Six Nations XV of the Week - Round 1
Six Nations XV : The Guinness Six Nations is back and the opening round of competition saw no lack of impressive individual performances from the 138 players involved.
Wales got the ball rolling with a comprehensive and clinical 42-0 win over Italy that will have pleased Wayne Pivac as much as it worried Franco Smith, whilst Ireland and Scotland played out a tense and tight game in Dublin, with the home side ultimately securing a 19-12 victory. The final match of the weekend saw a resurgent France beat England, 24-17, in Paris, as the beaten Rugby World Cup finalists struggled to stay with France’s youthful energy and tempo.
We have compiled our most impressive XV from the three games below, but do you agree with our calls?
- Jordan Larmour, Ireland
Six Nations rugby is an even more appetising prospect if we are guaranteed the presence of Larmour at full-back week in, week out. The electric back brought his scintillating footwork and turn of pace to the party this weekend and although he didn’t trouble the scoresheet personally, it’s impossible to argue that he didn’t contribute to Ireland’s best attacking moments. A mention for the evergreen Leigh Halfpenny, too.
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Watch: Ricky Riccitelli’s cheap shot on Siya Kolisi
- Jonny May, England
Two wonderful solo tries from May secures him this spot, despite England struggling overall in France. England’s attack was blunt and lacked precision and were it not for May’s individual ability, the scoreline would have been much worse for his side.
- Nick Tompkins, Wales
Tompkins took to international rugby like a duck to water for Wales on Saturday, as he replaced Johnny McNicholl in the first half. The Saracens centre was a creative force and an adept finisher for his adopted nation and his arrival to the pitch only further stretched the beleaguered Italian defence. He did his chances of starting in a week’s time no harm at all.
- Sam Johnson, Scotland
Inside centre Johnson was one of the Scotland players to leave Dublin on Saturday feeling particularly frustrated, as he impressed on both sides of the ball at the Aviva Stadium. He was able to get over the gain-line repeatedly and lay a platform for his teammates to impress, although unfortunately for Scotland, they weren’t as clinical as they needed to be to swing the tight game in their favour.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1223904462236012544?s=20
- Josh Adams, Wales
Adams may not have the searing pace and footwork of Cheslin Kolbe or the raw physicality of Joe Cokanasiga, but he is an exceptionally good wing and reader of a rugby game. This was on display as he cruised to a hat-trick of tries against Italy in Cardiff, in a performance that showcased the full array of his finishing skills.
- Jonny Sexton, Ireland
An honourable mention to Sexton’s opposite number, Adam Hastings, who put in a solid showing in the absence of Finn Russell, although the Irish fly-half was one of the pivotal differences between victory and defeat for the home side. He accounted for all 19 of Ireland’s points on the day and was influential with the ball in hand, kicking at goal and in defence.
- Tomos Williams, Wales
A livewire performance from Williams, who punished the disorganised Italian defence on multiple occasions on Saturday, so much so that he edges out the equally impressive Antoine Dupont. His preference for taking the gap and darting around himself was not so strong as to blind him to options on the outside, though, as he facilitated a number of Wales’ more impressive attacking forays in the midfield and on the outside.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1224016486219599875?s=20
- Joe Marler, England
A very impressive showcase in scrummaging from Marler, who was also very physical with his one-on-one tackling. He was one of the few English players to win their individual duels with their opposite number in blue on Sunday. The loosehead was unlucky to be on the losing side in Paris.
- Ken Owens, Wales
Owens went well for Wales in a game that they were in complete control of from the opening whistle until the final. In addition to marshalling Wales’ lineout well, Owens also popped up with some important carries and a couple of momentum-sapping tackles on the gain-line.
- Tadhg Furlong, Ireland
Giosue Zilocchi’s set-piece work was one of the few highlights for Italy in a damning overall performance from the team, but the crown this week goes to Furlong. The Irish prop was a physical force in attack and defence and scrummaged well against the Scottish tight five.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1224014282997800961?s=20
- Bernard Le Roux, France
For all the talk of England’s ‘brutal physicality’, it was Le Roux who spearheaded a ruthlessly physical French performance. The lock repeatedly denied the likes of Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry and Jamie George on the gain-line, as the veteran of the French pack led by example for his younger teammates.
- James Ryan, Ireland
The battle between Ryan and Jonny Gray on the pitch was as fun to watch in the game as the contest between them for this spot was to evaluate. We have leant towards the Leinsterman for his added ability as a ball-carrier, particularly close to the ruck, although both can hold their heads high after an entertaining clash in Dublin.
- CJ Stander, Ireland
This was exactly the sort of showing that keeps Stander a mainstay of the Ireland side, despite calls for ‘flashier’ options. The flanker prowled the gain-line in defence and was able to repeatedly stop Scotland on or before it, whilst reciprocating in attack with the sort of short one and two-metre carries that allowed Ireland to maintain tempo and force the Scottish defence onto the back foot.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1223947137706287105?s=20
- Justin Tipuric, Wales
A mention for the impressive Hamish Watson, but Tipuric, under the watchful eye of Sam Warburton on the sidelines, was every bit the thorn in Italy’s side that Pivac would have wanted from his openside. His work rate was excellent, his ability over the ball was considerable and his skills as a ball-handler allowed Wales to flourish in attack. A complete performance from the flanker.
- Charles Ollivon, France
We have shifted Ollivon over from the flank to No 8 to accommodate both him and Tipuric, but given his impressive carrying performance and two tries against England, it’s not a significant stretch of the imagination to have him at the base of the scrum in this XV. The French captain was excellent against England and will certainly have buoyed French fans who might have been in two minds about this youthful revolution of Les Bleus.
Watch: Andy Farrell and Jonny Sexton face the press after defeating Scotland in Dublin
Comments on RugbyPass
After their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
3 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
2 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
31 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
3 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
3 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to comments