Things could even get worse

ONCE more Europe’s best huffed and puffed against the big three but never came even close to blowing down any houses. Even their picket fences looked safe.

England’s scrum against an injury ravaged Australian front row provided the only display of northern power on a day when even Grand Slam champions France were made look decidedly ordinary by a fired-up and very committed South African side.

Only Scotland, relying heavily on the boot of Dan Parks, registered anything positive with an impressive 16-24 win at the previously impregnable Tucuman stadium against an Argentina side continuing its rebuilding process since their heroics at the last World Cup.