Six Nations need bonus point stimulus

AS anticipated, wins for Ireland, Wales and France last weekend, but each came with a greater degree of difficulty than might have been envisaged.

The chase for the famed Grand Slam is now the sole preserve of Ireland and Wales as the only two unbeaten teams after just two rounds with Declan Kidney’s men proudly at the summit of the championship table on a points difference.

Every year at this juncture, I bemoan the fact that this tournament remains the only major rugby competition without the bonus point system in place which to me is a far better way of producing an outright winner than points differential. At Murrayfield, for example, when Wales beat Scotland, Warren Gatland withdrew several players with 20 minutes to go because of a mere six-day turnover for their game against England. It is unlikely he would have done so if circumstances were different.