On to the final weekend we go then, but no matter how artistically-delivered Eddie Butler's clichés, or how musical Jonathan Davies's exclamations of 'numbers on the right by 'ere', this has not been the most enjoyable of Six Nations tournaments.

Not a single nation has truly imposed itself upon proceedings. There is no 'team to beat', no outstanding forward pack, no individual magicians. There is no pattern to proceedings in many games. Defences are ruling the roost.

Too many of the matches have been broken affairs, with the boredom and frustration from the terraces seeping down, chloroforming the creative minds on the pitch, and paralysing the initiative of the coaches for the next games.

The number of tries - 51 so far - is actually slightly up on the tournament at this stage last year - 49 going into the final weekend - but with traditionally the two tightest games of the past few years coming up (England-Ireland and Scotland-Italy), and both Welsh and French current inability to cut loose without vast manicured and moisturised helping hands from the opposition, one could safely bet that last year's eventual total of 71 is under no threat.

Even if it were, the sheer number of giveaway tries in this tournament has been astounding. France have scored six or seven from interceptions alone. Against Ireland, only three of their harvest of six were all of their own making.

The aimlessness has been such that the most likely creative force in this tournament has been Ireland, and mixing the words 'creative' and 'Ireland' is usually an oxymoron of sorts. But England's supply of tries has quickly dried up, and two of France's three scoring sprees have been the result of serial mistakes by the opposition. Wales's tactic of running across the pitch until the opposition is tired is neither endearing nor effective anymore, and Scotland's triumphs are all based on defensive virtues, as is Italy's improvement. Only Ireland are moving the ball with regular purpose now, and had the weather not been so appalling on Saturday, they would have won by more than they did.

Perhaps a stagnant tournament was to be expected. The forthcoming Rugby World Cup is still eighteen months away, but in terms of number of international matches, it is only very slightly further away than the domestic final - for some of the French players, it is not even that far.

There are two June tours, one November series, and one more Six Nations to go before we get underway in Paris on September 7. There may be some friendlies as well, but effectively the Six Nations teams all have anything between 15 and 19 matches to go before the World Cup.

Club teams with that many matches to go in a domestic season would not be wanting to piddle about with playing styles and new signings. Now would be the time to start heading towards the peak that would claim the title. The start of that process is getting the defence right.

All the coaches - with the exception of Wales, whose coach has not been around long enough to be able to prioritise this sort of thing - appear to have placed heavier emphasis on defence than attacking poise in this tournament.

Italy, Ireland and Scotland are all on course to concede fewer points than last season, while France should remain about the same. England will limit the worsening of the damage in their 'Points Against' column with a good performance against Ireland.

Only Wales are significantly worse in defence this time, which rather bears out Mike Ruddock's assertion that added steel would have been the way to build on last year's handling delights, and not more of the handling frippery. Time is running out.

Certainly for Italy, the coaches and fans will not care a jot how defensive and forward-oriented the matches are. The crucial thing for Italy is that they are now leaking less and leading occasionally because of it. They have never been in so many winning positions before. But they have not yet perfected the art of attacking to finish it off.

Scotland have plugged all the gaps that left them feeding off wooden spoons and on scraps in the last two seasons respectively, and are squeezing out tight wins. Attacking inspiration has been at a premium - but they do have the weapons.

Ireland - one woeful half against France aside, are a tight unit once again, compared to the rag-tag shower that was so impotent in November. The defence is solid, and against Wales, France and Scotland, the attack started getting into gear.

England thought they had it right, but they are now getting it helplessly wrong. The defence was there already, or so we all thought, but it has only led to stagnation in attack. They must go back to square one, and quickly. France...they continue to do their own thing. Just enjoy it, at least there is unpredictability there, and it is fun to listen to the fickle French crowd.

So it has been a defensive tournament, and not too much fun to watch, but with the World Cup on its way we shouldn't have expected much else. Squads are getting settled though, and soon the defences will be in place for most. By next year for sure. Then the coaches can focus on attack again, and we will enjoy the bigger thrills. Bring it on!