It was an exciting opening weekend for the Six Nations where Wales, Ireland and England came out on top but who were the star performers of Round One?
RUCK POLL:
Fullback: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
Had waited over five years for a Test try and ended up with two in the same Test. Bright in attack and crunched a second-half penalty over to take Wales up 20-0. Flawless place-kicking and 24 points in total.
Leigh Halfpenny – class is permanent! #SixNations
For the best pics from #WALvSCO, follow #ScrumV here https://t.co/gGSl4JnBJ3 pic.twitter.com/YGfMNj1BXN
— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) February 3, 2018
Winger: Steff Evans (Wales)
Showed his threat with a scintillating early run and looks like he’s really growing into international rugby. Gets his hands free in contact. Lovely pass to Halfpenny for his second and added coup de grace with a brilliant bonus-point finish. Teddy Thomas was also good but we couldn’t leave this Welshman out of our Six Nations team of the week.
Watch Steff Evans try https://t.co/S4v90MpgWf
— NatWest 6 Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 3, 2018
Centre: Scott Williams (Wales)
Welcomed Chris Harris to the Six Nations by frog-marching him back five metres and dumping him on his backside. Seemed to know what the Scots backs would do before they even did it, marshalling Wales’s midfield defence superbly. Also set up Halfpenny’s try.
Great performance by all boys yesterday, amazing atmosphere as always! Congratulations @JoshAdams951 on your first cap. Feet up today and a @NandosUK llanelli 👌🏼 pic.twitter.com/LkHZh1uWjd
— Scott Williams (@ScottWilliams_1) February 4, 2018
Centre: Owen Farrell (England)
Kicking a bit skew-whiff early on, missing the conversions to the first two tries, but hit most after those. Two lovely lines – one for his try, one for George Ford’s.
Owen Farrell is a brilliant player –
One of the world’s best— Paul Morgan (@PaulMorganrugby) February 4, 2018
Winger: Anthony Watson (England)
Two superbly taken tries in the first-half. The second, with that extra burst of pace and one-handed finish, was a delight.
33′ ITA 7 – 17 ENG@anthonywatson_ is the #IBMTryTracker key influencer of the game so far…#ITAvENG live blog ➡ https://t.co/wrmbSbIk75 pic.twitter.com/iQ9UEFZW6H
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 4, 2018
Fly-half: Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
The star fly-half kept his nerve at the death to steal Ireland a victory that had already appeared lost.
Of course the Johnny Sexton drop goal with the Titanic soundtrack pic.twitter.com/x1LWfYz6WH
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 3, 2018
Scrum-half: Conor Murray (Ireland)
Wasn’t an easy evening with a greasy ball but his passing in the result-affirming move was precision.
Enjoy, @peterom6 @ConorMurray_9 #FRAvIRE pic.twitter.com/L3f884TbkE
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) February 3, 2018