Shaun Goosen selects his starting XV of players that stood out from the rest in what was a tough weekend for flyhalves in the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations.
Front rankers: Danilo Fischetti (Italy), Rónan Kelleher (Ireland) and Simone Ferrari (Italy)
16 tackles and a turnover won for Fischetti, 14 tackles and another turnover for Ferrari in a fantastic all-round performance by the Italian props at Murrayfield. Kelleher hit all 13 of his lineout darts, carried for 33 meters, and was unlucky to have a try chalked off against England.
Second row: Maro Itoje (England) and Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
This year’s Lions pairing? Beirne was his uber-physical and influential self, scoring a try, winning a turnover, and putting in 12 tackles. England captain Itoje also produced a big shift with 15 tackles and made himself busy all over the park.
Honorable mention: Dafydd Jenkins (Wales) and Manny Meafou (France)
Back row: Tom Curry (England), Rory Darge (Scotland) and Grégory Alldritt (France)
Both Curry brothers were dogged for England, but Tom gets the nod on the flank thanks to a try, three won turnovers, and 13 tackles. Darge made 12 tackles, won two turnovers, and also scored a try for Scotland. Alldritt was named MOtM in Paris after scoring a try as well, carrying for 64 meters, winning a turnover, and putting in 18 shots on defense.
Honourable mentions: Jac Morgan (Wales) and Ben Curry (England)
Halfbacks: Antoine Dupont (France) and Marcus Smith (England)
Jamison Gibson-Park was superb for Ireland and would have been a deserving pick for this list. In fact, he would be deserving of the unofficial mantle of the world’s best No 9 in most eras of the game. Unfortunately for the excellent Leinsterman though, he’s around at the same time as Dupont, who was simply unplayable once more in Paris in assisting three first-half tries and orchestrating all kinds of magic for Les Bleus despite playing just 49 minutes. Smith was the best of a bad bunch of flyhalf performances in round one and slots in at No. 10 despite seeing yellow in a thoroughly indifferent showing from the Harlequin.
Honorable mention: Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
Midfield: Bundee Aki (Ireland) and Huw Jones (Scotland)
Big Bundle was beastly for Ireland, finishing off a brutal try to go with 26 meters in the carry and six tackles. Jones bagged a hat-trick for the Scots in a barnstorming display at No 13, which also included 80 meters in the carry and five tackles.
Honorable mentions: Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello (both from Italy)
Back three: James Lowe (Ireland), Darcy Graham and Blair Kinghorn (both Scotland)
Along with Dupont, Lowe directly set up three tries on the weekend as well as making the most run meters (122) of any player in round one. Graham made 104 meters with the ball in hand, three clean breaks, and set up a try himself on his Six Nations return, while teammate Kinghorn was all class at the back, carrying for 110 meters and making one clean break.
Honorable mention: Thomas Ramos (France) and Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France)
