6 Nations: Round 2

This weekend's Six Nations is spread across the whole weekend - one match each day. However, by this evening the tournament will probably be effectively over, as far as the question of the title winner is concerned.

France play Ireland tonight - indeed they are due to kick off about now (6pm UK time). With France and Wales both losing last weekend, only Ireland remain as a realistic challenge to another English Grand Slam... but to remain in the hunt they will have to beat France in France, which doesn't happen very often. They've only ever lost four home games in the tournament's history - and three of those were to England. Wales went there last year full of hope... and came away well beaten, and there is every chance that the same thing will happen to Ireland tonight.

If they do lose then that will be that as - in order for anyone else to take the title - England would have to lose twice - and that isn't going to happen. Which means that the real interest this year will be the question of who will finish second - and that is wide, wide open.

Wales were second last season, but this year its a bit tougher for them with away games in Ireland and England. Furthermore this Sunday's home game with Scotland (2pm, Bridgend RFC) would normally have been a bit of a banker, but not only is that game coming only 8 days after the 31-0 drubbing to England, their opponents will be buoyed like never before after their shock win over France. Wales should still be too strong for them, but the home side will have to work much harder than they might have anticipated.

Finally on Saturday England will be playing in Italy for only the second time. Gary Street has rested several players, using the full squad as he must in World Cup year, but this slightly weakened side will still be vastly stronger than their hosts (or indeed anyone else in the world outside the top four, probably). In fact the only question is whether or not England will pass 50 points again.

Obviously there will be no live coverage from anywhere (it looked like France might have managed something, but the screens are all blank) however highlights from France and Italy are possible - if anything appears I'll post the links on here.

• News from France: As predicted tonight, a win for France, 19-9. See Scrumqueens for match report.