Six Nations 2024: England weakness made clear as Scotland controversy puts protocol in spotlight

England tiptoed past Wales at Twickenham, Scotland were robbed by protocol against France and Ireland continued to trample all in their wake.

It was another intriguing weekend of Six Nations action, with no shortage of controversy, memorable moments and lingering talking points from Edinburgh to London and Dublin.

Here, Standard Sport’s rugby correspondent Nick Purewal looks at the key issues to have arisen from round two.

Sections of the Irish media have already anointed Andy Farrell’s men as double Grand Slam winners, with three games still to play.

While obviously premature, Ireland are so dominant that there is no arrogance in such a call.

France have been ransacked in Marseille, then Italy were vanquished 36-0 at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

Ireland host Wales on Saturday week, head to England in round four and will then finish the tournament by welcoming Scotland to Dublin.

Consecutive clean sweeps will be forthcoming unless one of their three remaining opponents springs a major surprise.

That, and of course the dreaded fear of complacency. Except, this ultra-focused and detailed Ireland squad seem determined to make up for their World Cup quarter-final exit.

The pain of another last-eight loss, when the tournament could have been there for the taking in France in the autumn, is driving Farrell’s players.

That fire and fury, allied to on-field focus and finesse, should be sufficient for more Six Nations glory.

Once upon a time, the rival Home Nations used to look longingly at England’s plentiful stocks of massive, nasty, aggressive Test stars.

Now it is England who pine for the kind of bulk and aggression that the likes of Ireland can send into Test action.

Joe McCarthy’s elevation only rubs further salt into the wounds of an England group crying out for more power.

Throw in James Ryan, Iain Henderson and Ryan Baird up front – then Robbie Henshaw and Stuart McCloskey in the centres before even mentioning the most brutal of all in Bundee Aki.

England have spent a lot of time recently rebuilding their academy pathways, such is the latest jargon.

Let us hope that paved production line can usher through some serious brickhouses.

Maybe a fortuitous victory in chaotic circumstances will be just the short in the arm that France need.

Their World Cup hangover shows no signs of abating though, despite Les Bleus squeaking their way to a 20-16 win over Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday.

France were meant to go and win their home World Cup and be feted around the country and beyond as heroes forever more.

That script did not translate for South Africa however, who spoiled the party and then progressed to stage their own celebrations by retaining the Webb Ellis Cup in a total Paris takeover.

Any side would be suffering from a low ebb after France’s World Cup fate, but now the big challenge will be how they respond.

Missing the world’s best player Antoine Dupont does not help, with the scrum-half prepping for sevens duty in the summer’s Paris Olympics.

But France have the personnel and the coaches to right their listing ship. A mid-table finish awaits in this Six Nations, but Les Bleus should already be eyeing a title next term.

Wales’ crop of youngsters have dropped as many clangers as magic moments in two madcap matches.

Two defeats from two games does not read well, but Wales are at one of their lowest ebbs off the field.

Wily boss Warren Gatland has wasted no time in blooding the next generation, and now the challenge is for his union to hold fast and back him to the hilt.

There is a huge amount of raw potential in this new-look Wales, and who better than Gatland to turn promise into results.

It is all too easy to say that a side will be some team in three years, as hardly any coach ever receives such grace. Maybe this Wales group fits that category though, and how refreshing it would be for Gatland to have that leeway.

Rugby’s refereeing terminology too often sounds like a court of law.

Granted, some of the shenanigans in a Test match might be better judged by a magistrate, but it is time to bin the legalese and speed up almost every single process.

From time-sapping resets to interminable waits for TV reviews, rugby can struggle to enthral the diehard fan, let alone the casual viewer.

The sight of referees standing around talking to fellow officials sat in broadcast trucks is all too often, and all too ponderous. Scotland ultimately lost a match they should have won due to protocol, denied a try potentially due to the specific flowchart way the referee and TMO discussed the possible score.