SECOND-ROW:
Lock: Jonny Hill (England)
Rugby Pass 7.5/10: “England need a Hill fully firing to be at their best and he is on his way back towards that summit.”
Lock: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
Irish Times 8/10: Excellent in the lineout and driving maul, which troubled Fiji. Also a principal ball carrier for Ireland and real threat to Fiji at breakdown time. Combined with a high workrate, a good outing.
BACK-ROW:
Blindside-Flanker: Justin Tipuric (Wales)
Wales Online 8/10: “Superb in so many ways — quick out of the line in defence, picked some nice lines in attack, alert to danger. Provided the lineout ball which Wales used to score their opening try. The captain can be proud of his effort.”
Openside-Flanker: Dalton Papali’i (New Zealand)
Stuff 8/10: “Made a team-high 14 tackles, and earned a big penalty to defuse a furious Scottish raid early doors. Was awarded the official man-of-the-match award.”
Number 8: Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
Wales Online 9/10: “Does this man ever have a bad game? Scored a try, carried relentlessly, made 15 tackles without missing. If there was a blade of grass he didn’t cover, we should be told about it. A great 32nd birthday, then.”
EDITORS PICKS:
- Sam Whitelock could face ban after ‘stamp’ on Stuart Hogg
- “Class act” – Joe Marler’s special Barbarians socks today explained
- Three players Eddie Jones must call-up after this weekend
- France star accidentally swears on live TV when translating for teammate
- Red Rose sent ‘cruel messages’ following World Cup final defeat