RBS 6 Nations 2016: Top 5 Moments from Matchday 2

A superb start to the 2016 RBS Six Nations continued on Matchday 2, where fans were treated to a little bit of everything en route to seeing Eddie Jones' England soar to the summit of the standings.

Their 40-9 blowout win over Italy capped off a weekend that saw Wales come back from behind to defeat Scotland 27-23 on home soil, and France managed a tight 10-9 victory over Ireland to extend their winning start to the competition.

Europe's biggest powers once again didn't fail to entertain before heading out to enjoy a well-deserved break from tournament commitments. We've collected some of the top, most influential moments from Matchday 2 for your viewing pleasure.

1. Jamie Roberts Try Sends Cardiff into Raptures

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George North's last-gasp try may have been Wales' most attractive, but it was man-of-the-match Jamie Roberts' 64th-minute score that undoubtedly stood out as the most important for Warren Gatland's men against Scotland.

With their backs to the wall, the Principality Stadium hosts finally went back in front thanks to the grunting effort of their star centre, and the fact Roberts took such a knock for his troubles only made it that much more motivational for the hosts.

Cardiff erupted in support of the Harlequins midfielder as soon as he dotted down for Wales' second try of the match on Saturday, and it was at this point one could genuinely feel the tide finally turning back their way.

2. Maxime Medard Ends Test-Try Drought to See off Ireland

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Prior to grabbing his game-winning effort in the one-point win over Ireland on Saturday, Maxime Medard had failed to score in his previous 10 matches for France, per OptaJonny, his longest-ever Test drought.

New France head coach Guy Noves has added a sprinkle of Toulouse flair to his side since taking over the team, and it least paid dividends in Paris this weekend as his side defeated the reigning champions.

Les Bleus trailed their guests 9-3 before Medard finally made his 70th-minute breakthrough, which provided an exciting flash in what was otherwise a dull affair bereft of try-scoring action.

As a result, France remain one of the only two sides still left in the competition with a 100 per cent record, and their title chances remain intact.

3. Jonathan Joseph Hat-Trick

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Star centre Jonathan Joseph almost single-handedly hauled England to their 40-9 win over Italy on Sunday, where he provided the bulk of their linebreaking as he returned to peak form.

One can argue it was "only Italy" if they like, but one would also be wise to remember these were the same Six Nations Wooden Spoon contenders who pushed France to the brink in Matchday 1 before losing 23-21.

Bath's Joseph was every bit the midfield marvel England have been looking for in Rome, showing a combination of savvy, speed and no small amount of strength en route to his three-try haul.

Joseph now has a record of eight tries in 15 Test starts for England, an average better than one score every other start he makes for the national team. The rest of the Six Nations will be more wary of his threat.

4. Yoann Maestri Late Hit Erupts, Citing Debate

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The travelling support at the Stade de France on Saturday were somewhat bemused to see French lock Yoann Maestri fail to pick up a card for his late hit on fly-half Johnny Sexton, including Ireland international Luke Fitzgerald.

Sexton was left in a crumpled heap before gathering his thoughts to fire over the first penalty of the day, but that hit may well have left an impact on the No. 10 and others not entirely visible to the eye.

Maestri wasn't the only Frenchman to get away without punishment, though, as a hit from France captain Guilhem Guirado meant Ireland's Dave Kearney had to go off, but still without sight of a card.

Rugby World's Gavin Mortimer cited French daily Midi Olympique, which claimed the citing officer was yet to reach a decision on either incident as of Monday morning, when really, the offences were clear to see.

5. Jaco Peyper Gets Up Close and Personal

Referee Jaco Peyper copped a fair amount of flak for his performance in Paris over the weekend, but one incident both sets of fans could chuckle at came in the build-up to Medard's game-sealing score.

The South African official wanted to get the best view possible to see if the French forwards had successfully touched down under the posts rather than leave his decision in the hands of the television match official.

Perhaps more referees could do with shunning their inhibitions under the dog pile in a bid to get the truth out of such situations. And who knows? Peyper may have just started a new, more functional trend among referees.