RUF SIx Nations Team Of The Tournament
The Rugby Union Fans Six Nations team of the tournament, this is based on player performance throughout the competition and not on the talent levels of the individual player;
1. Gethin Jenkins (Wales) A powerful and consistent performance by the loose head who stood in to lead the side in the absence of Sam Warburton, great srummager and hard worker around the park.
2. Dylan Hartley (England) Has improved his performance in the scrum and line out and steadily improved as the tournament went on.
3. Dan Cole (England) A year after he was tormented byIreland andFrance he returned with a powerful display and was key to England’s performances.
4. Richie Gray (Scotland) While the team may have struggled Gray’s work in the loose as well as his towering figure in the set piece meanScotland have a talisman to build around. How many other second row’s could have scored that try against Ireland.
5. Yoann Maestri (France) With an aging French pack it was Maestri who injected a bit of grunt and power, after taking his opportunity coming off the bench in the first game he never looked back.
6. Dan Lydiate (Wales) The real star of the tournament, has developed into a great all round player but its his tackling that sets him apart typified by the hit that was heard on the referee’s microphone against the French.
7. Imanol Harinordoquy (France) Still at the top of his game, great in the line out and deadly in the loose.
8. Sergio Parisse (Italy) Like Gray he is the talisman of a team that doesn’t win many but the effort of the Azzuri captain is there for all to see, imagine what he could do with a better side around him.
9. Mike Philips (Wales) Philips grew through the tournament and by the end was approaching his former best, always a threat round the fringes and his strength sets him apart from the others.
10. Owen Farrell (England) A performance that defied his age and experience, his goal kicking was superb, his control of a game gets better each week and his defence will remind England fans of a certain world cup winning 10.
11. George North (Wales) While only scoring one try his willingness to come off the wing and create for others sets him apart, his hands and vision are rarely seen in a winger, especially one with his size and strength.
12. Wesley Fofana (France) The breakout performance of the Six Nations scoring four tries in his first four games before being wrongly shifted to the wing. A real combination of pace and power thatFrance should build there midfield around.
13. Jonathon Davies (Wales) Developing into one of the premier centres in world rugby, there are few if any weaknesses to his game in attack or defence. Deceptively quick for a big man with soft hands, happy to be the creator or the finisher.
14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland) While Ireland may have stuttered the wing put in a finishing master class to lead the tournament with five tries. At the peak of his game he is a consummate finisher.
15 Leigh Halfpenny (Wales) Now the complete package and growing in to the role, his kicking game out of hand and off the tee kept Wales ticking, his defence was superb throughout and deadly when counter attacking or joining the line.
2nd XV
1.Alex Corbisiero, 2.Ross Ford, 3.Adam Jones, 4.Ian Evans, 5.Mouritz Botha, 6.Tom Croft, 7.Ross Rennie, 8.Ben Morgan. 9.Lee Dickson* 10.Jonathon Sexton, 11.Julien Malzieu, 12.Jamie Roberts, 13.Brad Barritt, 14.Alex Cuthbert, 15.RobKearney
I don’t believe any scrum half beyond Philips had a good tournament but somebody had to be named.
Special mention must go to Manu Tuilagi, Sam Warbuton, Paul O’Connell, Geoff Parling who didn’t play enough to warrant selection.
