Three things we learned from the Six Nations

France cemented their status as pre-tournament favourites by launching their Six Nations campaign with a comprehensive 37-10 home win over perennial strugglers Italy on Sunday.

Ireland also laid down a title marker by overwhelming reigning champions Wales 29-7 in Dublin on Saturday, while Scotland edged out England 20-17 in Edinburgh as their oldest rivals opened the Six Nations with a defeat for the third year in a row.

Below, AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from an intriguing first round:

Adams indiscipline sums up Welsh woes

For all Wales were without several first-choice players due to injury, they still had more caps in their side than the Ireland team that defeated them so thoroughly in Dublin.

What would have been a tricky fixture for even a full-strength Wales was made all the more difficult by the way they repeatedly conceded penalties, with Josh Adams's illegal shoulder charge on Ireland flyhalf Johnny Sexton the most blatant example.

Adams, normally a wing, had a frustrating match after Wales coach Wayne Pivac gave him a first Test start at centre, with his lack of specialist positional knowledge exploited by the Ireland midfield duo of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose. For all that coaches like 'utility' players, this was another illustration of how Test rugby is no place to be learning the nuances of a specialist position.

Russell plays the percentages

Finn Russell has often been described as a 'maverick' flyhalf whose capacity for inspired brilliance one moment is matched only by an equal facility for outlandish error the next.

Yet in a Calcutta Cup match where England dominated territory and possession, Russell displayed excellent judgement as he guided Scotland to victory. It was his precise cross-kick