With rugby on four days out of five, it was a busy festive period with plenty of players making a case for inclusion in the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations.
From young guns coming to the fore for the first time, to experienced campaigners highlighting their importance to their sides, it was a fascinating four days. LOCKING IT DOWN The job of a second row is rarely a glamourous one, hitting rucks, making tackles and pushing in the scrum, but a number of locks played important roles for their teams this weekend.
Leading the way on Tuesday was Devin Toner, the most experienced member of the Leinster pack at Munster, and he led by example with 23 tackles and just one missed at Thomond Park.
In a 34-24 success, Toner’s work-rate was an influential factor, and another indication of why he is so valuable to Joe Schmidt.
Two more locks also never stopped working, both in losing causes, as Scotland’s Jonny Gray, while playing for Glasgow Warriors against Edinburgh, and Ireland’s Iain Henderson, for Ulster at Connacht, both racked up the tackles.
A word also for French duo Fabien Sanconnie, who made 21 tackles for Brive, and Damien Chouly, fit again and matching Henderson with 16 tackles. SELECTED TOP TACKLERS Devin Toner (Ireland) – 23 made, 1 missed Fabien Sanconnie (France) – 21, 1 Jonny Gray (Scotland) – 20, 0 Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) – 17, 3 Damien Chouly (France) – 16, 1 YOUNG CHALLENGERS It was a big four days for young players stepping up to the plate, particularly in Ireland and France where a number of Under-20s graduates impressed.
Chief among them was Jordan Larmour, a star for Ireland Under-20s last year and hoping for more in 2018.
His wonder try against Munster proved crucial in the Thomond Park success, even if fellow electric youngster Alex Wootton just outdid him in terms of metres made, albeit in a losing cause for the Limerick side. SELECTED TOP METRE MAKERS Christian Wade (England) – 118 Alex Wootton (Ireland) – 117 Jordan Larmour (Ireland) – 113 Thomas Young (Wales) – 104 Hugo Bonneval (France) – 96 Louis Picamoles (France) – 96 Meanwhile in France, Bordeaux-Bègles beat Top 14 leaders La Rochelle, with a trio of youngsters playing a key part.
Teenage fly-half Matthieu Jalibert finished with 19 points, while Geoffrey Cros grabbed a try and flanker Cameron Woki was an all-round presence with three clean breaks, 13 tackles and none missed, while dominating in the lineout. All three are eligible for France Under-20s in 2018. CARRYING THE LOAD There were some familiar faces topping the carrying charts as CJ Stander – fresh from extending his Ireland and Munster contract – and Louis Picamoles were relentless.
Picamoles chipped in with a couple of tries as Montpellier finished at the summit of the Top 14 at the midway stage in the season, while Stander’s efforts proved to be in a losing cause.
The same was true of Elliot Dee, who managed 18 carries for the Dragons as their comeback at home to Cardiff Blues fell just short.
However leading the way was Jackson Wray, who took the ball on 22 times as Saracens overcame Leicester on Christmas Eve, the No.8 helping his team end a run of seven straight defeats in all competitions. SELECTED TOP CARRIERS Jackson Wray (England) – 22 Louis Picamoles (France) – 19 Elliot Dee (Wales) – 18 CJ Stander (Ireland) – 18
