Six Nations: Each team’s danger man as ‘dazzling’ France star to ‘keep defenders up at night’ and ‘maverick’ fly-halves stand out
From left to right: Marcus Smith, Finn Russell, Louis Bielle-Biarrey
With the Six Nations set to kick off in two weeks’ time, Planet Rugby has taken a look at each side’s danger men ahead of the Championship.
As you would expect with the premier Test competition in the Northern Hemisphere, there are plenty of superstars on show, but who will be their side’s main weapon?
Well, here is our best bet for each team’s danger man.
England: Marcus Smith
Harlequins maverick Marcus Smith was by far England’s best player during the autumn, and he should be right at the heart of things again for Steve Borthwick’s side this Six Nations.
Whilst his positional future might still be in the air a touch, he has consistently provided that creative spark to kickstart England’s attack – particularly in broken field. During the autumn, it seemed everything England did well came from a moment of Marcus magic, and he will be hoping to carry this into the upcoming Championship.
One thing that stands against him though is Borthwick’s reluctance to fully give him the reins, however you feel this will change this Six Nations and it could unlock their true attacking potential.
France: Louis Bielle-Biarrey
Not the man you were probably expecting to see here, but dazzling winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey should keep opposition defenders up at night. The Bordeaux beauty is in sparkling form of late, notably scoring a superb brace off the bench against Exeter last weekend, but his try-scoring antics are just one part of his loaded arsenal.
He has genuinely frightening speed that can flip an attack on its head, but it’s actually his attacking IQ that makes him the threat he is. Almost like a robot, he just seems to gain new ways of beating defenders with every game he plays, and then his skills allow him to pull them off.
Dupont might take the headlines in this France team, and rightfully so considering he is the best player in the world, but Bielle-Biarrey is one hell of a rugby player and should show that this Six Nations.
Ireland: Bundee Aki
Ireland’s game plan probably doesn’t work anywhere near as well as it does if Bundee Aki isn’t in the side.
The 34-year-old is seemingly ageing like a fine wine as he is just getting better and better with every Test in the Green jersey, and his brand of smash-and-bash on both sides of the ball is so vital in getting his side on the front-foot. Importantly, he is also adding some cute offloading into his game, which will then bring the likes of Garry Ringrose and even Mack Hansen – who likes to float – into the game more often.
He will also be out to show Andy Farrell he is the Lions 12 in-waiting too, which should only bring the best out of him.
Italy: Tommasso Menoncello
A tough choice between him and Ange Capuozzo, but the 2024 Player of the Championship should be Italy’s danger man again in 2025.
Menoncello is quickly putting himself in the conversation for best centre in the world with some standout performances at Test level, and crucially he is also changing the narrative around the Italian team as a result.
He just oozes class in almost every department and crucially has formed really solid links with the rest of the backline to help them work as a unit. There’s a lot to like about Menoncello.
Scotland: Finn Russell
This was only ever going to be Finn Russell, wasn’t it?
Gregor Townsend and Russell have had a fairly chequered past, but when they both sing from the same hymn sheet it makes Scotland a formidable side.
He’s always had those maverick touches, but since moving to Bath he has toned it down a touch and done them exactly when it’s needed to unlock a defence. This is also quickly transferring over to the Test stage too, as the autumn was probably Scotland’s most complete attacking performances to date with Russell at the helm.
If this is really going to be Scotland’s year – and there’s no reason it won’t be – then he will need to have a big Championship.
Wales: Tomos Williams
Warren Gatland isn’t blessed with genuine world-class talent right now, but scrum-half Tomos Williams is surely their danger man heading into the Six Nations.
He is arguably one of the form players heading into the Championship, with his electric performances helping the Gloucester attacking revolution get under way. Williams is able to generate quick-ball from even the messiest of rucks, and his pinpoint accuracy both in the pass and off the boot are also vital to the way his side play and should be utilised regularly by Gatland.
Around this, he also adds some genuine Test experience to his side in the halves, which they desperately need at the minute.
The biggest sign of his class is just how poor Wales looked without him during the autumn after his injury, and if he stays fit for the full Six Nations they should be in a better place at the end of it.
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