We’ve decided to give everybody a little review of the fourth round of the 2023 Six Nation by deciding who has been each home nations best and worst player.
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ITALY:
Best::Juan Ignacio Brex
Planet Rugby 7/10: "He came agonisingly close to scoring in the first half and was unlucky not to. His work rate was off the charts once again, and he was finally rewarded in the second half when he got on the end of Pierre Bruno’s offload to score. He has been one of Italy’s best this Six Nations and today was no different."
Worst: Niccolo Cannone:
Planet Rugby 4/10: "A quiet performance from the second-rower. Conceded a penalty, missed a few tackles and had little success with the ball in hand. There was a step up when Edoardo Iachizzi replaced him."
WALES:
Best: Rhys Webb
Wales Online 9/10: "You name it, he did it — and some more again. Set up two tries, the first with a superbly executed kick and the second with a dummy and good awareness. There was also a 50:22 and an important tackle in run-up to Liam Williams’ try. A zinger of a game, then."
Rugby Pass 8.5/10: "Put in an inexplicably fantastic kick for Dyer’s try and set up Faletau later on. Nailed an awesome 50/22 at the end of the first half. Fantastic to see Webb have a good game."
Planet Rugby 9/10: "Rolled back the years with a fine performance. Started quickly with a clever kick in space early on resulting in Dyer’s try. Capitalised on a hole around the fringes of the ruck and put Faletau in for his score. Stood up for his country when it was required most. Wales’ best player."
Worst: Tomas Francis
Wales Online 5/10: "Wales needed him to test Fishcetti’s scrummaging credentials, but the Welsh set-piece hit trouble more than once. Francis tackled well enough but struggled to get his hands on the ball."
Planet Rugby 5/10: "Nothing to write home about in an average performance. Made all his tackles but struggled at scrum time against Italy’s power."
ENGLAND:
Best: Freddie Steward
Rugby Pass 7/10: "man of his very poor team by a country mile here. So many of his involvements were positive and his defiance was rewarded by his 48th-minute try. Caught rotten nine minutes later, though, by the bouncing ball for France’s bonus point score."
Mail Online 6/10: "Misjudgment cost a try but mopped up and got over for a score."
Planet Rugby 5/10: "Steward was solid as ever under the high ball, strong with ball in hand, and he took his chance to rampage through Thomas Ramos and score well. Was left with far too much to do on defence.
Worst: Jack van Poortvliet
Evening Standard 4/10: "Failed to take control at the base of the ruck in a messy performance."
Telegraph 3/10: "His job was to quicken the tempo but instead presided over a slow ruck and shanked a horrible box kick. Was hauled off for Mitchell minutes into the second half."
Rugby Pass 4/10: "Very much a case of master and the apprentice, the rookie England scrum-half getting schooled by his oppsite number Dupont. Gone on 46 and not before time."
Planet Rugby 3/10: "He was taken off just six minutes after half-time, and Borthwick would not have been blamed for doing it before then. The French pack put him under immense pressure, but he also made a few daft decisions on attack and made silly errors."
Mail Online 3/10: "Too ponderous from base and replaced early in second half."
FRANCE:
Best: Gregory Alldritt
Rugby Pass 9/10: "A return to form for Alldritt, who hadn’t heretofore hit the heights in 2023. No quarter was shown to the English at the breakdown and the La Rochelle man won pretty much every moment in which he was involved. A phenomenal shift."
Planet Rugby 9/10: "He was a powerhouse for France on Saturday, making 93 metres in 15 carries, six tackles, and two turnovers won in key moments. Alldritt has become the benchmark for number eights in the modern game as he continues to churn out blockbuster performances as he did in this historic win."
Worst: Julien Marchand
Planet Rugby 6/10:" Quiet to his lofty standards but a useful cog in the Les Bleus machine on a record-breaking night."
SCOTLAND:
Best: Sione Tuipulotu
Rugby Pass 7/10: "A contender for Scotland’s player of the championship. Another brilliant assist – his third in this Six Nations – for Jones’ try and caused Sexton problems when Scotland decided to go route one in midfield and added his power to the defensive effort."
Worst: Duhan van der Merwe
Rugby Pass 5/10: "A difficult day for the big winger despite his obvious attacking strengths as he was culpable for at least two Irish tries. Tried everything to deny Hansen in the first half, but failed to get off the ground for a high ball in the run-up to Lowe’s try as Hansen soared above him, then Picked the wrong man as Sexton put Conan over."
IRELAND:
Best: Mack Hansen
Planet Rugby 9/10: "A standout performance from the winger who acrobatically scored in the corner during the first half. He won the aerial battle for Irleand’s third try. Solid defensively again and earned the man of the match award. Rightly so."
Joe 9/10: "Was denied an early score but showed great technique and strength to get over in the corner, on 27 minutes. Won a huge turnover, early in the second half. High aerial take and offload for Sexton was sublime. Won another turnover, almost had a third, and set up Conan with a lovely pass. Only misses out on a perfect 10 after falling off three tackles."
Worst: Caelan Doris
Planet Rugby 5/10: "An early blow for Ireland as Doris had to leave the pitch in the 18th minute with an injury. He had a bright start pouncing on the quick Scotland lineout that ultimately came to nothing. He was already making good yards with the ball in hand."
