RBS Six Nations XV of Week 1

The old rivalries have been resurrected once more as the Six Nations kicked off again this weekend.

In an action packed weekend which saw France defeat Italy at the death, denying the Azzuri their first win in Paris, Jones and Hartley’s reign started with a Calcutta Cup win and Ireland and Wales saw honours even.

 Team of the weekend:

1. Make Vunipola - England’s super sub and perhaps an unlikely source for the decisive moment of the game. It was the prop’s soft hands and vision the ultimately saw Jack Nowell scamper in at the corner. Vunipola’s skill set and work in the loose sets him apart from other Northern Hemisphere props. Once the Saracens’ man answers the questions over his fitness and set piece he will surely be England’s go to loose head.
2. Dylan Hartley - perhaps an odd choice, but Hartley did what was asked of him. He hit his arrows, was a good boy, and lifted the Calcutta Cup. Job done. We will be expecting more from him moving forward.
3. Sampson Lee - the young prop promised so much but injury saw him not at his best at the World Cup. However, these worries appear to be behind him and Wales have their cornerstone back.
4. Devin Toner - the post O’Connell era was always going to be hard for Ireland. But Toner stepped up today, imperious in the lineout Toner ensured the Irish set piece was delivering.
5. George Kruis - Kruis’ coming of age internationally. The Sarries lock showed his power with ball in hand for his first international try. Joe Launchbury is so often the heartbeat of the England pack but Kruis proved to be the driving force at Murrayfield.
6. CJ Stander- What a debut. Minto of Italy was originally pencilled in for the six jersey but after the amount of work Stander went through, the debutante sneaks into the side.
7. Justin Tipuric - a reshuffle of shorts in the Welsh backrow saw Sam Warburton moved to the blindside with Tipuric starting at seven. A text book seven, Tipuric timed his interventions to perfection with crucial turnovers.
8. Billy Vunipola - easily the best player on the field at Murrayfield Vunipola topped the metres and carries stats. Another Italian, Sergio Parisse, just misses out. The Azzurri skipper was impressive, put it was his penalty and shocking prop goal attempt that cost his side the game.
9. Gareth Davies - facing a 13-0 deficit away from home against the defending Six Nations champions is a big ask. Wales deserve huge credit for fighting back to salvage a draw in Ireland and Davies was instrumental, controlling the game and driving his team around the field.
10. Jules Plisson - not his best say as the young stand off is still finding his feet internationally but his match winning penalty alone is worthy of a selection.
11. Virimi Vakatawa - another debutante in the side, Vakatawa made a successful switch from 7s to 15s. The French winger showed his class to finish off his try and was the brightest spark on the pitch.
12. Jamie Roberts - Fairly one-dimensional but unstoppable on his day. Roberts got through an incredible amount if work, neutralising the dangerous Irish centres and made crucial yards in attack.
13. Michele Campagnaro - the Exeter centre has been in fine form in the Premiership and he carried it into the Six Nations. Elusive runner and solid in defence. Another playmaker to help Italian creativity.
14. Jack Nowell - another Exeter flyer. Nowell struggled for game time at the World Cup but he showed why he has been tearing up trees for the Chiefs, a good finish and threatening all day.
15. Stuart Hogg - at the centre of everything that is good about Scottish rugby and once again was their stand out performer. Now he needs his team mates to step up to his level.