Théo Attissogbé (France)
20-year-old French winger Théo Attissogbé, selected over Damian Penaud after the latter suffered an injury in the week leading up to the Guinness Men’s Six Nations opener against Wales, shone in a strong French side.
The former French U20 player opened the scoring for France in the 17th minute on his Six Nations debut. He followed up with his second try in the 32nd minute, taking his tally to four tries in four appearances for Les Bleus since making his debut in the 2024 Autumn Nations Series.
Attissogbé carried for 80 metres against Wales, the second-highest in the French team behind Grégory Alldritt. He also made the most clean breaks of any player in the game, with three.
Sam Prendergast (Ireland)
Ireland’s young prodigy Sam Prendergast played a crucial role in Ireland’s 27-22 win over England in the opening round of the Six Nations. After missing two conversions for tries by Jamison Gibson-Park and Bundee Aki, Prendergast landed the decisive penalty that put Ireland ahead for the first time in Dublin. The 21-year-old rated his own performance as “mixed”, citing some loose kicking and passing alongside strong link-up play. However, at just 21, Prendergast has a long career ahead of him.
Ben Thomas (Wales)
Cardiff’s Ben Thomas was a key figure for Wales, despite his side suffering a heavy 43-0 defeat against France.
Thomas, who started at fly-half, moved to inside centre in the 27th minute after Owen Watkin suffered a knee injury. He carried more than any other Welsh player, making 16 carries for over 105 metres—the second-highest total across both teams and the most by any back in the game.
Although Wales failed to score a point, Thomas remained a pivotal presence in the side.
Cadan Murley (England)
Harlequins and Gallagher Premiership star Cadan Murley made a dream start to his Test career, as he latched onto Henry Slade’s kick-through to outsprint Ireland’s Josh van der Flier and score.
Murley carried the second-most of any England player, making nine carries for over 70 metres and breaking the line three times, troubling the Irish defence. Only Ireland’s James Lowe made more clean breaks, with five.
Murley also assisted Tom Curry for his score, whilst also making an all important try-saving tackle.
Tom Jordan (Scotland)
Tom Jordan made a significant impact off the bench in Scotland’s Six Nations opener against Italy, showcasing his playmaking ability and defensive strength. His sharp distribution set up Huw Jones’s hat-trick try, while his defensive contributions underlined his physicality. Jordan’s cameo reinforced the argument that Finn Russell thrives with a second playmaker outside him, easing his creative burden.
While Stafford McDowall started at inside centre and played a solid defensive role, he remained on the periphery in attack. Head coach Gregor Townsend acknowledged Jordan’s performance as a selection dilemma but hinted at continuity in team selection for the crucial Ireland clash.
Dino Lamb (Italy)
Despite already earning 10 Italian caps, Dino Lamb made his Six Nations debut as Italy travelled to Edinburgh for the opening round of the 2025 Championship. Lamb delivered an impressive defensive performance, making 15 tackles in a solid all-round display against a rampant Scottish side.
