On Saturday, Leinster full-back Jordan Larmour and prop Tadhg Furlong caught the eye as Ireland made it two wins from two matches with a 24-14 victory over Wales in Dublin.

Then, on Sunday, Toulouse fly-half Romain Ntamack and Racing 92 winger Teddy Thomas shone in France’s 35-22 success against Italy in Paris.

Larmour and Furlong both scored tries at the Aviva Stadium, Furlong’s being his fourth of Ireland’s 2019/20 campaign, while Larmour also created the host nation’s fourth try with a long pass to Andrew Conway.

Both played significant roles in Leinster finishing top of Pool 1 in the Heineken Champions Cup and gaining the No.1 seeding for the quarter-finals, where they will take on defending champions Saracens at the Aviva on April 4.

Larmour played in all six pool games and was named Heineken Man of the Match in their Round 4 win over Northampton Saints, while Furlong featured in five fixtures.

Larmour and Furlong were joined on the Ireland scoresheet by Leinster team-mates Josh van der Flier and Johnny Sexton, flanker Van der Flier notching a try and fly-half Sexton kicking two conversions.

On Sunday it was Ntamack’s and Thomas’ turn to take the plaudits as France, like Ireland, stayed on course for a Grand Slam with their second win from two games.

Ntamack, twice a Heineken Man of the Match as Toulouse topped Pool 5 to seal a home quarter-final against Ulster Rugby on April 5, collected 13 points via a try, a conversion and two penalties.

He also created Thomas’ try with an astute grubber kick as the Racing wing, joint top try-scorer in the Heineken Champions Cup with six in only four games, continued his prolific form this season.

Racing travel to TOP 14 rivals ASM Clermont Auvergne in the quarter-finals on April 4.

Four EPCR European Player of the Year nominees underlined why the judges chose them among the 15 shortlisted for the prestigious award with standout performances on the second weekend of the Six Nations Championship.