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Four players added to England squad as Borthwick fills injury gaps
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5 Englishmen make our Six Nations team of the week
By Josh Raisey
Round one of the Guinness Six Nations is in the books, and it was three dominant displays, despite what the scoreline between Italy and Scotland suggests.
France, Italy and England had plenty of top performers in their victories, and all three sides are well represented in this round’s team of the week.
While there are often valiant displays in defeat, it is very hard to make a case for a player from Ireland, Scotland or Wales this week. So here’s our Six Nations round one team of the week:
15. Thomas Ramos
Ireland gave Ramos all the time in the world at the Stade de France, and they paid the price. Whether he was joining the line, forcing quick lineouts or returning kicks, the full-back played with swagger and supreme confidence, making 95 metres from his 13 carries, with two line breaks. His sliced volley to assist a try for Louis Bielle-Biarrey epitomised the audacity that laces his game currently.
14. Henry Arundell
A first-half hat-trick in his first start since 2023, taking his tally to 11 tries in 12 Tests, earns Arundell a place in the team. Three well-taken tries, albeit self-confessed “tap-ins”, but a well-rounded display too, defending his left flank resolutely.
Six Nations
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
England
1
1
0
0
5
2
France
1
1
0
0
5
3
Italy
1
1
0
0
4
4
Scotland
1
0
1
0
1
5
Ireland
1
0
1
0
0
6
Wales
1
0
1
0
0
13. Tommy Freeman
Deployed as a midfield battering ram as he finds his feet as an outside centre, Freeman beat seven defenders at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium and carried for 104 metres – both the most in the match. His move to the wing at the end of the match resulted in a try, but he had peppered the Welsh line all match.
12. Tommaso Menoncello
Italy needed authority in the middle of the field against ‘Huwipulotu’ and Menoncello delivered it in spades. Defensively he was abrasive and unyielding, but it was his carrying that set him apart, making 106 metres despite the driving rain. He finished with a try and consistently dented the gainline, giving Italy a real front-foot presence.
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
There are only a handful of players in world rugby that create excitement every time they touch the ball, but there is a genuine expectation that Bielle-Biarrey will produce magic with every carry. Four carries against Ireland, which produced three line breaks and two tries – as clinical as wingers come.
10. George Ford
The master conductor in London and the player of the match. Put Arundell in for two tries in the first half – one a sharp cut-out pass and the other a cross-field kick – which ensured the game was put to bed by half time. His torpedo bomb is becoming a lethal weapon for England that opposing full-backs will grow to fear.
9. Antoine Dupont
Was this a vintage Dupont performance? Probably not, but it was still a display littered with pure class in his first Test since rupturing his ACL last March. From his chipped kick in the build-up to Bielle-Biarrey’s second try to him manhandling his opposite man Jamison Gibson-Park, this was a well-rounded display.
1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
France may have dominated Ireland in the scrum like many expected, but Gros still made his presence felt in the loose, delivering a well-timed pass to Mickaël Guillard in the build-up to Charles Ollivon’s try.
2. Giacomo Nicotera
In rain that will go down in Six Nations folklore, Nicotera must be commended for his lineout accuracy when it appeared every Scottish lineout was in the lap of the gods. Italy’s lineout functioned at 94 per cent thanks to Nicotera and Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, while Scotland’s 74 per cent return seems surprisingly high. With 17 tackles during an hour on the field, Nicotera was the pick of the hookers this weekend.
3. Simone Ferrari
The sight of Ferrari crumpling Pierre Schoeman, and the entirely Scotland pack, in a scrum perfectly embodied the Azzurri’s demolition of Gregor Townsend’s side in Rome. Destructive in the scrum and a staggering 18 tackles in an hour earned the tighthead the player of the match accolade.
4. Ollie Chessum
Hit some shrewd lines and had a few galloping runs against Wales, but the British & Irish Lion’s work in the tight gave England a physical edge up front. Alongside Alex Coles, Chessum also gave Dewi Lake a torrid time at the lineout.
5. Mickaël Guillard
No player made more carries in Paris than Guillard’s 16, and they all came in 49 minutes on the field. These were largely bruising carries in close quarters, but when he was able to stretch his legs in the wider channels, he put his second-row comrade Ollivon in for a try. With a further two turnovers, this is a well-deserved place in the team.
6. Michele Lamaro
Deserves a place in the team alone for his floated pass for Menoncello’s try, but the Italy skipper thrived in the chaos, unsettling Scotland at the breakdown and setting the tone physically.
7. Oscar Jegou
There are few stats from Les Bleus’ victory over Andy Farrell’s side in which Jegou is not near the top. The La Rochelle flanker was in and around the action either side of the ball for the full 80 minutes.
8. Ben Earl
Scored his eighth Test try in the corner, but that was just the tip of the iceberg in a performance where Earl seemed to have his hands on the ball everywhere. 17 carries, three line breaks, 13 tackles – these are normal numbers for the Saracen, but that doesn’t make them any less impressive.
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