What a round of Six Nations rugby! Italy’s first ever win over England, a 23-18 triumph in Rome, following a resounding 50-40 win for Scotland over France at Murrayfield.
Even a Welsh side who notched a 15th straight Six Nations loss gave Ireland a fright in Dublin, 27-17.
Here is my Six Nations Round 4 team of the week:
Back three
Italy’s Monty Ioane was in imperious form in the air against England (Photo: AP)Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn was assured and unruffled, with the exception of one duff pass, as he combined with his threequarters to exploit space and find soft French shoulders.
For the purposes of our team, we are switching Kyle Steyn from the left wing into the No 14 jersey, as he was devastating with the ball in hand, his kick-chase, making tackles, and scoring two of Scotland’s seven tries until his leg injury – and he knocked Louis Bielle-Biarrey out of our team of the week for the first time, despite the Bordeaux-Begles Express extending his Championship record by scoring in nine consecutive matches.
Italy’s left wing Monty Ioane allowed Tom Roebuck away for a first-half try but was otherwise a force of nature, in a blur of flying feet and tattooed arms.
Honourable mentions: Full-back Lorenzo Pani tidied up tirelessly in the long spells England spent in the Italy 22, with his covering runs and consistent kicking. Scotland’s actual No 14, Darcy Graham, was impressive too.
Centres
Again, we are rejigging slightly to fit in a pair of No 12s who drove their backlines forward. In Dublin, the latest formidable showing by Ireland’s Stuart McCloskey included two carries and subtle hands for the try by Jacob Stockdale.
And while it is possible to have a Roman holiday ruined by one too many limoncellos, there is nothing to dislike about Tommaso Menoncello, now a world star for Italy. Among the 23-year-old’s three line breaks and match-leading 87 metres gained was a great try running a hard straight line in the first half and the late touchline surge to make the winning score for Leonardo Marin.
Honourable mention: Tommy Freeman never stopped working for England, even if he looks out of his comfort zone at outside centre.
Half-backs
Italy’s fly-half Paolo Garbisi was a calm and pressure-proof general against England (Photo: Getty)Paolo Garbisi’s 13 points from the boot for Italy came from kicks converted at crucial, nerve-jangling moments, and he also knows how to get the best out of centres Menoncello and Nacho Brex.
Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park buzzed round the fringes like a bee at a hive, always looking to make a direct break.
Honourable mentions: Finn Russell continued a fine Six Nations of cool game management and landed seven of his eight kicks from the tee. Italy’s Alessandro Fusco was integral to their winning push in Rome, while Ben White sniped for a crucial try at Murrayfield.
Front row
In a crowded category at loosehead prop, Pierre Schoeman gets the nod. He likes a spot of poetry so he should pen an ode to his show and go for a try in Scotland’s win, embellished by 14 carries.
Not every scrum went the way of Tadhg Furlong, but the Irish tighthead was rugby in a nutshell with his bristle and fierce glare as Wales’s Nicky Smith got his dander up, followed by a winning smile in the full-time handshakes.
The Scotland hooker George Turner was pivotal to the cute line-out move that brought Kyle Steyn’s first-half try, and accurate throughout at the line-out.
Honourable mentions: Rhys Carre had a grin as wide as the Liffey as he dummied Rob Baloucoune and ran away from the Ireland wing and Tadgh Furlong to score for Wales – to adapt a famous piece of commentary from the late Eddie Butler: “Smile away, Rhys, smile away!” Meanwhile, Jamie George grafted through a gruelling 75 minutes for England.
Second row
Scott Cummings was quietly impressive during last summer’s Lions tour, and now the Scot was a prime target in the line-out, hit a load of rucks and got stuck into the daunting French maul. Meanwhile Niccolo Cannone‘s 10 tackles and eight carries were crucial in Rome.
Honourable mentions: Alex Coles’ drilled pass to assist Tommy Freeman for England’s first try was a thing of beauty, while in Dublin Dafydd Jenkins and Tadgh Beirne went toe-to-toe trying to outdo each others’ all-court game.
Back row
Michele Lamaro has to be in, simply as the first captain to lead Italy to victory over England, his name goes into rugby’s pantheon, aptly for Rome. He also supplied the final turnover.
In Dublin, Wales lost again, but James Botham gets a pick in a kind of group award for the Welsh forwards who hit Ireland hard on the gainline time and again, led by Alex Mann (33 tackles), Jenkins (27) and try-scorer Botham (26), in the continued absence of the injured Jac Morgan.
At No 8 For Italy, Lorenzo Cannone was a big figure for Italy with 12 carries for 44 metres, and a turnover, while Jack Dempsey, back from injury, posted a team-leading 16 carries for Scotland, and Caelan Doris contributed 18 tackles for Ireland.
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