No Johnny Sexton, Dan Biggar, Owen Farrell or Antoine Dupont.
The 2024 Six Nations was a possibility for brand spanking new stars to emerge within the absence of a few of the sport’s family names.
BBC Sport takes a take a look at every nation and their younger expertise aged 22 or below who stepped up this marketing campaign.
England
The worldwide retirements of Courtney Lawes and Jonny Could from England’s outdated guard opened the door for 20-year-old flanker Chandler Cunningham-South and 21-year-old winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
Harlequins ahead Cunningham-South caught the attention of former Scotland captain John Barclay when he made a 14-minute debut from the bench in England’s opening win over Italy.
“He is an infinite human being,” Barclay stated on the BBC’s Six Nations Rugby Particular. “He is the identical kind of form as LeBron James, he can transfer, he is bodily, and we have simply seen the very begin of him.”
A real X-factor participant, Feyi-Waboso confirmed his ending prowess with a strive off the bench in England’s defeat at Murrayfield.
Rewarded with a beginning place in England’s last-gasp victory over Eire, the Exeter Chief wowed the Twickenham crowd together with his tempo and energy and such was his impression, his abilities had been missed when harm dominated him out of the ultimate recreation in France.
Leicester lock George Martin was dominated out of England’s first two video games due to harm however got here again into the beginning staff to face defending champions Eire.
A strong 80-minute efficiency adopted the place the 22-year-old might have established himself as England’s primary enforcer with dominant tackles and carries all through.
France
The momentary lack of famous person scrum-half Antoine Dupont to the France sevens staff proved an even bigger subject than first anticipated.
Fabien Galthie dropped Maxime Lucu for Racing 92 scrum-half Nolann le Garrec for the journey to Cardiff in spherical 4 and the 21-year-old repaid his coach’s religion with a player-of-the-match efficiency in his first Six Nations begin.
An audacious 40-yard reverse move to arrange a break down the wing summed up his fearless and energetic show, and he impressed once more within the slender win over England as France recovered their spark.
“Le Garrec must be the discover of this event,” stated former England wing Chris Ashton. “He is an actual expertise.”
Louis Bielle-Biarrey broke into France’s senior staff on the World Cup however misplaced his place for the opening Six Nations recreation in opposition to Eire.
The 21-year-old wing made his Six Nations debut in Les Bleus’ victory at Murrayfield and conjured up one of many tries of the event with the match-winning rating from a chip and chase.
Aged 19, Posolo Tuilagi, nephew of England’s Manu, was the youngest Six Nations debutant this marketing campaign.
Following a damaging show in his first begin in opposition to Italy, sickness dominated the lock out of the victory in opposition to Wales earlier than he was launched again to their Below-20 facet in a bid to cease England’s title problem.
Weighing in at simply over 23 stones, he has all of the attributes to change into a Six Nations nice.
Eire
It is arduous for a younger star to interrupt into Andy Farrell’s champion facet however 22-year-old Joe McCarthy did it in model with a man-of-the-match show in opposition to France on the opening weekend.
The Leinster lock saved Grand Slam-winning common James Ryan and two-time British and Irish Lion Iain Henderson out of the beginning staff.
The 6ft 6in and 19st ahead has all of the aggression and energy you’d anticipate, but additionally has surprisingly nimble footwork with ball in hand.
Italy
At 19 years and 170 days, Tommaso Menoncello grew to become the youngest Six Nations try-scorer in historical past when he touched down in opposition to France in 2022.
Solely two years later, the Benetton centre has arguably been one of many gamers of the event and a key participant in Italy’s upturn in type.
Menoncello is a continuing menace with a ball in hand and affords a punch in defence together with his sturdy tackling.
Exeter Chiefs quantity eight Ross Vintcent confirmed shades of Italian nice Sergio Parisse in his prime.
A barnstorming late run into the Scotland 22 to assist Italy file a primary house win since 2013 and an excellent overlaying deal with to disclaim Tomos Williams a strive within the 24-21 win over Wales demonstrated his worth to Italy’s success.
The 21-year-old continues to be technically employed as a Domino’s supply driver which exhibits how sudden his rise has occurred.
Wales
A world debut by 21 is spectacular. Captaining your nation at 21 is sort of unprecedented.
Lock Dafydd Jenkins performed in each spherical of the Six Nations final season, however an harm to Jac Morgan opened the door for the Exeter Chief to captain his nation.
Passionate, hard-working and courageous in defence, Jenkins attracts comparisons to a younger Alun Wyn Jones.
Within the backs, an harm to Liam Williams meant 21-year-old Cameron Winnett took on the mantle of Wales’ rock below the excessive ball, regardless of solely having performed 15 instances for membership facet Cardiff.
Smaller in dimension than Williams, Winnett proved practically as efficient within the air and his harmful working has translated rapidly to Take a look at stage.
Scotland
Gregor Townsend’s facet have used the fewest gamers below the age of twenty-two with one look for full-back Harry Paterson.
With Blair Kinghorn injured for the crunch recreation in opposition to France and Kyle Steyn a late withdrawal, 22-year-old Paterson got here in to start out solely his tenth skilled recreation.
The Edinburgh again delivered an assured efficiency, establishing Scotland’s first strive with a neat sidestep and offload.