The June Tests got into full swing over the weekend with every team from the NatWest 6 Nations in action on the road.
It was a great weekend for Wales and Scotland, both victorious in the Americas, while a number of players from across the Championship impressed.
With that in mind, we have taken a look at some of the top performers across the weekend in matches played across four different continents. ROCK SOLID DEFENCE Wales produced a magnificent defensive display against Argentina, making 201 tackles and missing just 22 as they managed to shut down Los Pumas.
That helped them to a 23-10 success, with the home side only able to score their solitary try two minutes from time when the result was already sealed.
Leading the way was Ross Moriarty, who managed a remarkable 26 tackles, while missing just one, and he was joined by fellow forwards James Davies and Adam Beard, who managed 17 apiece.
Tom Curry was another man who was busy in defence for England, racking up 20 in a very open encounter against South Africa that was eventually won by the Springboks 42-39.
Finally, on debut, Jamie Ritchie made 17 tackles and missed none as Scotland proved too strong for Canada, running out 48-10 winners. Selected top tacklers Ross Moriarty (Wales) – 26 made, one missed Tom Curry (England) – 20, 1 Jamie Ritchie (Scotland) – 17, 0 James Davies (Wales) – 17, 1 Adam Beard (Wales) – 17, 2 ATTACKING TALENT Matteo Minozzi was a breakthrough player in the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations, becoming the first Italian to score in four successive Championship matches, while also being nominated for the Player of the Championship award.
Minozzi was a livewire again in Japan, despite Italy’s defeat, as he ranked in the top five of both metres made and defenders beaten, managing 85 metres and five defenders beaten from full-back.
The man who made the most metres was also Italian, Michele Campagnaro making a big impact in his first Test back since suffering a torn ACL at the start of the season.
Elsewhere Mike Brown scored a try and topped three figures in metres made while playing on the wing against South Africa, debutant Lewis Carmichael made a big impact off the bench for Scotland including a try, and Teddy Thomas managed six defenders beaten for France in their defeat to New Zealand. Selected top metres made Michele Campagnaro (Italy) – 105 Mike Brown (England) – 102 Matteo Minozzi (Italy) – 85 Jonny May (England) – 84 Lewis Carmichael (Scotland) – 78 Jayden Hayward (Italy) – 78 Selected top defenders beaten Teddy Thomas (France) – 6 Lewis Carmichael (Scotland) – 6 Jonny May (England) – 6 Matteo Minozzi (Italy) – 5 Giovanni Licata (Italy) – 5 CARRY THAT WEIGHT It is rare that an Ireland player finishes top of the carrying charts and his name is not CJ Stander, but against Australia in Brisbane, it was Bundee Aki who trucked up the most ball.
Aki’s 19 carries were more than any other player from the Championship, although the Grand Slam champions could not quite get over the line against the Wallabies, going down 18-9.
James Ryan was not far behind for the Irish, while Sebastian Negri and Campagnaro showed off their work rate against Japan.
A mention also for David Denton, who put in a lot of the hard yards for Scotland in their success over Canada.
Selected top carriers Bundee Aki (Ireland) – 19 Sebastian Negri (Italy) – 18 Michele Campagnaro (Italy) – 16 James Ryan (Ireland) – 16 David Denton (Scotland) – 15
