Round 1 of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations is in the books and after wins for Ireland, Scotland and France, it’s time to see which players provided Fantasy Rugby selectors with the most points on the opening weekend.
Eleven of the Fantasy Rugby Team of the Week finished on the winning side including France’s Gabin Villière, who earned those who selected him a very healthy 125.4 points for his performance against Italy – more than any other player.
The 26-year-old winger was in sensational form as he bagged a hat-trick of tries in Les Bleus’ 37-10 win over Italy at the Stade de France, which sets them up nicely for their match against Ireland on Saturday.
The opposite wing is occupied by Ireland debutant Mack Hansen, who scored the second highest number of points with 82.1 having put in a Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match display in his side’s 29-7 win over Wales.
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton was another to perform well in the backline at the Aviva Stadium. The veteran fly-half contributed three conversions and a penalty as well as completing six tackles and five tackle breaks on his way to 63 points.
Next to Sexton in the backline is France centre Gaël Fickou who made eight tackles and one dominant tackle against the Azzurri for a total of 40.3 points.
Joining Fickou in midfield is Italy’s only entry into the Round 1 Fantasy Team of the Week, Marco Zanon. The Italian made 12 tackles and carried the ball for 48 metres on his way to scoring 27 points.
The backs are completed with two Scotland players, scrum-half Ben White and captain Stuart Hogg, as they impressed for Gregor Townsend’s men in the 20-17 victory over England at BT Murrayfield.
White scored the opening try on his debut and made 21 metres with the ball to score 24.4 points. While fullback Hogg ran 53 metres with the ball, made one tackle break and one tackle to get his Championship off to a flyer.
In the forwards, five of the six natiions are represented and Wales have their first entries in the Guinness Six Nations Fantasy Rugby Team of the Week.
Wales flanker Taine Basham was the highest scoring forward with 68.5 points, having crossed the whitewash for his side’s only try in their 29-7 defeat to Ireland.
The Welshman also made 21 tackles and carried the ball for 93 metres in a standout all-round display. He is joined in the pack by lock and teammate Will Rowlands who made 16 tackles to gain 26.1 points.
Ireland’s James Ryan completed the second row after starring for the men in emerald green at the Aviva Stadium, with his performance earning him a place in the Fantasy Rugby Team of the Week with 33.6 points.
Also making his presence felt for Ireland was prop Andrew Porter with one tackle break and 29 metres gained. He will need to be at his best once again in Round 2 as Andy Farrell’s men lock horns with France in Paris.
France have some strong runners in the pack themselves with Gregory Alldritt making three tackle breaks and carrying for 113 metres as he finished as the second highest scoring Fantasy forward with 67.5 points.
Les Bleus hooker Julien Marchand also gets a place in the front row after making one tackle break and gaining 27 metres against Italy while Kyle Sinckler – the only England player to make the Team of the Week – completes the front row.
Sinckler made eight hits and one dominant tackle but that wasn’t enough as England slipped to an opening day defeat.
Guinness Six Nations Fantasy Rugby Team of the Week (respecting the 4 players maximum per country):
1 – Andrew Porter (Ireland) – 31.9 pts
2 – Julien Marchand (France) – 23.7 pts
3 – Kyle Sinckler (England) – 23.7 pts
4 – Will Rowlands (Wales) – 26.1 pts
5 – James Ryan (Ireland) – 33.6 pts
6 – Taine Basham (Wales) – 68.5 pts
7 – Gregory Alldritt (France) – 67.5 pts
8 – Matt Fagerson (Scotland) – 58.5 pts
9 – Ben White (Scotland) – 24.4 pts
10 – Johnny Sexton (Ireland) – 63 pts
11 – Gabin Villière (France) – 125.4 pts – BEST PLAYER
12 – Gaël Fickou (France) – 40.3 pts
13 – Marco Zanon (Italy) – 27 pts
14 – Mack Hansen (Ireland) – 82.1 pts
15 – Stuart Hogg (Scotland) – 29.5 pts
