FloRugby's Guinness Six Nations Round 4 Team Of The Week
FloRugby's Guinness Six Nations Round 4 Team Of The Week
The FloRugby Six Nations Round 4 Team of the Week features stars from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Italy after a dramatic round that shaped the title race.
Then there were three.
Round 4 of the Guinness Six Nations quite possibly was the best round of rugby action since the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals in Paris.
History was made, a former power confirmed it's back in action and three teams will head into Round 5 chasing the title in France, Ireland and Scotland.
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Getting underway in Dublin on Friday evening, a game Welsh side built on a narrow loss to Scotland in Round 3 with a heroic showing against Ireland. Ultimately, Steve Tandy’s side would come up 10 points short in a fixture where they simply could not have shown more gumption.
To the team's credit, Ireland showed its class and once again proved why the Irish are ranked in the top 3 in the world. Despite not hitting their straps fully, Andy Farrell’s players delivered a bonus point and, in truth, always felt to have another gear, if necessary.
On Saturday, Scotland delivered a performance for the ages with a 50-40 win over France. In truth, the score does not tell the tale of a beat down of epic proportions.
Leading 47-14 and one stage, Scotland shook up the world.
Coming into the encounter, France had correctly lauded as the biggest challenger to South Africa as the game’s best team. Departing Edinburgh, the failure to deliver a Grand Slam, despite a huge player base, once again has thrown up the question, can France deliver when the pressure is on? To date, the answer unequivocally is no.
Rounding out the action was another historic moment, as Italy added further validity to the claim that the team now is a serious contender for European Rugby supremacy. Securing a first victory over England, the Azzurri have set themselves up for their best Six Nations finish with a victory in Round 5.
In what was a weekend to savor, here are the player’s we felt produced the goods in Round 4:
1. Rhys Carre – Wales
Perhaps it is scant consolation for losing his front-row membership with a try that had Welsh wing wizard Shane Williams crowing.
Away from what arguably will go down as the try of the season, the Welsh loosehead had a monster day. Taking down Irish veteran Tadhg Furlong at scrum time, making 14 tackles and six carries is elite-level production.
2. Dewi Lake – Wales
Came into this contest perhaps under a touch of pressure having seen his side slip up in dramatic fashion last time out.
The Welsh skipper put down a marker with a 24-tackle and 14-carry performance.
Mix in his turnover and his role in Wales’ strong scrummaging performance, and you get the picture of a near-perfect performance.
3. Zander Fagerson – Scotland
Picking up where his starting compatriot Darcy Rae left off, Fagerson locked out a superb scrummaging performance for his side. Around the park, he got through bundles of work including 9 tackles, 8 carries and some major ruck interventions.
4. Niccolo Cannone – Italy
Part of Italy’s latest world-class brotherly pairing, Niccolo was instrumental in his side’s ability to get on top of the English set-piece.
In open play, his 12 tackles and nine carries was a solid return, but it was his work at the breakdown that truly stood out.
5. Tadhg Beirne – Ireland
Once again a workhorse in the Irish pack, Beirne was everywhere in particular with ball in hand, making 11 carries and two offloads.
Defensively, he got through 14 tackles, won a superb turnover and nabbed three line-outs.
Though the stats are par for the course for the Lions’ player of the series, he once again came up with the goods when Ireland needed it most.
6. Jack Conan – Ireland
Back with a bang!
Having missed Ireland’s big day out at Twickenham, the Lions’ backrow didn’t miss a beat upon his return to the starting lineup.
Topping the carry charts with 15, making 13 tackles and winning a turnover proved how central he is to the Irish structures.
7. James Botham – Wales
Displaying top-level power to get through a barrage of Irish defenders from close range was a nice cherry on the top of a quality outing from the backrower.
Getting through a whopping 28 tackles (third behind Lake and Alex Mann) and winning a turnover, Botham more than played his part in a heroic Welsh defensive display.
8. Lorenzo Canonne – Italy
Joining his brother in this week’s team of the week, No. 8 Lorenzo topped the defenders beaten chart for his side with six on his way to making 61 meters from 11 carries.
Defensively, he was equally impressive with 13 tackles (two dominant), plus a turnover.
9. Ben White – Scotland
Thoroughly outshining one of the game’s greats in Antoine Dupont, the Scottish halfback clearly got under the skin of his opposite number.
Dictating the tempo of the contest alongside Finn Russell, White’s ability to mix up his run, pass, kick game kept the French defense on its heels.
His try was a perfect example of his confidence of late, as he darted through a fleeting gap.
His 93 passes tell the tale of how dominant the Scots were as they raced forward from the first minute to the 80th.
10. Finn Russell – Scotland
A maestro performance befitting a series-winning Lions’ fly-half.
While Dupont has been crowned as the game’s best player in many quarters, there is no doubt who the best player on the pitch was Saturday.
Hitting his straps in a way many know he can, Russell hit rarified air as a player at the peak of his powers in total flow. Pulling the French defence from pillar to post with his box of tricks from the boot and hand, Russell played a perfect match.
11. Kyle Steyn – Scotland
Utterly dominant in all facets, the powerhouse winger ruled the skies in a way that the French back three simply could not match. His superb first try off a lineout move set the tone for what was arguably Scottish Rugby’s finest day since the turn of the century. Closing his account with 110 meters made from 9 carries including 3 line-breaks, 5 defenders beaten and 2 tries was about as good as it gets.
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Scotland
Leading from the front, both on and off the pitch, he once again attempted to break royal protocol by giving Princess Anne a hug post-match.
The Scottish skipper was exceptional in every facet of the game, dealing with the match officials in a masterful way to get his point across and solidify his side’s dominance at the breakdown, in particular.
Tuipulotu firmly got into the French heads, firstly with his physicality with 13 carries, three defenders beaten and nine tackles, but also with his chat, which clearly irked the visitors.
13. Tomasso Menoncello – Italy
Sure he wore the No. 12 shirt, but Menoncello lined up at 13 all match, as he tends to do.
In short, his performance solidified his place as one of the game’s truly elite operators.
Topping the meters carried chart with 89, the Benetton man’s most influential moment came with his break down the left hand touchline, beating the English cover defense, before finding Leonardo Marin on his inside for what would be the decisive score.
Menoncello built on his earlier try in what was one of the most influential individual displays in Italian rugby history.
14. Darcy Graham – Scotland
Scotland’s record try-scorer added another two to his ledger as he quickly closes in on 40 test tries.
Graham was untouchable as he dominated France’s exceptional young pairing of Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Theo Attisogbe.
When it was all said and done, Graham had beaten nine defenders, made 45 meters and, of course, scored his two tries.
15. Blair Kinghorn – Scotland
Blair ‘Flair’ Kinghorn gave several of his Toulouse teammates a lesson Saturday afternoon.
Completely bossing the backfield cover, beating defenders for fun (six in total), setting up a try and sparking a handful of fruitful attacks, Kinghorn was everywhere.
While there certainly is competition for the Scottish 15 shirt, Kinghorn is a Rolls Royce of fullback who oozes class.
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