Three things we learned from the Six Nations

Reigning champions France launched their Six Nations title defence with an emphatic win over Ireland, fellow contenders England were far too strong for a woeful Wales and Italy maintained their progress with a deserved defeat of Scotland.

Below AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from an eventful first week of the Championship:

FRANCE VINDICATE GALTHIE'S SELECTION POLICY

France coach Fabien Galthie provoked plenty of comment by dropping Les Bleus' record try-scorer Damien Penaud, centre Gael Fickou and No 8 Gregory Alldritt from his initial Six Nations squad.

Yet such is France's enviable strength in depth, the trio were barely missed during a commanding 36-14 win over Ireland, with centre Nicolas Depoortere beating seven defenders during the Stade de France encounter.

Meanwhile, man-of-the-match Mickael Guillard, who started at lock, shouldered a significant amount of the ball-carrying workload as outstanding scrum-half Antoine Dupont made his first test appearance since suffering a severe knee injury against Ireland last March.

FORD STILL DRIVING ENGLAND ONTO GLORY

George Ford turns 33 next month and there are those who question why England coach Steve Borthwick persists with the veteran fly-half this close to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia when younger alternatives such as Fin Smith and Marcus Smith are available.

But it was easy to understand Borthwick's thinking as Ford masterminded a 48-7 hammering of Wales at Twickenham, his sharp pass and precise cross-kick setting up Henry Arundell for the first two of the wing's three tries.

Admittedly, Ford will rarely have had an easier ride in his 106 England caps than against an utterly outclassed Wales suffering a 12th consecutive Championship defeat.

By contrast, this was England's 12th successive victory in all tests – their best sequence since Ford featured in a run of 18 wins in a row from 2015-2017.

England are often accused of arrogance come what may, but Ford has urged the team to embrace their new-found confidence ahead of a potentially awkward second-round clash with Scotland in Edinburgh.

"We've got to definitely use it, it's such a positive thing, why wouldn't we?," he said. "A lot of the time in England we get told to temper it, but let's use it."

SPOTLIGHT STILL ON SCOTLAND COACH TOWNSEND

Scotland boss Gregor Townsend only signed a new contract in September that is meant to see him remain in charge until the 2027 World Cup.

But if rugby superpower New Zealand can fire a head coach, as they did when dismissing Scott Robertson last month, in sight of the global showpiece, might Scotland yet be tempted to do the same with Townsend?

The former Scotland playmaker was left with his head in his hands come the final whistle of an 18-15 defeat by Italy in a rain-sodden Rome, the narrow margin flattering the visitors after they were outshone in all departments by an Azzurri side benefitting from coach Gonzalo Quesada's guidance.

Townsend, 52, took charge of Scotland nine years ago and, for all the talk of a 'golden generation' of players, he has still to end their unwanted record of failing to finish higher than third place since the Five Nations became the Six Nations in 2000.

Saturday's reverse at the Stadio Olimpico was yet another example of their inability to overcome adversity following dispiriting losses to New Zealand and Argentina in November.

But a Calcutta Cup match against England at Murrayfield is the surest way of firing up Scotland.

"I believe in the players, I believe in what we're doing," said Townsend. "It didn't happen (against Italy) and we've got to make sure it happens next week."