After a weekend of number crunching, and based upon the combination of our selections and our player ratings, here’s our Six Nations Team of the Championship so far.
Backs
15 Thomas Ramos (France): An absolute shoo-in. France‘s back three strategy has been defined by the madcap laughing in the faces of any defence he’s encountered. Jamie Osborne and Ange Capuozzo are our runners up, but Ramos owns this shirt by a distance.
14 Robert Baloucoune (Ireland): A much closer run affair with France’s Theo Attissogbe pushing the young Irishman all the way. But Baloucoune was at the heart of Ireland‘s turnaround after a disastrous opening round and he gets the nod.
13 Huw Jones (Scotland): “We’re playing England, you say? Well, that’s another couple of Test tries for me!” Such is the scoring frequency of the Lions outside centre. Italy’s Nacho Brex may have pushed him all the way but for a self-imposed absence due to family ill-heath, but Jones has been sensational.
12 Stuart McCloskey (Ireland): Farrell’s found a rock with this fantastic Ulsterman, our Player of the Round against England. Continuing the Italian theme, Tommaso Menoncello has been once again outstanding for the Azzurri, whilst French fans are licking their lips of the prospect they have in Fabien Brou-Boirie.
11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France): Peerless and our player of the tournament thus far. In fact, his dominance has been so complete we’re not naming a runner-up. They’re all left in the mud behind him. Could very well be the best player on the planet right now.
Six Nations: Top 10 players of the Championship thus far as ‘untouchable’ France star sets the pace
10 Finn Russell (Scotland): This was really a coin toss, but Matthieu Jalibert‘s injury in Round Three makes it a tad easier for us to make a call. Russell‘s made two key contributions – his all-round game against England, but a match-winning moment against Wales. Mature and effective have been his watch-words.
9 Antoine Dupont (France): Toto takes the shirt from the equally good Jamison Gibson-Park. We just feel Dupont has that little more when it really matters. Approaching his very best form once again, which he’ll need when France face Scotland, a side that traditionally troubles them at Murrayfield.
Forwards
8 Lorenzo Cannone (Italy): A tough call, but Cannone is second in the tackle list and way ahead of anyone in dominant tackles as he’s shone all tournament. Caelan Doris has moved across the Irish back-row but always shone, whilst Ben Earl has been England’s best player. Anthony Jelonch needs a shout out too, for his tireless work for France.
7 Manuel Zuliani (Italy): Just sneaks ahead of Scotland‘s Rory Darge and France’s Oscar Jegou. What sets Zuiliani apart is his numbers as the first tackler – 59% of the time he’s that first man up for the Azzurri, is second in turnover (Darge leads) whilst third in dominant tackles. An exceptional year.
6 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland): A consistent rock for Ireland, third in turnovers, 41 tackles at 93% and a menace with ball in hand. France’s Francois Cros has been his consistent self, Wales‘ Aaron Wainwright has been brilliant whether at six or eight, whilst Italy’s Michele Lamaro has led by example.
5 Mickael Guillard (France): Sensational versus Ireland, brilliant off the bench against Italy. A great year. England haven’t a lot to shout about but Ollie Chessum‘s excellence cannot be overlooked, nor can Emmanuel Meafou‘s bench impact for France.
4 Charles Ollivon (France): If we had a runner-up for the player of the tournament thus far, it would be Le Grand Charles. Two tries and two try assists are remarkable for a man of his size. Wales’ Dafydd Jenkins has given his all in tough times, whilst Niccolo Cannone has been excellent for the Azzurri.
3 Simone Ferrari (Italy): An ever present in our Team of the Week and easily the best prop in the tournament. England’s Joe Heyes is our runner-up, surely the most improved player in the Six Nations this season?
2 Julien Marchand (France): A difficult choice at hooker with Dewi Lake, Giacomo Nicotera and Dan Sheehan all having claims, but the Stade Toulousian has been outstanding in every round.
1 Danilo Fischetti (Italy): Two Team of the Week selections see the pocket propping rocker take the loosehead shirt away from Wales’ excellent Rhys Carre and England’s workhorse Ellis Genge. England will fear Fischetti in Round Four as he’ll target the one weakness in their team at tighthead.
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