Italy and Ireland players feature prominently in our latest Six Nations Team of the Round
It is time to pick our Six Nations Team of the Round after the dust has settled on the final round of the 2024 championship.
Ireland lifted the trophy for the second consecutive year after a narrow win over Scotland. Gregor Townsend’s side made the Irish work for their win. Ireland led 7-6 at half-time and it took until the 64th minute for them to score a try again after a huge defensive effort from Scotland.
Read more: How to watch the Six Nations wherever you are
Ultimately Ireland managed to get the job done to seal the trophy in Dublin.
Earlier on Super Saturday Italy created history with a win over Wales. It was the first time they had gone unbeaten in three matches during a Six Nations campaign after already beating Scotland and drawing with France. Wales also had their own slice of history as they picked up the wooden spoon for the first time in 21 years.
And the final match of the tournament was a cracker. France just edged England in Lyon in a try-tastic match.
Here are our selections for the Six Nations Team of the Round.
The team of round five (Rugby World)
Six Nations Team of the Round – The Backs
15. Lorenzo Pani – Italy
Pani was called in after star Ange Capuozzo was ruled out through injury and he more than stepped up to the plate. He was solid in defence and scored one of the tries of the tournament. The score proved the difference in Italy’s win over Wales too after Warren Gatland’s side scored two late tries.
14. Tommy Freeman – England
Talk about cementing yourself in the England team. Freeman was given his shot in the national side this tournament and he has grown into the shirt. Against France his work rate off of the ball was almost as impressive as his finishing skill on his try.
13. Juan Ignacio Brex – Italy
The centre has been at the heart of Italy’s impressive performances and against Wales was no different. Electric in attack and a brick wall in defence which saw him pick up another Player of the Match trophy. He was also spotted celebrating with supporters post-match, a fan favourite.
12. Ollie Lawrence – England
Lawrence scored a pivotal try just before half-time against France and backed it up with another score just after the break. He kept his side in the match which was a cracking Test. Fans even saw him tearing up in the 13 channel after Henry Slade came off for Manu Tuilagi. With Tuilagi thought to be heading to France to play club rugby, Lawrence will most definitely be in the 12 shirt for years to come.
11. Damian Penaud – France
Wing Penaud has not been up to his scoring standards this tournament but while he didn’t score a try against England he did everything but. The English defence could not contain him, beating multiple defenders throughout the match.
He was also an important cog in the build-up to France’s tries. A real asset to the French team.
10. Thomas Ramos – France
Ramos may be a better operator at full back but he orchestrated France’s win over England really well. His long range penalty from the halfway line sealed the famous win and he continued to be near-perfect from the tee.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park – Ireland
Ireland’s match against Scotland was brutal with the Scots’ defence really impressive. But Gibson-Park managed to make an impact once again. He is a clutch player and always comes good when a team need a spark added. Player of the Match performance where Ireland retained the title.
Six Nations Team of the Round – The Forwards
1. Andrew Porter – Ireland
Ireland kept knocking on the door against Scotland in the second half but tries were held up by impressive defence. However, Porter battered it down eventually with a score that ignited the atmosphere at the Aviva. Another solid performance from the prop.
2. Dan Sheehan – Ireland
Could it be anyone else? He had his signature wing move from the lineout stifled but snatched a loose ball from Scotland to open the scoring. Always reliable come set piece time and is becoming one of the greats of Irish rugby.
3. Zander Fagerson – Scotland
Fantasy team fans will be happy with Fagerson after he clocked up 23 points for his performance against Ireland. The Irish scrum has not been the best this tournament and Fagerson, along with his other front rowers, managed to exploit that.
He was also amongst the heroic defence, making 25 tackles throughout his time on the pitch.
4. Maro Itoje – England
Itoje has been a player in the background this tournament. Not at the forefront of chat around the team but always toiling away. He was once again a nuisance at the breakdown against France and was dependable at set piece. One of England’s most consistent performers.
5. Tadhg Beirne – Ireland
Beirne certainly had a 50th cap to remember with a Six Nations trophy lift. He was a main feature in Ireland’s relentless attack in the second half. His performances are sometimes outshone by the stars around him in the Irish team but the lock continues to have a grip on his shirt.
6. Andy Christie – Scotland
Christie’s performance against Ireland was hugely impressive. He made 27 tackles in the 72 minutes he played, being one of the stars of the team’s defence. His amount of tackles made up 10% of Scotland’s tackles as a team.
Christie has been a player to start from the bench in recent years but his two starts, including the match against Ireland, could see him break into the starting XV more often.
7. Michele Lamaro – Italy
A passionate leader in the Italian team, the captain pulled the strings and stepped up in all the right areas against Wales. He made multiple turnovers, was impactful in the scrum and maintained a calm and level head in a crunch match.
8. Ben Earl – England
Earl may have given away the soft penalty which ultimately saw Ramos kick France to victory but he put in another shift against the French. England had been lacking a big ball carrier and that is exactly what he has brought to the team. England’s player of the tournament by far.
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