Now that the dust has settled on a Six Nations weekend that saw Ireland beating Scotland, Wales ending their 15-Test losing streak in the Championship against Italy and France being crowned champions after pipping England, here’s our Team of the Week.
Six Nations Team of the Week – Round Five
15 Thomas Ramos (France): The hero of the hour, but his Championship-winning kick came after 80 minutes of prime-time entertainment. Was always on hand to come into the attack, be it in the carry with a team-high 11 runs in the process or as that secondary playmaker in the backline and just added a touch of class when it was most needed. Was also automatic off the tee and showed serious stones to drill the decisive kick through the posts.
14 Tommy O’Brien (Ireland): Wales speedster Ellis Mee was very close to making this side, but double-try scorer Tommy O’Brien gets the 14 shirt. The Leinster winger just seemed to make things happen for his side in attack, making a match-high 77 metres for his troubles, and his tries were crucial in getting them over the line.
13 Eddie James (Wales): A difficult call at 13 this week with England’s Tommy Freeman going very well against France, but Eddie James gets the nod here. He has settled into his role superbly well during this Six Nations, growing with each passing game, and this felt like the perfect crescendo with a strong tally of 35 metres from six carries.
12 Stuart McCloskey (Ireland): Another really classy effort from the Ulster centre, who has been immense all Championship. A real presence on both sides of the ball in Ireland’s win, making 12 carries and 12 tackles in the process. Azzurri star Tommaso Menoncello was a close second.
11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France): The Six Nations’ apex predator once again showed his poachers touch with a four-try haul, and edges out fellow Frenchman Theo Attisogbe into this squad as a result. He just seems to have a gravitational pull to the try line, consistently popping up to score when you thought the chance was gone, and crucially backed that up with some delicious efforts around the park as he notched 42 metres and four linebreaks from just six carries.
10 Matthieu Jalibert (France): He’s had his doubters at Test level, but this was yet another marvellous effort to squash that chatter. Just seemed to make positive things happen for his side ball-in-hand, making a team-high 55 metres alongside a tally of eight defenders beaten, and played a huge part in France’s lightning attack in the process. Wales’ Dan Edwards can feel hard done by to miss out, after his best Test performance to date against Italy.
9 Antoine Dupont (France): He missed out on a large chunk of their charge to the 2025 title, but he got his crowning moment this week. Dictated his side expertly around the park, both with the boot and with his crisp passing out of the ruck, and crucially showed serious flashes of playmaking skills to grab two classy assists. Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park was not far off, though.
The forwards
8 Aaron Wainwright (Wales): This felt like a really significant performance from the back-rower, who edges out Charles Ollivon of France as a result. Wainwright’s two tries will take the headlines, but he backed that up with some huge efforts around the park, making 13 carries for 24 metres gained in the tight. Will be big for Wales moving forward. He edges out Ireland skipper Caelan Doris.
7 Josh van der Flier (Ireland): A massive defensive effort from the ever-impressive flanker. Notched an eye-watering 23 tackles in a huge shift and looked to get his hands on the ball whenever possible. Van der Flier edges out Wales tearaway James Botham, who was also mega.
6 Ollie Chessum (England): A monster effort from the Leicester Tigers forward, who looks to have made that number six shirt his own moving forward. Charged around the park like an angry freight train, making big interventions on both sides of the ball and getting himself two tries in the process. His opposite number Francois Cros also caught the eye.
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5 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland): Ben Carter nearly got into this side after a superb shift in Wales’ win over Italy, but we couldn’t overlook Tadhg Beirne. Just made himself a real nuisance around the tight, throwing himself into breakdowns and making tackles with little to no regard for his own safety.
4 Maro Itoje (England): This is the Maro Itoje England fans know and love, with the skipper dropping arguably one of his best efforts in the white jersey. Was everywhere for his side in defence, making 14 tackles and winning two turnovers in the process, but also looked to get his hands on the ball in attack as well. Dafydd Jenkins again impressed for Wales, in keeping with his good form of late.
3 Joe Heyes (England): Another HUGE effort from the England tighthead, who yet again showed why he’s been their player of the Championship. Just ran his blood to water in a barnstorming 75-minute effort around the park and gave the French scrum a taste of their own medicine too. Tomos Francis went well during his brief stint for Wales as well.
2 Dewi Lake (Wales): Like fellow Welshman Wainwright, this felt like a real statement display from the captain. Trucked immensely well in the tight, making 13 carries along the way, contributed well to the set-piece and deservedly got himself over for a try. Ireland star Dan Sheehan can feel hard done by to miss out.
1 Rhys Carre (Wales): There really is a lot to like about Rhys Carre’s game, and he was again at full tilt against Italy. Scrummaged well, carried hard and got himself about in defence; textbook looseheading. Ellis Genge also impressed for England.
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