Our Six Nations team of the week – featuring only two England backs ...Middle East

The 2026 Six Nations is up and running with victories for France, Italy and England, filled with headline-grabbing performances.

From free-scoring wings Henry Arundell and Louis Bielle-Biarrey to hard-grafting locks Niccolo Cannone and Mickael Guillard, here is The i Paper’s team of the week for the first round.

Front row

In the aftermath of Uini Atonio’s sad retirement, Dorian Aldegheri stood up in what could have been a problem position for France at tighthead prop. His loosehead comrade Jean-Baptiste Gros also played his part in the strong scrum and breakdown platform the French backs enjoyed, while showing some delightful skills in the loose too.

Keeping this section in the Stade de France, Dan Sheehan led the fight with his carrying on a troubled night for the Irish, and his line-out was pretty secure, which cannot be said for any hooker who took the sodden field in Rome.

Honourable mention: Jamie George’s lineout was exceptional, ditto his captaincy.

Second row

Niccolo Cannone led his team’s tackle count with 25 in a spectacularly attritional match in Rome, exemplified by his choke tackle on Max Williamson that finally snuffed out Scotland’s 29 phases of attack in added time.

For France, Mickael Guillard did well to outshine an irrepressible Charles Ollivon. Guillard runs at a lollop rather than a gallop, but got the job done with 17 tackles, two turnovers and seven tackles in his 50 minutes on the field.

Honourable mentions: Ollie Chessum dominated the line-out with 12 of England’s 19 receipts in an area of 95 per cent success for his team. He also carried extremely effectively. Tadgh Beirne’s three turnovers also deserve a nod here.

Back row

Guy Pepper grows in stature with every performance, his high tackle counts, breakdown work and lineout security offering England a well-rounded option at six. Alongside him, Ben Earl never fails to catch the eye with his defence-busting 18 carries for 69 metres. He switched to centre officially (if there really is such a thing), as Henry Pollock came on for Tom Roebuck in the second half to raise eyebrows.

For France, Oscar Jegou was an incessant source of energy, with 11 carries, 15 tackles, a turnover and six lineouts won.

Honourable mention: Sam Underhill’s kick chase is becoming a hallmark of England’s prolific use of the boot, and he snaffled a turnover too.

Half-backs

Could it be anyone other than Antoine Dupont at scrum-half? At 29 years of age, the Frenchman playing the game at the pace he chooses, quick-quick-slow. A dinked kick-pass in a confined space for Thomas Ramos to run onto epitomised the man’s talent.

For England, George Ford had a match perfectly suited to his skills in the face of a faulty Welsh defensive line. He could have had a try with a bit more pace too but that was a rare downer.

Honourable mention: Matthieu Jalibert enjoyed operating in space with panache against the Irish.

Centres

It’s an all-Italian combination in the centres. Tommaso Menoncello and Nacho Brex pulled the perfect knockout combination on Scotland in horrible conditions. Menoncello broke the line at will as a constant ball-in-hand threat, while Brex did all the dirty defensive work with aplomb, reading the Scottish attacks and shutting them down.

Brex’s grubber through to Louis Lynagh was also probably the matchwinning moment of vision, even if the Scottish backfield was bizarrely open.

Honourable mentions: Tommy Freeman’s work rate was second to none against Wales and he thoroughly deserved his late try, while Nicolas Depoortere is giving us Will Greenwood vibes from the 6ft4in centre with strength and subtle skills.

Back three

Henry Arundell is an easy place to start. One cannot quibble with three tries in the first half of his Six Nations debut, even if a short sprint to catch George Ford’s kick-pass was the hardest he had to work.

In a similar vein, it is difficult to see the Bordeaux-Begles flyer Louis Bielle-Biarrey being dislodged from this spot for the rest of the tournament, never mind this week after opening his account with two great tries, one of which was beautifully assisted by a flamboyant volley from Thomas Ramos. And then there was Ramos’ super-cool “calm down” gesture after taking a difficult mark.

He gives the French a valuable additional playmaker at the back, as well as a top-class goal-kicker who reached 500 points for his country against Ireland, extending his standing as France’s all-time top scorer.

Honourable mention: Louis Lynagh ran well for Italy from deep, and nabbed a try during the Azzurri’s blistering start.

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