Rugby’s Greatest Championship more than lived up to its billing at the weekend as the second round of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations delivered drama worthy of a Hollywood film.
Defending champions England kicked the action off on Saturday as they bounced back from relinquishing the Calcutta Cup with a six-try 41-18 win over Italy at Twickenham.
The tries continued to come thick and fast at BT Murrayfield as a back-and-forth contest produced another seven, with Wales eventually prevailing 25-24 against 14-man Scotland.
Sunday then saw Dublin take centre stage as Ireland and France traded blows in an absorbing clash before Les Bleus clinched a hard-fought 15-13 triumph at the Aviva Stadium.
And the time has now come for you to have your say once again on which of the many spectacular tries was the best, with all four of the Round 2 contenders below.
LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT (2ND TRY) – SCOTLAND 24-25 WALES
Is there anything Louis Rees-Zammit cannot do?
Not content with scoring the match-winning try against Ireland on his Guinness Six Nations debut, the 20-year-old winger repeated the trick against Scotland in Edinburgh
The Gloucester man had already scored in the first half to keep the visitors in the contest at the break but he saved his best until last after Scotland had regained the lead.
With ten minutes left to play, Rees-Zammit received the ball on the right and raced down the wing before chipping the ball over Stuart Hogg, gathering and dotting down for a stunning try.
MONTY IOANE – ENGLAND 41-18 ITALY
There was no shortage of tries to choose from at Twickenham as England and Italy both showed their attacking flair in a contest that launched the Round 2 action in style.
But while the hosts went into the match as heavy favourites, it was Italy who started brightest as Franco Smith’s men stunned England by opening the scoring inside two minutes.
Looking lively from the first whistle, Stephen Varney orchestrated a few early phases before Paolo Garbisi sent the ball left to full-back Jacopo Trulla.
Trulla drew in his opposite number Elliot Daly before finding Monty Ioane, who stepped on the gas to leave the England defence in his wake and cross in the left corner.
CHARLES OLLIVON – IRELAND 13-15 FRANCE
France maintained their Grand Slam aspirations with a performance that was much more low-key than the thrills and spills they produced during their opening round win over Italy.
Best of social media on scintillating Saturday of Round 2 action
But there was still time for some of that famous Les Bleus flair against Ireland as Charles Ollivon scored the sole try of the first half after a passage of attacking brilliance.
The move started with Antoine Dupont’s scything break from midfield, carrying the ball into Ireland’s 22, before winger Damian Penaud made further ground.
Dupont then got the ball back and passed to Gael Fickou, who exploited the space to the left and passed to Matthieu Jalibert before he found a wide open Ollivon to score.
JONNY MAY – ENGLAND 41-18 ITALY
England fans have become accustomed to watching Jonny May score tries that seem impossible to us mere mortals but his effort against Italy may well be his best yet.
As half-time approached, Daly found May with space on his left and the Gloucester winger sprinted down the touchline until it looked like Luca Sperandio would stop his progress.
May had other ideas though and just as Sperandio went in for the challenge, the 30-year-old leaped like an Olympic high jumper to miss the challenge of the Italian winger.
It was then all about the finish. Displaying his athletic prowess, May managed to dot the ball down before his legs landed into touch for a try that really had to be seen to be believed.
