Rating every France player from the 2025 Six Nations: Youngster ‘defies rugby logic’ to claim full-marks
Following the conclusion of the 2025 Six Nations, we rate every one of the Championship-winning France players.
Outside backs
Damian Penaud: A mixed bag from a rugby genius. He’s capable of some astonishing moments, both in blunder and in brilliance. Not his best season, and 13 tackles missed and only 13 made will have Shaun Edwards wishing he had some hair to tear out, but some incredible interventions in attack. 6
Leo Barre: One match and two tries was all he was allowed to contribute but he grabbed his chances with class and precision. One for the future. 7
Louis Bielle-Biarrey: The player of the Championship elect was blistering – some of his tries defied rugby logic and his ability to gas world-class players on the outside made fools of seasoned Test internationals. The stats say it all – eight tries, 311 metres made and much improved under the high ball, he missed only two tackles playing every moment of France’s campaign. Peerless. 10
Theo Attissogbe: Score three, get dropped seemed harsh on this young starlet. Everything about him looks class and his defence and aerial work are far better than the man who replaced him, Penaud. 7
Thomas Ramos: Mad as a fishcake with ball in hand, metronomic with ball off boot. Dominated the points scoring with 71, led France from ten against Italy and once again underlined that he’s already a great of French rugby. 8
Centres
Emilien Gailleton: A limited tournament in terms of appearances and only 13 minutes played. Grabbed a try though! 6
Gael Fickou: Only one game for the old warhorse but he looked as sharp as a tack and his defensive presence added more steel to France. Given he only appeared once, it’s hard to give him more than a six, but we saw enough to know the big man is back. 6
Pierre-Louis Barassi: Some really impressive moments that showed real gas from the young Stade Toulousain centre, his injury against Ireland cut his tournament short. Needs to up his defensive effort as eight missed tackles is simply too many for a Test centre. 6
Yoram Moefana: France’s turnaround of the tournament, going from fringe to fixed in terms of selection. Finally took his Bordeaux form into the Test arena but one minor niggle is that 13 tackles missed is still a concern, despite 54 made being second only to 70 of Cros. He played every minute of the competition and made a whopping 185m from 46 carries, grabbing two crucial tries versus Scotland. 8
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Half-backs
Antoine Dupont: Injury ruined his season, but against Wales, Italy and part of Ireland he was magnificent. 8
Matthieu Jalibert: An enigma. Arguably the most talented ten in the world, yet someone who clearly suffers from self-doubt and poor decision-making under pressure. If France can harness him, he would add so much but against England, he was far too lateral and it was his tendency to crab that really allowed the hosts to pressure France. 4
Maxime Lucu: We almost gave this wonderful half-back full marks, such was his impact on Round 4 and 5 of the tournament. France have a queue of world-class nines, but Lucu leads that pack behind Dupont. His kicking from the base was an integral part of France’s exit and his ability to offer string passes around the contact area sets him apart. 9
Nolann Le Garrec: Subdued by his standards, he only managed 50 minutes and didn’t really have much of a chance to fire a shot. 5
Romain Ntamack: Would have been an eight score but for his dismissal against Wales. Ntamack’s ability to keep France attacking in straight lines is absolutely key and he rose to the occasion brilliantly when AD9 was unavailable to lead the French attack. 7
Loose forwards
Anthony Jelonch: Huge impact, although lacking the mobility of his pre-injury form. Nevertheless, the bench role suits him perfectly. 7
François Cros: Absolutely world-class in every aspect. A massive ruck presence, a relentless defender, making key carries when they were needed, important turnovers when France were threatened and provided a huge amount of lineout ball. France’s best forward. Or, as they say in Toulouse, Le ciment de la France. 9
Gregory Alldritt: Given his huge workload for club and country, he’s being carefully managed these days by Fabien Galthie and became a key leader when Dupont broke. Alldritt is the 4×4 of France; diesel-powered, unstoppable in any conditions and, like his other back-row cohorts, a world-class player fast becoming arguably France’s greatest-ever number eight. 8
Oscar Jegou: There’s a bit of precocity about this youngster. He’s got that bad-boy element about his persona, and the hammering hits he put in during the tournament were outstanding, particularly when playing at centre v Ireland. He’s not the traditional big French flank and there’s a little bit of a young Richard Hill about him. One to watch. 7
Paul Boudehent: Brilliant on the front foot, crunching in first-up tackles and not scared of finding the try line. Needs to up his work-rate at ruck time but when you have Alldritt and Cros around you offering a carrying counterpoint is no bad thing. 7
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Locks
Alexandre Roumat: Limited opportunities, but took what came his way without really pressing his claims further. 6
Emmanuel Meafou: Impact personified. A dumper truck of a player making mincemeat of the car crashes in front of him. The bench role suits him perfectly and he made some telling carries right when they were needed. 8
Hugo Auradou: Leapfrogged Romain Taofifenua in the pecking order and took his limited opportunities well enough. 6
Mickael Guillard: A statement season by the Lyon lock. France have a real baller in this youngster and his athleticism around the breakdown sets him apart. He grabbed three turnovers in defence in an outstanding first campaign. 8
Romain Taofifenua: One game, 33 minutes, didn’t do much. 5
Thibaud Flament: If Eben Etzebeth is the undisputed heavyweight champion of second rows, Flament is the nearest challenger and the pair would undoubtedly lock the World XV versus Mars. Didn’t lose a line out all year, supremely mobile and recorded 89% in his defensive effort. 9
Front rowers
Cyril Baille: Like Jelonch, his impact was undeniable. He loves a romp with ball in hand and frolicked like a spring lamb when he came on as part of La Bombe Squad, but his starting place is threatened by a great tournament from Jean-Baptiste Gros. 7
Dorian Aldegheri: Did all that was needed, when it was needed. A key player for France moving forward in a position that they lack depth, by their standards. He will grow into his role. 6
Georges-Henri Colombe: Simply not at the races as a scrummager. Got trollied by England when he came on and looked way below the fitness levels required for Test rugby. 3
Jean-Baptiste Gros: A statement season from the RCT giant. Gros has had his injury issues and to see him emerge as a top-quality scrummager and a key man in early-phase carries was great to see. He’s nailed down the starting shirt in a position where France are stacked. 8
Julien Marchand: Juju is still, alongside Bongi Mbonambi and Jamie George, the master of the set-piece. His defensive presence over the ball is still a feature of his game and he grabbed a try and two crucial turnovers as he led the French bench efforts. Outstanding. 8
Peato Mauvaka: Slightly off the standards we saw from him in the 2023/4 season for both Toulouse and France, Mauvaka still managed almost 100m of carries. But his moment of madness almost cost France the tournament and Scotland are still seething that he wasn’t dismissed from the pitch, so he loses a mark for that.5
Uini Atonio: The old warhorse toiled and trucked his way to his second Six Nations title and nobody got the better of him. His sun is setting but what a ride it’s been. One of rugby’s great characters and a formidable scrummager. 7
