mobanmarketFOR BETTER OR worse, the Championship is really starting to take shape now with Warren Gatland on the charge for another Grand Slam and England and Ireland nestled in behind hoping for better in the penultimate round in two weeks.
Here’s who stood out for us after a pulsating Saturday and a slog of a Sunday.
15. Liam Williams (Wales)
The first experienced fullback England faced in the Championship and, man, did he make a difference. Negated the visitors’ vaunted kicking threat with good positioning and terrific athleticism to win his aerial duels.
14. Keith Earls (Ireland)
Played the majority of yesterday’s win over Italy as a centre, but was a shining light in an Irish attack that otherwise continues to sputter along.
Earls on a rare break for Ireland in Rome. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
13. Mathieu Bastareaud (France)
Lit up the Stade de France with his superbly delicate chip and regather in the lead-up to Yoann Huget’s try. A return to form for the most physical centre around.
12. Hadleigh Parkes (Wales)
Tough to pick between Parkes and Jonathan Davies after a ferocious defensive effort in Wales’ midfield, but the 12 shades it thanks to hitting double figures in tackles and his big yardage in the carry.
11. Thomas Ramos (France)
Moved out of fullback because of Williams’ excellence, but delivered a sparkling display of his own to ignite those flashes of French flair with incisive counter-attacks. And when Scotland reached is kicks he hammered into follow-up tackles.
10. Romain NTamack (France)
His first start at 10 for Les Bleus and he looked perfectly comfortable whether he was asked to conduct with pipe and slippers or ignite the attack with his running threat.
Ntamack shapes to pass against Scotland. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
9. Tito Tebaldi (Italy)
Every good underdog team needs a scrum-half who looks ready to scrap for every ball. Tebaldi mas wonderfully abrasive on his return from injury, forcing errors from Ireland and sparking Azzurri attacks.
1. Rob Evans (Wales)
Led from the front in a terrific collective performance from the Welsh pack, scrummaged well and got through a serious amount of thankless work around the park.