With the Six Nations underway, we've already seen plenty of talent on the pitch. With the handful of great nations battling it out to lift the trophy, here are some of the players to watch. We've taken one player from each country who has caught our eye thanks to some stellar performances.
Marcus Smith – England
Already causing a stir with the fans, Smith is making a dent in both the Harlequins and the England squad thanks to his raw talent.
Whilst the England team didn't exactly make a huge mark in last year's championship despite their impressive Six Nations odds – placing fifth – Marcus Smith has brought a certain fire into the squad, with his starts against Australia, Tonga and South Africa being instrumental in England beating them all.
Smith was also a big reason Harlequins managed to get a decent run at the prem even though they were on the back foot. He's been so impressive at club level that he became a late call up for the England squad during their British and Irish Lions tour.
At the tender age of just 23 years old, his talent is undeniable. He can pretty much do everything well – well-placed kicking, great running ability, an impressive step, solid passing range and he's also handy as a place-kicker.
His only downside is he's quite small when it comes to his stature – the rest of the squad will have to keep an eye on him when it comes to that. Despite that, Marcus Smith is one to watch this tournament.
Caelan Doris – Ireland
Playing in the back row, Caeleb Doris has been absolutely outstanding during the Autumn season, playing as no. 8 and a blindside flanker.
Doris is another young player – only 23 – who had a rather unlucky Championship debut in 2020 after being knocked out five minutes into his game which later led to some complications. He earned this championship title due to his great form with provincial side Leinster.
Doris then had to miss the 2021 Six Nations due to concussion concerns, with him having to take an extended break away from the sport. He made a return in the summer for tests against Japan and the USA.
It was November that saw Doris back on form again – earning himself a man of the match title for his impressive display during an Irish victory over the All Blacks. He has big expectations on his shoulders this tournament – Will he rise to the situation?
Taine Basham – Wales
Whilst the Wales squad was riding on high from the win last year, the squad is plagued with injuries for this tournament. Two of the biggest losses were Justin Tipuric with his shoulder and Taulupe Faletau with his ankle. Enter Taine Basham.
Whilst the squad faced defeats by South Africa and New Zealand during the summer, Vasham made his mark with his enigmatic displays of not just skill, but tenacity. He was an absolute wrecking ball during the games with clever footwork and seemingly limitless energy.
Basham is just one of the spritely young back row players that Wales has that could cause trouble for other teams!
Antoine Dupont – France
Already holding a World Player of the Year Record, Antoine Dupont is definitely going to be one to watch. The scrum-half for Toulouse has proven himself again and again to be an incredible performer and also invaluable for both the Toulouse squad and the national team.
Dupont's exceptional play has only helped earn trophies in terms of club level though – there's been no such luck on the national level for him.
France has come charging into this year's Six Nations tournament as one of the favourites, even though they haven't had a Grand Slam in 12 years. In the last two tournaments, France has beaten both the eventual winners of the tournament, having eventually thrown away their title shots even though they technically played the best rugby.
Whether they follow the same form they have had in the last two tournaments or win the Grand Slam, there's no doubt Dupont will have a pivotal role.
Ewan Ashman – Scotland
Whilst technically Canadian, Ashman has a Scottish father so qualifies for the team – and it's a good job because the 21-year-old has been making waves on an international level.
Whilst most of his youth was played in the back-row, he stormed into the international circuit during the World under 20s championship back in 2019 by finishing as the top try-scorer. He then went on to develop his skills by being mentored at Sale Sharks by Alex Sanderson.
Ashman went on to score a great try in his debut for Scotland in November and will be an invaluable front row addition to the Scottish team during this tournament
Paolo Garbisi – Italy
Finally, we have the Italian Paolo Garbisi who is looking to return Italy to its former glory. The team is desperately seeking a win – they haven't won a Championship test for 7 years.
The Azzurri came into the tournament on an unfortunate streak of 32 defeats in the Six Nations, and one of the key players in getting out of that bind is none other than the technically superb Garbisi.
Being only 21, he's managed to bag himself quite a few Caps and has impeccable form playing for Montpellier. He's an incredible all-rounder and is a decent goalkicker, which is something Italy needs.
If Italy is going to make a dent in this tournament, Garbisi may just be the driving force behind that dent.
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