RuckedOver's Six Nations XV

First off, apologies for the lack of posts of late.

You see, even amateur rugby bloggers have to take holiday, and what makes me especially amateur is the fact that I arranged mine for the final two weekends of the Six Nations.  A fortnight which, by all accounts, was pretty epic.  However, the tiny island of Koh Tao in Thailand doesn't have many places where rugby is regularly viewed…or wifi for that matter. 

However, I'm back now and fully caught up, meaning I can deliver the all-important Six Nations Team of the Tournament…

1.  Joe Marler.  Gethin Jenkins recovered from a terrible opening performance to put in a couple of good shifts but Marler is rapidly turning into one of the finest looseheads in Europe.  His work rate in defence is monumental and he likes to carry a bit too but it's his vastly improved scrummaging that has seen him really catch the eye.  He will be disappointed that he didn't get the best of Mike Ross in Dublin, but otherwise he was generally on top.

2.  Leanoardo Ghiraldini.  In an Italian pack that was more often than not outplayed, Ghiraldini was a real force.  Carried with power and aggression throughout the tournament and has one hell of an engine on him, making him almost like an extra flanker.  Rory Best also had a decent tournament, with a great showing against England in particular, despite continuing to look as if he has literally no neck.

3.  Dan Cole.  It's hard to believe that the Tigers' man ever had his place in doubt.  He destroyed Gethin Jenkins on his return from injury and was generally a dominant force in the scrum although, like Marler, he will be disappointed that he didn't get on top against Ireland.  He snuck into the top turnover chart for the Six Nations as well, with 6 snatches, and his carrying is vastly improved from two years ago – one headbutt on Cian Healy and big charge was my personal highlight.  Special mention to Mike Ross as well who was a rock for the Irish in the set piece.

4.  Paul O'Connell.  What a man.  Yes, he looks like he's walked straight out of Mordor but, despite getting a bit long in the tooth, he is the heartbeat of an Irish pack that, more often than not, relentlessly bludgeons the opposition at the breakdown.  A massive competitor, it's hard to imagine Ireland without him – and opponents will be ecstatic the day that the big man hangs up his boots.  Tip of the cap to Yoann Maestri, a rare class act in an underperforming French pack, and to Johnny Gray as well, who fronted up every game even if his teammates didn't follow suit.

5.  Alun Wyn Jones.  The Welshman is quickly becoming the Welsh side's O'Connell, a ferociously passionate and aggressive lock who refuses to take a backwards step, even when under massive pressure.  Sam Warburton rightly won many plaudits for his displays but, after the defeat to England in Cardiff, it was Alun Wyn Jones who grafted the side back together.  Courtney Lawes may well have pushed for a spot if he had played a full tournament, such was his impact (literally) on his return.

6.  Peter O'Mahony.  James Haskell started brightly but gradually descended into the idiocy we saw in the final game, but O'Mahony cemented his position as arguably the best blindside in the northern hemisphere.  He hits like a runaway train and is superb over the ball, as well as being a very handy lineout option.  And, as Munster captain, he seems to have inherited that classical 'manic aggression' that has for years been the trademark of Mr O Connell.  A future skipper of Ireland too, by all accounts.

7.  Sam Warburton.  This was a horrible position to pick, since all the home nations open-sides could make claims for this spot.  Blair Cowan was a turnover king, Sean O'Brien was injured for plenty of the tournament but finished with some brutal displays, whilst Chris Robshaw was a tackle-machine and pinched plenty of ball himself, answering critics in the process.  But Warburton recovered from being outplayed by Robshaw to reaffirm himself as the all-court openside – showing precision at the breakdown and real thrust in attack, as well as leadership to almost turn the Welsh into champions once again.

8.  Billy Vunipola.  Harsh on Sergio Parisse, who once again looked like a class above his teammates, but Vunipola was in relentless form for the majority of the tournament.  He grabbed a couple of tries and broke more tackles than anyone else, and he seems to be less of a lard-bucket than he was previously…although I would never say that to his face.  He regularly went the 80 minutes and, if he carries on this form, it will be very hard for even Ben Morgan to displace him.

9.  Ben Youngs.  This time last year, Youngs was nowhere to be seen, but he came back with a bang this tournament.  He was the best player on the park against Wales and, although he (along with most of his side) was tactically out done against Ireland, his display against France was probably his best in an England shirt, back to terrorising fringe defences with sniping breaks.  Rhys Webb was another contender who looked dangerous and Conor Murray put in a tactical masterclass more than once, but Youngs wins it for out and out threat.

10.  Jonathan Sexton.  After recovering from concussion Ireland looked like a different side, and against France and England the Irishman was absolutely imperious.  He lands the ball on a sixpence and his goalkicking is almost (but not quite) at Halfpenny level – that's not to say that he doesn't offer a threat with the ball in hand though, as he knows when to take the ball to the line and fizz the ball wide.  George Ford, despite looking 12, is a close rival having reinvigorated England's back play, whilst Dan Biggar and Finn Russell both impressed in patches.

11.  Jack Nowell.  The Exeter man has an abysmal haircut, which almost made me disregard him from this list, but he has sparkled into some form this season.  He was a bit ropey under the high ball against Ireland, but he consistently beats defenders and makes breaks, and is a powerful carrier to – he offered a much more consistent threat when he replaced May in the side.  George North did finish strongly with a hat-trick, and what a shame we didn't get to see Teddy Thomas in full flight.

12.  Robbie Henshaw.  A tight call with Jamie Roberts, who became a midfield colossus after an ineffectual game against England, but Henshaw has emerged as a real force in the 12 shirt for Ireland, offering genuine class, guile and physicality.  He is not the biggest guy but he does hit hard, he doesn't miss tackles and he hits smart, direct lines too – it's early days, but we may well be looking at the next stalwart of the Irish midfield. 

13.  Jonathan Joseph.  An easy call, and probably the revelation of the tournament.  He was absolutely electric throughout – particularly against Italy – and was a threat with his quick feet whenever he got the ball.  Concerns about his defence proved to be unfounded too, as the Bath man tackled low and hard all tournament.  An acknowledgement to Mark Bennett too, who impressed in an otherwise unimpressive campaign for Scotland.

14.  Tommy Bowe.  Liam Williams looked a lot sharper than Alex Cuthbert when he came into the side, and Yoann Huget also had his moments – however, I haven't selected him simply because I don't like him, the diving prat.  Tommy Bowe may not have been spectacular, but he still oozes class and works ridiculously hard to get involved in the game, always offering himself off his wing as well as being imperious under the high ball.

15.  Leigh Halfpenny.  Rob Kearney, Stuart Hogg, Mike Brown and even Scott Spedding all had decent claims, but Halfpenny's boot and aptitude at taking catches under pressure makes him the obvious selection.  His running game is also under-rated, as he has the knack of wriggling out of the first tackle consistently, but it was his prowess off the tee that made Wales such a threat from anywhere inside (or even just outside) the opponent's half – particularly against Ireland.