Major step-up needed in Paris

AS if spurred on by the quality of recent Heineken Cup clashes, the opening weekend of this year’s Six Nations Championship provided high quality drama and even the long-awaited shock result.

With Grand Slam champions Wales dethroned at the first hurdle, the biggest shock saw tournament favourites France defeated by an outstanding performance from a rejuvenated Scottish side.

Scotland’s demise in this tournament over the past six years has been painful to watch. Like Ireland in the 1990s, the Scots have endured a period of humiliating results, which undermined their quality as an international force.