The best was saved until the last. You didn't need to be a soothsayer to predict the Ireland versus Wales clash yesterday would be the pick of the RBS Six Nations clashes on the first weekend of the famous old tournament and so it proved, although the result, and the controversy it caused caught me out, at least.
Wales confounded the doubters - me included - by deservedly beating Ireland in Dublin despite lacking five key injured players and losing captain Sam Warburton at half-time. They next face Scotland in Cardiff followed by England at Twickenham and can afford to have some big ambitions.
That said, Bradley Davies can expect a two-game ban for one of the worst, off the ball tip tackles you will ever see, although the fact that his yellow card meant he returned to the pitch for the final few, crucial minutes will be of no consolation to Ireland. Moreover the tip tackle that Stephen Ferris produced to concede a late penalty and the match was negligible, to say the least.
Over in Paris France proved too strong for Italy and look, to me, to be the team to beat in the Six Nations, with a back row and a backs line to die for. Italy, though, did enough to suggest that they will be a handful for England on Saturday in Rome.
As for England, it would be churlish not to praise them for their great character and defence at Murrayfield to record a first win there since 2004, but they beat a Scottish side seemingly incapable of scoring a try. The stats were so overwhelming in Scotland's favour that, ultimately, it was a case of Scotland losing rather than England winning.
Still, the young, inexperienced England will be much the better for that first win and will go to Rome hoping, if not expecting, a second, successive victory. The bad news is from then on it gets a great deal tougher.
Wales, featuring a huge backs line including Jamie Roberts and George North, the latter making an early play for star of the tournament, then France away and finally Ireland at home suggests a final return of three wins. Not bad, but good enough to maintain the interim management full-time? Time will tell.
