The 2022 Guinness Six Nations reached a thrilling climax, with France completing the Grand Slam – their first in 12 years – following earlier victories for Ireland and Italy during Super Saturday.
Not surprisingly, the French are strongly represented in the Guinness Six Nations Fantasy Rugby Team of the Week, with three players making the line-up for Round 5.
Almost inevitably, their captain Antoine Dupont was among them as he earned 73.2 points from a performance that included him scoring Les Bleus’ match-clinching try in their 25-13 win against England.
Dupont also made 12 tackles and produced two offloads during his Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match display and he is joined by another of the French try scorers in Francois Cros, who picked up 41 points, largely thanks to his 13 tackles.
The other Frenchman in the Fantasy Team of the Week is the player who set the ball rolling for them by scoring their opening try at the Stade de France: centre Gael Fickou (61.4 points), who broke through four tackles and offloaded on three occasions.
There were two English players who made the team in a losing effort, following what was a spirited performance in Paris.
Loosehead prop Ellis Genge earned 50.5 points, with his impressive 110 metres gained catching the eye, while he also broke through four tackles.
Marcus Smith gets the nod at fly-half after picking up 63.8 points to round off a successful first Championship. Smith gained 154 metres while also kicking seven points.
Italy celebrated their first victory in the Guinness Six Nations for seven years after they dramatically beat Wales 22-21 at the Principality Stadium and four of their players have been named in the Fantasy Team of the Week.
That includes the highest-scoring player in Round 5, winger Monty Ioane, who piled up 93.4 points after gaining 174 metres, breaking through seven tackles and even making two dominant tackles of his own.
Full-back Ange Capuozzo picked up 64.9 points in his first start for the Azzurri, which he rounded off with that magnificent break from his own half that set up Eduardo Padovani for the last-minute try to win the game.
Two Italian forwards are in the side, with lock Federico Ruzza earning 33.3 points after making 12 tackles, a tally matched by Giovanni Pettinelli, who is in the back row after earning 41.7 points.
Two Welsh players stood out despite their side’s loss, in particular winger Josh Adams, who scored one of their three tries in Cardiff while also making 12 tackles and breaking through six others as part of his haul of 78.3 points.
Centre Owen Watkin (52.5 points), was another to cross the whitewash for Wales in a game where he produced three off-loads.
Two players from each side have made it into the Fantasy Team of the Week following Ireland’s match against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium, which was won 26-5 by the hosts.
The Irish duo are both forwards, with hooker Dan Sheehan picking up an impressive 77.9 points after scoring a try and making 15 carries during the match.
He is joined by openside flanker Josh van der Flier, who picked up 60.7 points after making 15 tackles, the most of any Irish player in the game.
For Scotland, Pierre Schoeman made the Fantasy TOTW for the second week running after scoring his team’s only try of the match, which went a long way towards him earning 42.8 points, while Jonny Gray (30.9 points) is in the second row after winning eight line-outs.
Here is the Fantasy TOTW for Round 5 (respecting the 4 players maximum per country):
1. Ellis Genge (ENG) – 50.5 pts 2. Dan Sheehan (IRE) – 77.9 pts 3. Pierre Schoeman (SCO) – 42.8 pts 4. Federico Ruzza (ITA) – 33.3 pts 5. Jonny Gray (SCO) – 30.9 pts 6. Josh Van der Flier (IRE) – 60.7 pts 7. Giovanni Pettinelli (ITA) – 41.7 pts 8. Francois Cros (FRA) – 41 pts 9. Antoine Dupont (FRA) – 73.2 pts 10. Marcus Smith (ENG) – 63.8 pts 11. Monty Ioane (ITA) – 93.4 pts – BEST PLAYER 12. Gael Fickou (FRA) – 61.4 pts 13. Owen Watkin (WAL) – 52.5 pts 14. Josh Adams (WAL) – 78.3 pts 15. Ange Capuozzo (ITA) – 64.9 pts
