The third week of the 2025 Six Nations noticed Wales put out a a lot better efficiency regardless of shedding to Eire, whereas England earned their first win over Scotland in 4 years.
So which gamers went a step in the direction of cementing their place within the British & Irish Lions squad, and who nonetheless has some work to do?
Every week, ESPN writers Tom Hamilton and James Regan weigh in on who needs to be within the XV.
1. Andrew Porter, Eire (prop)
Hamilton: Porter holds on to this spot, regardless of being given a tricky time by WillGriff John. Maintain an eye fixed, although, Ellis Genge and Nicky Smith can be pushing him shut.
Regan: Genge is having a very good match, however Porter will begin. A Porter-Genge mixture can be horrifying for Australia, although.
2. Dan Sheehan, Eire (hooker)
Regan: Nonetheless immense. He’ll concentrate on the opposite choices Farrell could has, similar to Jamie George and Ronan Kelleher.
Hamilton: Similar as earlier than. Despite the fact that Sheehan was utilized in a beginning position as an alternative of an influence possibility on the weekend, he’s the dominant hooker obtainable.
3. Finlay Bealham, Eire (prop)
Hamilton: Purely off the again of a very outstanding displaying on Saturday, I might slot Will Stuart in right here. The England tight-head put in his most interesting displaying at Check stage.
Regan: Stuart has been good, however this Irish front-row has so many runs on the board I am unable to see Farrell shifting a lot right here.
4. Maro Itoje, England (lock)
Regan: Not possible to see him shedding this spot.
Hamilton: Received a key penalty and disrupted a pivotal lineout. Itoje retains his spot.
5. Tadgh Beirne, Eire (lock)
Hamilton: I might preserve Beirne right here. Joe McCarthy did nicely on his return towards Wales however Beirne and Itoje will deliver loads of risk for the Lions.
Regan: I am nonetheless leaning in the direction of a McCarthy, however it’s exhausting to depart Beirne out. With Tom Curry taking part in so nicely perhaps Beirne does revert to lock they usually deliver McCarthy off the bench?
6. Tom Curry, England (flanker)
Regan: Curry has been so spectacular for England he positively deserves his spot right here.
Hamilton: Curry stays right here for me. He is in excellent kind and is likely one of the most interesting flankers in world rugby.
7. Josh van der Flier, Eire (Flanker)
Hamilton: I vouched for a change right here from Rory Darge final week, and I stand by that. Josh van der Flier is the excellent openside at current, however Jac Morgan can also be pushing him shut.
Regan: No arguments kind me, Van der Flier has been immense.
8. Caelan Doris, Eire (No. 8)
Hamilton: He’ll be Lions captain, so Doris clearly begins. He missed the Wales match by way of harm, however stays the heartbeat of the Irish facet.
Regan: Farrell could go searching and be involved concerning the depth right here. Perhaps that’s as a result of Doris is so dominant, but when he had been to get injured, there is not somebody who comes near bringing what the Eire captain does.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park, Eire (scrum-half)
Regan: The hole between him and the chasing pack is rising by the week. He’s so good.
Hamilton: Alongside Antoine Dupont, Gibson-Park is the excellent scrum-half within the Six Nations. He was once more a game-changer for Eire on the weekend and absolutely has this jersey nailed down.
10. Finn Russell, Scotland (fly-half)
Hamilton: I believe Russell is the most effective fly-half within the northern hemisphere, however on kind alone, Sam Prendergast has grow to be the front-runner to be Lions No. 10 in the summertime.
Regan: He is not having his greatest Six Nations, however I nonetheless cannot see anybody taking the No. 10 jersey off Russell. Prendergast has been good, however nonetheless too inexperienced on the minute for mine.
11. James Lowe, Eire (winger)
Regan: Apart from perhaps Gibson-Park, no participant has risen to the event greater than Lowe this yr. There have been query marks round him previous to the Six Nations and he has emphatically answered all of them.
Hamilton: No change right here. It is Lowe’s shirt to lose.
12. Bundee Aki, Eire (centre)
Hamilton: Aki stays the dominant (totally match) inside centre at current, though Tuipolutu will problem that when he returns to motion.
Regan: Aki has been superb. I believe it can come right down to which mixture Farrell opts for greater than something. Who can work with who? I can begin to see an all-Irish midfield taking form.
13. Huw Jones, Scotland (centre)
Regan: Jones has nonetheless appeared good in a struggling Scotland crew. He can be hoping greater than anybody that Tuipulotu has a superb finish to the season they usually get to revive their partnership this summer time. That mentioned, I believe Ollie Lawrence could have surpassed him after the weekend. This can be a place with so many choices.
Hamilton: Jones retains this shirt in the interim. The Irish duo will push him, as will Lawrence, however Jones is nearly forward of the remainder.
14. Darcy Graham, Scotland (winger)
Hamilton: That is going to be fascinating. With Immanuel Feyi-Waboso out till the ultimate matches of the season, and Graham lacking the weekend’s motion, there are many choices right here. For me, Tommy Freeman is the principle man in the mean time.
Regan: Graham nonetheless has credit score within the financial institution, however Freeman has been an amazing beneficiary of Fin Smith’s England promotion. They’ve an amazing connection that is making him look good.
15. Blair Kinghorn, Scotland (fullback)
Hamilton: Despite the fact that he was rested on the weekend, Hugo Keenan could have his eyes on this. Kinghorn did nicely towards England so let’s preserve him right here in the interim, but when Keenan impresses towards France, then it’s his shirt.
Regan: If he retains going there, I might like to see Marcus Smith seem at fullback on the tour. He presents one thing completely different and also you need to suit your greatest, most enjoyable gamers in any method you may.
– Monday overreactions: England’s assault in want of revamp?
– Tom Hamilton from Twickenham: England lastly displaying progress
– Who may substitute Warren Gatland as Wales head coach?
– WATCH: Relive a few of Six Nations’ traditional video games
– Six Nations and Girls’s Six Nations: Full fixture checklist
– British & Irish Lions 2025: Australia tour fixtures
