Stuart Barnes discusses the main themes after round two of the Six Nations including the form of George North and how Englands campaign is only going to get tougher... 1. After two rounds it has not been much of a showpiece for European rugby. It is intense, aggressive, all those nasty snarling things but for class, its a different and inferior game to what we see south of the equator. That is why the highlight of the competition so far has to be that magical moment in the 70th minute in Cardiff when George North awoke from his slumbers and scored his superb solo try.He was OK against Ireland and solid enough in the Scotland game but that try may have ignited his stuttering recent last year or so - not to mention the Six Nations itself. To see someone of Norths size moving so quickly, with such balance, is a thing of rugby beauty. We need our stars shining brightly. Englands Jonathan Joseph scores against Italy 2. Sunday afternoon is a perfect reminder that selection is a long-term issue and not a knee-jerk reaction to current form. Jonathan Joseph scored a hat-trick and was acclaimed Englands hero. Never mind if two of the finishes were as routine as they get. Yet only a few weeks ago the only outside centres name being mentioned in England was Elliot Daly. No wonder Eddie Jones was happy to give his Bath man the big rap. Jonathan Joseph scored a second-half hat-trick as England beat Italy 40-9 in the Six Nations in Rome. Courtesy of ITV Sport. 3. We can talk tactics and selection as much as we like but sometimes Lady Luck intervenes and theres nothing a coach can do about it. Joe Schmidt and the good lady once seemed to be close but from the day Ireland beat France in the World Cup she has turned her back on him. Ireland and Schmidt have done wonders in the past few years but with so many injuries they were left struggling to hang on against the depth of the French squad in Paris.There was nothing unlucky about poor Irish hands when they were building pressure close to the French line in a first half of complete domination and there was nothing Schmidt could do about it. The Irish coach hasnt become a bad coach overnight, he has become unlucky. The good news for England came from the bench. The old guard may still splutter but Maro Itoje looked the part from the minute he stepped onto the Test match stage. Stuart Barnes 4. Lets not pretend the action has been riveting on the field. Non-rugby fans would wonder what all the fuss is about but for the crazy lovers of this frequently frustrating but often beguiling game, it is the atmosphere that draws them to the tournament. Will Greenwood joins Alex Payne to review the weekends Six Nations action on Rugby Club Wrap-up On Saturday afternoon, four hours before kick-off in Cardiff, the wind blowing and the media centre locked up for another hour, I was heading for the shelter of a restaurant and a burger in the company of my old mate John Cleave, a substantial voice among Cornwalls finest Sea Shanty singers, Fishermans Friends. Then, from nowhere, six men of indeterminate sobriety jumped me. They were the Zaragoza veterans, Spanish fanatics. One of them recognised Stuart Barnez and demanded a chat and photo. Every year, he explained, the Zaragoza veterans head for a Six Nations match and a weekend of revelry. All hail the Zaragoza veterans and rugbys smiling supporters everywhere. Guy Noves has won two out of two so far 5. Staying continental, France may be two for two under Guy Noves but they are not playing well. The strength of their pack from the bench prevailed against Ireland but as a team there is absolutely no coherence. Having belittled their form, selections and management, is it time to reverse ferret as we call it in the press and cover my non, Monsieur position? Is it heck; Wales will beat them Friday week unless we see a completely different France.....hmm, that unless lacks conviction doesnt it? Wales will beat France. Ireland will need the likes of Sean OBrien back from injury for their Twickenham clash with England 6. Four years ago England had a new regime. They had played two and won two. They had beaten Scotland without playing well. They beat Italy without playing well. That regime went on to win 16 Six Nations games but never a title and most importantly, it fumbled the ball at the World Cup. Beating Scotland and Italy away is the easy part. Two games (played) and two won and no major injuries. Were sailing along pretty well at the moment. Note Jones keeping the facts to the bare limits, which is pretty much where Englands game has been. The waters will get choppier from here. Ireland look very beatable at Twickenham unless they get several players back fit and at full tilt. Then it is Wales at Twickenham which will be interesting, to say the least. Englands future looks bright with Jamie George (L) looks and Maro Itoje 7. The good news for England came from the bench. The old guard may still splutter but Maro Itoje looked the part from the minute he stepped onto the Test match stage. The combination of his carrying the gain-line, Danny Care receiving front foot ball, George Ford unleashing a late pass with Italy in retreat, Jamie George running a perfect late angle onto it and popping a lovely pass into the waiting arms of Owen Farrell for a try was lovely rugby. The present remains muddled but the future looks bright. The big question is how quickly will England reach for tomorrow? Danny Drinkwater avoided punishment for his challenge on Aaron Ramsey 8. A word in defence of rugby referees. I confess, I am an Arsenal fan. I watched the referee give Arsenal nothing in Sundays first half and everything in the second - bar a straight red card after a Leicester tackle which he contrived to miss. Leicester escaped a penalty call against them when a defender had his arms out like a scarecrow to deflect the threat of an Arsenal cross. Later in the day, Manchester City conceded a penalty when their player tucked his arms almost behind his torso, incredible inconsistency from the two leading referees in England…its a tough job, whatever the sport but this cross-sport musing is a reminder that our lot arent as bad as we make out…not always anyway! Jamie Roberts of Wales is congratulated by Taulupe Faletau after scoring their second try against Scotland 9. The player of the tournament to date has to be Jamie Roberts. Defensively he was titanic against Ireland. He repeated that effort in Cardiff and added a try-scoring gain-line bashing element to his 80 minutes against Scotland. As someone who had no left hand either Id love to see him pass off his weak hand...still, you cant have it all. He is playing superbly.10. Spare a thought for Tommy Seymour. He chased and won everything that was put in the air. He scored a smart try, he did everything you could have asked of a winger but the Glasgow star only makes an entry in 10th spot this week and George North steals the headlines. No one said this world was fair, Tommy, but crikey, you played well. Scotland wing Tommy Seymour scores a try against Wales P.S. My real moment of my weekend was Danny Welbecks goal but this is a rugby column so my Arsenal emotions have no place here. But here they are anyway. Have a great week everyone, referees, Cornish Shanty Singers and Zaragoza veterans all. Now have your say… Please tell us what you think by giving us your comments below or alternatively, why not Tweet us @SkySportsRugby? Also See: Brutal England please Jones Ireland count cost of defeat Follow @SkySportsRugby Noves: French feet on the ground Wholesale Golden Knights Jerseys . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Cheap Adidas Golden Knights Jerseys . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. http://www.cheapgoldenknightsjerseys.com/ . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. Cheap Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys . LOUIS -- St.ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is holding what authorities have said is a gun in several surveillance photos that were released Thursday and had been recorded hours before -- and minutes after -- his friend was shot to death. The photos, taken from Hernandezs home surveillance system, are in more than 100 pages of court records released by Attleboro District Court. Prosecutors have previously described the photos in court and in affidavits, but this is the publics first look at images showing Hernandez holding a gun both before and after the killing. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to murder in the death of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old Boston semi-professional football player whose body was found June 17 in an industrial park about a mile from Hernandezs home. He was shot five times. Four pictures show Hernandez in his basement holding a gun shortly after Lloyd was killed, an affidavit released Thursday says. The surveillance was cut off within minutes. Two other photos show what authorities say is Hernandez in his living room, a few hours before Lloyds killing, also holding what they say is a gun. Authorities believe Lloyd was killed with a .45-calibre Glock, which they have said hasnt been recovered. Prosecutors have said that a gun Hernandez is seen holding in the home surveillance appears to be a Glock. Authorities recovered an ammunition clip for .45 calibre bullets in Hernandezs Hummer as well as ammunition of the same calibre inside a condo he rented in Franklin, Mass. The previously sealed documents were released after several media organizations, including The Associated Press, ffiled motions seeking access and Judge Daniel OShea agreed Wednesday that they are public records.dddddddddddd Defence attorneys have objected to the unsealing of the records, saying it is "systematically undermining" Hernandezs right to a fair trial. Also Wednesday, OShea sided with prosecutors who asked to delay a probable cause hearing for Hernandez to give them more time to present evidence in the murder case to a grand jury. That hearing was rescheduled for Aug. 22. Hernandez will continue to be held without bail until then. Prosecutors say Hernandez orchestrated Lloyds killing because he was upset at him for talking to people Hernandez had problems with at a nightclub a few days earlier. They say Hernandez and two associates, Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz, drove with Lloyd to the North Attleborough industrial park. Authorities have not said who fired the shots, but documents filed in Florida portray the former Patriot as the triggerman. According to the records, Ortiz told police that Wallace said Hernandez fired the shots. The Patriots released Hernandez within hours of his arrest. Speaking at length Thursday for the first time since Hernandezs arrest, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said the team has had a "challenging off-season" and that it must work hard to "re-establish what were all about." The University of Florida, where Hernandez played in college, also said it is removing all references to him in and around the stadium in Gainesville. The University Athletic Association said in a statement it "didnt feel it was appropriate to celebrate" the former Gator. ' ' '
