Tuesday 24 March 2015

Team of the Tournament (2) - 6 Nations

What an exciting final day to the RBS Six Nations, possibly the best yet.  Each game was better than the previous and after England failed to win by the necessary points, Ireland took home the trophy. Here we have a look at the second opinion on our team of the tournament.

15. Stuart Hogg

Hogg was the shining light in an underperforming and disappointing Scotland team.  He made 442 metres with ball in hand, beat 18 defenders and showed his impressive pace for his try against Wales.  He was also solid in defence making important try saving tackles, notably on Mike Brown, and was solid under the high ball. Leigh Halfpenny had a good tournament, but Liam Williams is pushing him hard for the Welsh 15 shirt. Scott Spedding enjoyed his first Six Nations, playing well and showing glimpses of brilliance with his Serge Blanco-esque counter attacking running.

14. Tommy Bowe

While this may not have been Bowe's best Six Nations given his previous try scoring record in the tournament, he was one of Ireland's stronger ball carriers.  His kick chase is as impressive as ever which has been essential to Ireland's successful retention of the championship.

13. Jonathon Joseph

To think that Jonathon Joseph was not in Stuart Lancaster's original plans and was only in the squad due to injuries is utter madness. Arguably the player of the tournament, Joseph showed unbelievable talent and fantastic attacking flair. With four tries to his name in his first Six Nations, Joseph won the hearts of many English fans and has been hailed as the answer to their centre problems.  Surely he has done enough to cement his place as England's starting 13 even with the imminent return of Manu Tuilagi. Only time will tell, but one thing for sure is that this will not be his last Six Nations.

12. Robbie Henshaw

The young man named as Brian O'Driscoll's successor in the Irish centres has shown why he has been given this label.  Despite being a natural 13 and playing at inside centre, Henshaw seemed at home and was an ever physical presence in midfield for the champions.  His finest game was against England; defensively sound, shutting out Luther Burrell, and a strong runner, he deservedly scored a try from a clever Conor Murray chip. Growing in confidence and creating a strong partnership with Jared Payne, Henshaw will be around for many years to come. Roberts was solid for Wales powering over the gain line but was underused against England.

11. Jack Nowell

Jack Nowell's stats are incredibly impressive and somewhat surprising considering he didn't start as England's first choice on the wing. What happened to Jonny May and his blistering pace? The man who stunned the All Blacks with a scintillating try just 5 months ago seems to have lost his way in both attack and defence. Nowell came in and was fantastic; scoring important tries against Scotland and France, he looks set to be England first choice come September and the Rugby World Cup. France's young Fijian born winger Nakaitaci came close after a strong first Six Nations. He has the ability to leave defenders for dead whenever he has the ball in hand and is certainly one to watch.

10. George Ford

Both Sexton and Biggar were instrumental for Ireland and Wales, but it was the young Englishman who stood out with an impressive haul of 75 points.  Deemed too small for the physical modern game, he showed that size is not everything.  Ford is a fantastic ball playing 10 who managed England with a maturity well beyond his 22 years. Confident with ball in hand, Ford brought variety to England's attack which was key to them topping the tries scored in this year's tournament (18) bagging a couple for himself along the way. Barring injury he has nailed down the 10 shirt for the World Cup but his kicking still needs some work.

9. Ben Youngs

While Murray and Webb both put forward promising cases for taking the 9 jersey, Youngs' ability to impact matches directly means he takes the scrum half spot.  His sound decision making, and strong partnership with Ford allowed England's backs to be a constant threat.  Bagging an early try in the final match of the championship and making a couple of line breaks, Youngs put England on the front foot.  His awareness to take a quick lineout on his own 5m line to allow England to score a 95m try shows just how well he reads the game and is exactly what England are looking for.

1. Jack Mcgrath

Filling the huge void left by Cian Healy in the Irish front row, Mcgrath more than held his own. He was solid in the scrum and lineout, as well as being a physical presence in the breakdown, helping Ireland form a strong platform from which they could launch their attack. Marler came close with consistently good performances, and looks set to retain his jersey ahead of Corbisiero and Vunipola for the World Cup.

2. Scott Baldwin

The rampaging hooker was a nightmare for teams when he played. Taking over the hooking duties from Richard Hibbard, Baldwin showed just what he can do. He has great basic skills, with success in the lineout and solid in the scrum, just what you need from an international hooker. Then comes his work rate in the loose and tackle count. Ireland's Rory Best also deserves a mention but his lineout still lets him down which is why the jersey is Baldwin's.

3. Dan Cole

This is one of the easiest choices for the team of the tournament after Samson Lee's injury. Cole making his England return after a long injury lay off showed no signs of time out of the international game.  His scrummaging would have secured him a place alone, but his work in defence and at the breakdown winning turnovers for the full 80 minutes affirmed his place as one of the best tight-heads in world rugby.

4. Luke Charteris

This is a controversial decision with his Welsh compatriot and stalwart leader Alun Wyn-Jones missing out, but Charteris is the silent assassin in the Welsh pack. Devastatingly good in defence (31 tackles) against a determined Irish attack showed just how much work he puts in and yet how little he is praised for it. At 6ft11 he is a huge target in the lineout providing some steals along the way.

5. Jonny Gray

Another controversial decision to leave out Ireland's winning captain Paul O'Connell, but Jonny Gray has shown that he can indeed follow in his older brother's footsteps and be a success on the international scene.  A physical presence both in the loose and lineout, he is a workhorse, making more tackles in this year's Six Nations than any other player.

6. Peter O'Mahony

Munsterman O'Mahony is a ferocious competitor and a nuisance to play against. A great work rate at the breakdown and in the loose as well as being a strong ball carrier, his old-fashioned style reminds us of England's World Cup winning Richard Hill. Will O'Mahony be able to emulate Hill's success with Ireland at this year's World Cup?

7. Chris Robshaw

Robshaw has silenced any remaining doubters over both his ability as a player and captain.  He has had a tremendous tournament with huge performances particularly in Cardiff on the opening weekend. His strong carrying skills showed against France with a couple of big line breaks, and his work rate in terms of tackles and turnovers at the breakdown is second to none. A leader who will be key to England's success at this year's World Cup. Warburton also stepped up a gear and remained injury free during the championship, playing all five of Wales' matches.  He showed that he is a big game player and a leader Wales cannot afford to lose.

8. Billy Vunipola

Sergio Parisse was as ever the Azzurri's key man and his leadership carried Italy to victory over Scotland at Murrayfield. Yet Vunipola was back to his best in the absence of the injured Ben Morgan, who when fully fit will provide some great competition for the jersey. Vunipola's fitness is vastly improved and he now has the ability to tear defences apart for the full 80 minutes.  With 64 carries he was England's and the tournament's biggest ball carrier helping launch England's attack.
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