No Johnny Sexton, Dan Biggar, Owen Farrell or Antoine Dupont.
The 2024 Six Nations was an opportunity for new stars to emerge in the absence of some of the sport’s household names.
BBC Sport takes a look at each nation and their young talent aged 22 or under who stepped up this campaign.
England
The international retirements of Courtney Lawes and Jonny May from England’s old guard opened the door for 20-year-old flanker Chandler Cunningham-South and 21-year-old winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
Harlequins forward Cunningham-South caught the eye of former Scotland captain John Barclay when he made a 14-minute debut from the bench in England’s opening win over Italy.
“He’s an enormous human being,” Barclay said on the BBC’s Six Nations Rugby Special. “He’s the same sort of shape as LeBron James, he can move, he’s physical, and we’ve just seen the very start of him.”
A genuine X-factor player, Feyi-Waboso showed his finishing prowess with a try off the bench in England’s defeat at Murrayfield.
Rewarded with a starting place in England’s last-gasp victory over Ireland, the Exeter Chief wowed the Twickenham crowd with his pace and power and such was his impact, his talents were missed when injury ruled him out of the final game in France.
Leicester lock George Martin was ruled out of England’s first three games because of injury but came straight back into the team to face defending champions Ireland.
A robust 80-minute performance followed where the 22-year-old may have established himself as England’s number one enforcer with dominant tackles and carries throughout.
France
The temporary loss of superstar scrum-half Antoine Dupont to the France sevens team proved a bigger issue than first anticipated.
Fabien Galthie dropped Maxime Lucu for Racing 92 scrum-half Nolann le Garrec for the trip to Cardiff in round four and the 21-year-old repaid his coach’s faith with a player-of-the-match performance in his first Six Nations start.
An audacious 40-yard reverse pass to set up a break down the wing summed up his fearless and energetic display, and he impressed again in the narrow win over England as France recovered their spark.
“Le Garrec has to be the find of this tournament,” said former England wing Chris Ashton. “He’s a real talent.”
Louis Bielle-Biarrey broke into France’s senior team at the World Cup but lost his place for the opening Six Nations game against Ireland.
The 21-year-old wing made his Six Nations debut in Les Bleus’ victory at Murrayfield and conjured up one of the tries of the tournament with the match-winning score from a chip and chase.
Aged 19, Posolo Tuilagi, nephew of England’s Manu, was the youngest Six Nations debutant this campaign.
Following a destructive display in his first start against Italy, illness ruled the lock out of the victory against Wales before he was released back to their Under-20 side in a bid to stop England’s title challenge.
Weighing in at just over 23 stones, he has all the attributes to become a Six Nations great.
Ireland
It’s hard for a young star to break into Andy Farrell’s champion side but 22-year-old Joe McCarthy did it in style with a man-of-the-match display against France on the opening weekend.
The Leinster lock kept Grand Slam-winning regular James Ryan and two-time British and Irish Lion Iain Henderson out of the starting team.
The 6ft 6in and 19st forward has all the aggression and power you’d expect, but also has surprisingly nimble footwork with ball in hand.
Italy
At 19 years and 170 days, Tommaso Menoncello became the youngest Six Nations try-scorer in history when he touched down against France in 2022.
Only two years later, the Benetton centre has arguably been one of the players of the tournament and a key player in Italy’s upturn in form.
Menoncello is a constant threat with a ball in hand and offers a punch in defence with his robust tackling.
Exeter Chiefs number eight Ross Vintcent showed shades of Italian great Sergio Parisse in his prime.
A barnstorming late run into the Scotland 22 to help Italy record a first home win since 2013 and a brilliant covering tackle to deny Tomos Williams a try in the 24-21 win over Wales. demonstrated his value to Italy’s success.
The 21-year-old is still technically employed as a Domino’s delivery driver which shows how sudden his rise has happened.
Wales
An international debut by 21 is impressive. Captaining your country at 21 is nearly unheard of.
Lock Dafydd Jenkins played in every round of the Six Nations last season, but an injury to Jac Morgan opened the door for the Exeter Chief to captain his country.
Passionate, hard-working and brave in defence, Jenkins draws comparisons to a young Alun Wyn Jones.
In the backs, an injury to Liam Williams meant 21-year-old Cameron Winnett took on the mantle of Wales’ rock under the high ball, despite only having played 15 times for club side Cardiff.
Smaller in size than Williams, Winnett proved nearly as effective in the air and his dangerous running has translated quickly to Test level.
Scotland
Gregor Townsend’s side have used the fewest players under the age of 22 with one appearance for full-back Harry Paterson.
With Blair Kinghorn injured for the crunch game against France and Kyle Steyn a late withdrawal, 22-year-old Paterson came in to start only his 10th professional game.
The Edinburgh back delivered an assured performance, setting up Scotland’s first try with a neat sidestep and offload.
