Lions watch: Six Nations week two winners and losers ahead of 2025 British and Irish Lions tour

The Six Nations Championship has entered its second week, and some top players are beginning to shine, preparing for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia in June. This week's matches are crucial for players hoping to secure a spot on the tour, especially the clash between Ireland and Scotland, as these two countries are likely to contribute the majority of the Lions squad. This makes every performance a critical audition.

Lions coach Andy Farrell has undoubtedly circled several names in his notebook, ready to eliminate some and focus on other promising candidates. However, as England's shocking victory over France at Twickenham proved, nothing is set in stone. Therefore, the winners and losers of this week's Six Nations matches will directly impact their chances of vying for a Lions spot, adding immense pressure to each game.

Ireland demonstrated great strength in this week's matches, with both young players and experienced veterans performing exceptionally well. 35-year-old Peter O'Mahony returned to the starting lineup and excelled, while 21-year-old Sam Prendergast was named man of the match for his precise kicking and passing, as well as his excellent intent and skill. Furthermore, New Zealand-born veterans Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, and Bundee Aki also performed well, while Hugo Keenan firmly held his position at fullback, showing Ireland's depth.

Scotland was thoroughly dominated by Ireland at Murrayfield. Although the injuries to Duhan van der Merwe and Finn Russell in the first half due to collisions impacted Scotland, they were already at a disadvantage before their departure. Dave Cherry's throwing errors and the dominance of Ireland's front row over Scotland's starting props, Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson, exposed Scotland's weaknesses in the scrum. Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, and Finlay Bealham performed exceptionally well in the scrum and won crucial penalties, helping to suppress the enthusiasm of the Murrayfield crowd.

Duhan van der Merwe and James Lowe are both highly capable wingers, and the Lions would be fortunate to have them. The Murrayfield match provided an excellent opportunity to observe who should start in the Lions squad wearing the number 11 jersey. Lowe performed exceptionally well, easily evading defenders and demonstrating great strength. However, van der Merwe, despite his 106kg and 193cm frame, often faded into the background during the match. While his try at the end of the first half was brilliant, he is capable of more, and he must deliver a better performance if he wants to start in Australia.

England performed well in their victory over France, and Tom Curry was one of the standouts. He elevated his game against France, excelling both with and without the ball, disrupting French attacks, and legally regaining possession in the rucks. To make matters worse, his twin brother Ben Curry also came on and did the same. Ben Earl was outstanding on the other side of the ruck, while Tom Willis was praised by the coaches for his leading tackle count. Maro Itoje, as England captain, earned his first victory and played a significant role in leading England to victory, while props Ellis Genge and Will Stuart once again performed well in the scrum against the powerful French pack. Perhaps most impressive was replacement hooker Jamie George, who made some crucial throws in the scrum after coming on.

Northampton fly-half Fin Smith is no stranger to international rugby, this being his eighth test match appearance after all. But the 22-year-old newcomer had never started for England before and, in his own words, his first half performance was a bit "skittish". However, he showed confidence against France at Twickenham, leading England around the field with precision and assurance, and was named man of the match. A clever kick helped set up a try, a well-timed pass helped win the game, and some crucial kicks ensured a dramatic victory for England. However, this may not be good news for Marcus Smith, whose performances have been inconsistent.

The situation for Wales is not optimistic. They have suffered 14 consecutive defeats, lost in Rome for the first time in 18 years, and their world ranking has plummeted to a historic low of 12th. The last time the Lions toured Australia for a test series, 10 of the starting 15 were Welsh. Now, it seems the only way Wales will have 10 players in the touring squad is through mistaken identity. Warren Gatland seems to be a sleeper agent, sent by rivals to sabotage Wales from within. Selecting centre Ben Thomas at fly-half seemed foolish, but then replacing injured centre Nick Tompkins with winger Josh Hathaway was an even worse act of self-destruction.