (see the World Cup video, defence at a level of intensity difficult to comprehend).

Before that, a different type of crunch moment looms. The “Grudge” (book and film as well as the game itself) remembers the Grand Slam play off in 1990 between a buoyant (overconfident?) England and a feisty Scottish team who used poll tax anger and the historic Flower of Scotland anthem – ‘send them homeward to think again’- for a famous and unforgettable victory (oh, by the way Stanger didn’t touch the ball down, just saying). I remember only too well. In current times though, this is a match Scotland cannot afford to lose in order to save their season, even if their loss in Rome was not as bad as some say.

Italy is a fine rugby team, and when they toured South Africa last year they raised eyebrows with their quality when missing top players. There are no sterner critics and I took note. A papal downpour levelled the field further and I was not surprised in a way because any side who takes an early advantage in such conditions is difficult to reel in. Scotland changed their back three and paid the price in my opinion.

For England, the statisticians are questioning the number of quality away wins (exclude Argentina) achieved by this group of players. Murrayfield is an ideal moment to test these credentials. Lose and it is not all over but it will be a reality check and they can absorb it as long as their play is improving – second half against Wales was poor after they had been handed the easiest of platforms by opponents who looked sadly out of place in Test match surroundings. I am pleased they have kept as is – all the critics who criticise England’s hot potato approach to centre selection were clamouring for Freeman to play on the wing. Leave well alone and let him and Dingwall develop, now that Fin Smith is on the bench and bringing a club familiarity, with Mitchell at 9 and Pollock in the mix.The other infuriating thing about the lax approach to the Wales game was the missed and priceless opportunity to try things out when the pressure is off. That’s where Ford needs to relax more and bring his attack players into the game. We will not win a World Cup without exploring the full potential of our wide attack. Roebuck hardly received a pass, for example.

I was expecting a slow start to the Six Nations and so it has transpired. It will hot up in Murrayfield now, even with the snow which is forecast to fall every day this week other than Saturday!! This is a seminal moment for both sides and they know it.

Hallers.