Team of the week: Seven-try wonder on the wing and points machines at No 10 and 12

By Keith Moore

Image: Owen Farrell racked up 26 points against Scotland at Twickenham

It was a weekend in which England wrapped up the Six Nations as Wales recorded a relieving win over Ireland.

France resisted the challenge of Italy and England Women remained unbeaten with a win over Scotland at the Stoop, while the Top 14 and Super Rugby served up another round of attacking rugby.

But who were the stand-out individual performers from the weekend?

15. Brice Dulin (France)

Dulin carried 10 times for 126 metres in Rome, beating six defenders as France completed a bonus-point win over Italy.

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One of those tries was scored by Dulin to cap off a formidable day at the office for the full-back.

A mention for Drew Mitchell, who did not get on the scoreboard as Toulon piled 12 tries on Bayonne, but the Australia international ran with the ball 21 times to make 112 metres.

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14. George North (Wales)

North answered his critics with two tries as Wales got back to winning ways on Friday night with a 22-9 triumph over Ireland.

The Northampton winger made 102 metres through 12 carries, beating eight defenders and making four breaks in the process.

Image: George North scored two tries against Ireland to help Wales to victory

A nod to Keith Earls, who was unlucky to end up on the losing side after a sparkling individual performance for Ireland.

13. Jonathan Joseph (England)

On Saturday Joseph became the fourth Englishman to score a hat-trick against Scotland, crossing the whitewash three times as England retained their Six Nations title with a 61-21 thrashing of Vern Cotter's side at Twickenham.

Image: Jonathan Joseph scored a hat-trick against Scotland

The midfielder showed great pace for his first score, a quick step for his second, and ran a clever angle for his third to showcase all his skills against a scrambling Scottish defence.

On any other day the jersey would have gone to Toulon's Mathieu Bastareaud, who carried 22 times for 140 metres, beating an almost unbelievable 13 defenders in the process.

12. Owen Farrell (England)

If Joseph was the man to burst through a gap, Farrell was the player to create it. The 25-year-old had a hand in the majority of England's tries, drawing praise - along with George Ford - from Eddie Jones.

Eddie Jones says Owen Farrell and George Ford were key in England's win

Farrell's 26-point haul was one point shy of the record for an English player against Scotland, set by Jonny Wilkinson in the 2007 Six Nations.

11. Kay Wilson (England Women)

England Women's 64-0 demolition of Scotland Women over the weekend was orchestrated by Kay Wilson, who scored an incredible seven tries at the Twickenham Stoop.

Kay Wilson scored a record-breaking seven tries as England Women beat Scotland

At the beginning of the Six Nations we wondered if we would get a Grand Slam decider in Dublin, and we will - England Women will take on Ireland Women for the title on Saturday with one competition point separating the two unbeaten sides.

10. Curwin Bosch (Sharks)

When Sharks captain Pat Lambie picked up an injury in the sixth minute of his side's Super Rugby clash against the Waratahs, on came utility back Bosch to take up the fly-half duties.

Curwin Bosch showed great pace for his breakaway try against the Waratahs

Bosch, part of the Junior Bok side that played in last year's World Rugby Under 20 Championship, stole the show with 27 points as he guided the Durban-based outfit to a 37-14 win over the Australians.

Bosch scored a breakaway try and slotted 22 points with the boot, as well as beating eight defenders with ball in hand.

9. Rhys Webb (Wales)

Webb won his battle with Conor Murray in Cardiff, which went a long way to helping Rob Howley's side to an important victory.

The Ospreys No 9 was man of the match and deservedly so, running the show with half-back partner Dan Biggar.

Image: Rhys Webb dictated play well for Wales in Cardiff

Serin Baptiste was another scrum-half to win man of the match in France's win over Italy at Stadio Olimpico, while England's Danny Care came off the bench to score two tries against Scotland.

1. Joe Marler (England)

Marler won his 50th cap for England over the weekend and celebrated with a hard-working performance during which he put in 13 tackles around the paddock.

Image: Joe Marler won his 50th England cap against Scotland

In his primary duties, the loosehead prop got the better of Zander Fagerson to set the platform for England's physical dominance of the visitors.

2. Amy Cokayne (England Women)

It's not often a hooker will score a hat-trick, and also it's not often a player will score a hat-trick and still not be the top scorer on the day.

Women's Six Nations Rugby Union

But as Cokayne had her set-piece duties to contend with alongside her try-scoring heroics, we are inclined to forgive her.

Ken Owens' nine-from-nine at the lineout and 15 tackles for Wales put him in contention, but he has been edged by Cokayne.

3. Rabah Slimani (France)

Slimani put in eight tackles in Rome but it was the work he did up front that gets him into our team this week.

Image: Rabah Slimani carried three times for 13 metres in Rome

Italy typically rely on a solid scrum platform to stay in a game as much as possible in the early exchanges, but the French front row disrupted their Italian counterparts throughout the 80 minutes on Saturday, which ensured France were able to keep the hosts at bay.

4. Joe Launchbury (England)

Given the scoreline at Twickenham it's easy to think that it was a regulation day for England, but they were forced to do their fair share of defending.

Joe Launchbury says England want to wrap up a Six Nations Grand Slam and then become the world's No 1 team

Nobody put in more tackles than Wasps second rower Launchbury, who halted 22 Scottish attackers - earning one turnover - and made the second-most metres by an England forward with 21.

5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

A captain's innings from Jones who carried 12 times, made 18 tackles, and stole two lineout throws from Ireland.

Image: Alun Wyn Jones led Wales to a victory that eases some pressure on them

It's rare that you get any flair from the Ospreys second rower, but he always gives a good account of his work ethic every time he takes the field.

6. Sam Warburton (Wales)

Wales knew they needed to work hard to blunt an Irish side who still had Championship ambitions when they arrived in Cardiff, and former skipper Warburton embodied that effort.

Image: Sam Warburton tackled relentlessly against Ireland

Wales' loose forwards put in almost a third of the total tackles within the entire matchday 23, and Warburton was at the forefront with 21 tackles on Irish attackers.

7. Ben Curry (England Under 20)

Ben Curry and identical twin Tom have been pushing each other for England's No 7 jersey throughout the Under 20 Six Nations.

Image: Ben Curry starred for England as they secured the Under 20 Six Nations

At Franklin's Gardens, Ben starred as England matched the senior men by securing the title with one round to spare. Could we see the pair used in tandem in Dublin on Saturday?

A mention for Justin Tipuric for his contribution in Cardiff in partnership with Warburton and Ross Moriarty.

8. Louis Picamoles (France)

Northampton's Picamoles was another try-scorer in France's win in Rome but it was only a small part of the contribution he made on the day.

Image: Louis Picamoles scored a try in France's bonus-point win in Rome

The No 8 carried 16 times which was the most by any Frenchman, and made 14 tackles - tied for the most along with Camille Lopez.

Picamoles' tussle with Sergio Parisse was a great showdown between two great battlers of the game.

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