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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

This year’s Six Nations was one of the most open tournaments of recent years, won by an Irish team who, at long last ,were able to realise their potential and perform at the very top of their game. England, however, were arguably the best team in the tournament and seem to have established a settled line-up that has genuine potential to be a big threat in next year’s World Cup. Despite finishing second in the tournament, winning their first Triple Crown since 2003 is a significant step forward.

Elsewhere the French team were characteristically erratic, combining lacklustre performances, such as that against Wales, with glimmers of world class skill and attacking play, which should not really be a surprise given the wealth of explosive ability they have at their disposal, with the likes of Basteraud, the unfortunately injured Fofana and rising star Gael Fickou. The Welsh were perhaps the big upset of the tournament after their huge success last year. Yet their third place finish confirms that ‘Gatland-ball’ has become too predictable and stifles the great attacking creativity that the Welsh side is capable of. On the other hand, no surprises were to be had at the bottom of the table, as both Scotland and Italy were far adrift of the quality of the other four nations.

That brings me to choosing my Team of the Tournament:

1. Cian Healy (Ireland)

2. Dylan Hartley (England)

3. Mike Ross (Ireland)

4. Joe Launchbury (England)

5. Courtney Lawes (England)

6. Yannick Nyanga (France)

7. Chris Robshaw (England)

8. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)

9. Danny Care (England)

10. Jonny Sexton (Ireland)

11. Andrew Trimble (Ireland)

12. Jamie Roberts (Wales)

13. Luther Burrell (England)

14. Yoann Huget (France)

15. Mike Brown (England)

For me, Mike Brown is the absolute first choice. He was outstanding throughout, winning no less than three Man of the Match awards, as well as finishing joint-top try-scorer with Jonny Sexton. Consequently, he fully deserves being named Player of the Tournament.

Yoann Huget proved himself to be a first class finisher and Andrew Trimble and Danny Care have experienced something of a rejuvenation, both performing at the top of their game throughout the competition, and also featuring in the public vote for Player of the Tournament.

Elsewhere, Launchbury and Lawes were the stand out partnership in the second row. They both boasted huge work rates and were incredibly mobile around the pitch. As such they look to be one of the most encouraging aspects to England’s outfit ahead of next year’s world cup. Yannick Nyanga at blindside flanker is the rogue choice in the team, not least as he missed the last two games due to injury. Whilst Peter O’Mahony would be the conventional choice for many, Nyanga was one of the most prominent French players. In this series he was an imposing ball carrier and showed soft hands and an offloading game that indicate real class.

The Welsh did not perform nearly as well as they could have done, in stark contrast to their domination of the Lions Tour Last Summer. As a result, their presence in this side is minimal. Jamie Roberts, despite not being at his absolute best, was nonetheless a powerful presence in the centre, even though several of his compatriots did not perform at the level that we know they are capable of. Liam Williams had a good tournament and looks to have established himself as a permanent fixture in the Welsh set up, but if things are to improve for the Welsh side then they will have to come up with a different strategy to the monotonous ‘Gatland-ball’.

Finally, whilst it may have been Brian O’Driscoll’s final Six Nations, which was aptly recognised with a tournament win, he was not the stand out centre of the tournament. He must bow out to Luther Burrell who, coupled with Billy Twelvetrees, gave the English back-line the pace, creativity and direction that they had been lacking, scoring three tries in the process. Burrell’s achievement is only the more impressive in playing out of position at outside centre despite being an inside centre. But with Manu Tuilagi back to fitness, it will be interesting to see how Burrell will fit into England’s plans, starting first and foremost with the summer tour to New Zealand.

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