SPOTLIGHT: Round One of the 2025 Six Nations is done and dusted and a few players produced some eye-catching performances.
Grégory Alldritt (France), Huw Jones (Scotland), Tom Curry (England) and Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland) were unveiled by the Six Nations as the four standout performers.
The story continues below…
🏅 Huge performances from this weekend’s #Guinness Player of the match recipients 😎#GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/8UByzq6d5x
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 3, 2025
Grégory Alldritt (France)
Alldritt was a standout performer in France’s 43-0 opening-round victory over Wales last weekend, topping the charts in carries (18), metres carried (90) and successful tackles (19), as well as crossing for France’s last try of the match in the 78th minute.
The French No.8 was also named Player of the Match in a truly epic performance.
Huw Jones (Scotland)
Saturday was a day that Scotland centre Jones won’t forget anytime soon, as his hat-trick helped seal Scotland’s victory over the Azzurri and get their Championship off to the perfect start. While the Scots played the more expansive rugby, a second-half resurgence from Italy briefly threatened an upset before Jones took control.
Jones carried 13 times for over 130 metres, the second most out of anyone in the game.
His first try came from a fortunate ricochet off Juan Ignacio Brex following a Duhan van der Merwe break, putting Scotland 12-3 ahead. His influence grew in the final quarter, just as the match hung in the balance at 19-19, after Tommaso Allan’s boot and Brex’s interception try had dragged Italy level.
With momentum shifting, Darcy Graham’s incisive break from deep turned the tide. Jones latched onto his pass to restore Scotland’s lead, before sealing his treble minutes later, showcasing his footwork and strength to score despite the attentions of Danilo Fischetti.
🌟 Four players have been nominated for the Player of the Round award following the conclusion of round one of the #GuinnessM6N
Vote here 🗳️ https://t.co/Y79Yve9Y5u
🧵 A thread of nominees starting with @FranceRugby‘s Grégory Alldritt 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/nCeLAST88M
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 3, 2025
Tom Curry (England)
On a day when the Curry twins made English history, elder brother Tom – he was born 90 minutes before Ben – produced a barnstorming display in England’s narrow loss to Ireland.
Curry carried seven times while putting in a defensive shift with 11 successful tackles and one dominant hit. He was also a menace at the breakdown, stealing possession on several occasions.
The Sale Sharks loose forward also showed good supporting play, collecting an inside ball from debutant Cadan Murley to cross the line for England’s last try.
Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
The Leinster scrumhalf produced the sort of performance that bolstered his claims to be the starting No.9 on this year’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
As well as scoring his team’s first try in a significant moment just before an otherwise scoreless first half for Ireland, Gibson-Park was an all-round force for the home side, his pace, defence and kicking game very much to the fore.
Source: @SixNationsRugby