Six Nations Team of the Week: Standout Performers from Opening Round
The opening round of the Six Nations Championship has concluded, delivering three compelling matches filled with drama and intrigue. France solidified their status as tournament favourites with a commanding victory over Ireland, while England began their campaign with a comprehensive win against Wales. The weekend's closest contest unfolded in challenging conditions in Rome, where Italy secured a narrow victory over Scotland.
Front Row Dominance
Loosehead prop: Jean-Baptiste Gros, France
While France's front five didn't completely dominate at scrum time against Ireland, Gros provided crucial stability to their set-piece effort. His versatility shone through as he appeared in both tight and open spaces, contributing significantly to Charles Ollivon's try with excellent handling skills.
Hooker: Jamie George, England
George's leadership and composure stood out during England's convincing victory over Wales. His communication with match officials remains exemplary, while his lineout throwing provided England with a reliable platform despite difficult conditions for hookers.
Tighthead prop: Simone Ferrari, Italy
Ferrari delivered a dominant performance in wet conditions, repeatedly troubling Scotland's normally solid Pierre Schoeman at scrum time. His display becomes even more impressive considering Italy's extensive injury list, suggesting he may retain the starting position even when Marco Riccioni returns.
Second Row Excellence
Lock: Ollie Chessum, England
Chessum approached England's match against Wales with something to prove alongside Alex Coles, given their rare starting opportunity in Maro Itoje's absence. He delivered emphatically, demonstrating outstanding leadership in both attacking and defensive lineouts while showcasing his athleticism with several eye-catching carries in midfield.
Lock: Mickael Guillard, France
Despite playing only 49 minutes, Guillard inflicted significant damage on Ireland with his powerful carrying game. Sixteen of his carries proved bruising for Irish defenders, while his subtle skills were evident in the neat inside pass that created Charles Ollivon's try. Italy's Niccolo Cannone deserves honorable mention for his tireless performance in torrential conditions.
Back Row Brilliance
Blindside flanker: Francois Cros, France
Cros might not have produced the most eye-catching moments, but he served as the essential lubricant in France's well-oiled machine. His work at rucks and linking play proved crucial to France's fluid performance, with their breakdown precision highlighted by going an entire half without conceding a penalty for the first time in Opta's records.
Openside flanker: Manuel Zuliani, Italy
Zuliani narrowly edged out Oscar Jegou for this selection due to his heroic defensive effort against Scotland in stormy conditions. The flanker made nineteen tackles, including four dominant hits, while maintaining his customary menace at the breakdown throughout the match.
No 8: Ben Earl, England
Earl continues to demonstrate his unique ability to combine high output with exceptional efficiency, carrying significant responsibility in England's carrying game. His late cameo at centre added further dynamism to his performance. The weekend proved strong for number eights overall, with Jack Dempsey and Aaron Wainwright impressing despite defeats, while Anthony Jelonch and Lorenzo Cannone provided crucial go-forward for their respective teams.
Half-Back Mastery
Scrum half: Antoine Dupont, France
While not every decision proved perfect against Ireland, reviewing the match reveals Dupont's extraordinary impact across all aspects of play. His ability to clear effectively with either foot helped France dominate territory, while he single-handedly forced a turnover by pressuring Jamison Gibson-Park before securing possession on the ground.
Fly half: Matthieu Jalibert, France
Jalibert delivered arguably his most assured performance in a French shirt against Ireland, combining effectively with Dupont after their previous two outings together. With Romain Ntamack unavailable for at least the Wales match, the Bordeaux Begles playmaker appears set to continue at number ten. England's George Ford also impressed, albeit against less challenging opposition.
Back Three Standouts
Left wing: Louis Bielle-Biarrey, France
Bielle-Biarrey represents a freakish athletic talent who threatens to score virtually every time he receives possession. France's improved aerial contest work proved equally important, denying Ireland any meaningful foothold in the match through their enhanced kicking game.
Inside centre: Tommaso Menoncello, Italy
Menoncello emerged as perhaps the only player who could find secure footing during Rome's torrential downpour. His thunderous carrying complemented perfectly with Juan Ignacio Brex's subtler skills, creating a delicious midfield combination that troubled Scotland throughout.
Outside centre: Tommy Freeman, England
While Freeman will want to improve his distribution after one poor pass, his performance as a front-door carrier and defensive organizer in the thirteen channel demonstrated why Steve Borthwick values him so highly. His late try, scored after moving to wing, marked his seventh consecutive Six Nations match with a score.
Right wing: Henry Arundell, England
Although playing on the left wing, Arundell's try-scoring exploits demand inclusion. While his three finishes appeared straightforward, flashes of exceptional speed elsewhere complemented a strong all-round performance that included a powerful tackle on Louis Rees-Zammit. Louis Lynagh can consider himself unfortunate to miss selection.
Full-back: Thomas Ramos, France
Perhaps no player in world rugby creates magical moments from apparent disaster as consistently as Ramos. This slightly frenetic energy contrasts beautifully with his reliable goal-kicking, making him a uniquely valuable asset in France's backline.
