We select a starting XV of players that stood out from the rest during the second round of the 2025 Six Nations.
Front rankers: Andrew Porter (Ireland), Giacomo Nicotera (Italy) and Finlay Bealham (Ireland)
Porter and Bealham were in fine form for the Irish at set-piece and all around the park. Nicotera hit nine of his 10 darts at the lineout, won three turnovers and made 11-tackles in a sparkling showing at No 2.
Honorable mention: Jean-Baptiste Gros (France)
Second row: Maro Itoje (England) and Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
Skipper Itoje led from the front for England in a warrior-like performance in which he won a turnover and made 10-tackles. His selection as captain has been questioned by some, but his innings on Saturday will go a long way to proving his doubters wrong. Beirne is quite simply a Test Match Animal and put in 12-ackles and a turnover on Sunday.
Back row: Tom Curry, Ben Earl (both England) and Lorenzo Cannone (Italy)
Curry was his influential self for the Roses, carrying for 21-metres, putting in 11 shots on defence and winning two turnovers. His back row teammate Earl carried for 63-metres, won a turnover and made six tackles. Cannone carried for a ridiculous 87-metres, won three turnovers and made a whopping 17-tackles at eighthman.
Honorable mention: Sebastian Negri (Italy)
Halfbacks: Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland) and Fin Smith (England)
Gibson-Park was at his best again at Murrayfield with some fantastic moments of decision-making and execution. Smith’s Man of the Match performance at Twickenham (sorry, “the Allianz”) justified Steve Borthwick’s controversial selection tactic with interest. The Northampton Saint was at the heart of everything England did right, particularly in the second-half, finishing with four points, two try assists and nine tackles.
Honorable mention: Sam Prendergast (Ireland), Paolo Garbisi (Italy)
Midfield: Yoram Moefana (France) and Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
The classy Moefana carried for 25-metres and made seven tackles in what was ultimately a losing cause for France, while Henshaw tackled 13-times and made 46-metres with ball in hand against the Brave Hearts.
Back three: Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France), Tommy Freeman (England) and Tommaso Allan (Italy)
Two tries to the electric Bielle-Biarrey, as well as a try assist, 89-carry meters and nine tackles in another superb outing. Freeman also bagged an important third-quarter try for the English, while carrying for 47-metres and winning a turnover. Allan kicked 17-points from the boot and carried for 25-metres in game-shaping display from the back.
Honorable mention: James Lowe (Ireland)
