Joe Marler and Danny Care have come together to select their dream Six Nations XV.
Appearing on the Hits Different podcast, the only condition was that the players selected must have either played with or against the duo between 2009 and 2024.
Here is their chosen team:
Backs
15 Rob Kearney: Specifying that he’d like a full-back that could “score some tries but be a rock at the back”, Care selected the Irish star over the likes of Leigh Halfpenny and Thomas Ramos (who Marler once famously slapped around the head in a Champions Cup match). Kearney was a four-time Six Nations winner, with two Grand Slams to his name, and a former European Player of the Year.
14 George North: Despite Marler’s protests, the giant winger was forced over the line by Care for “scoring loads of tries”, beating Tommy Bowe to the wing spot. North is one of Wales’ most capped players of all time and a two-time British and Irish Lions tourist.
13 Jonathan Davies: It was down to Davies or Gail Fickou, but the Welshman prevailed. The 37-year-old won four Six Nations, including two Grand Slams, and made six Lions Test starts.
12 Manu Tuilagi: The powerful English centre was an easy choice for the duo, having both played alongside him for many years with England. He is a two-time Six Nations champion, a Lions tourist and has two Premiership titles to his name.
11 Vincent Clerc: One of the most lethal finishers in Six Nations history, Clerc was a straight call for his inclusion. With two Grand Slams to his name and a further Six Nations title, the little Frenchman has gone down in history as one of the best wingers to have played the game.
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10 Owen Farrell: One of the more contentious decisions in the team, Farrell beat the likes of Jonny Wilkinson and Frédéric Michalak to the number 10 position. Care looked set on Johnny Sexton before Marler jumped in with the quip: “mate, he was garbage”. That ended that, so when Care suggested Farrell, Marler once again objected, calling it “friendatism” (a play on nepotism), calling him “one of the worst tens I’ve played with”. Care had the final say, however, selecting the three-time Six Nations champion as their playmaker.
9 Antoine Dupont: Arguing that “you can’t look that far past Dupont”, the duo settled on the French star, but not before Marler told his former teammate that “Gibson-Park is terrible” and that Gareth Davies’ only highlight was his “one try that World Cup in 2015”. With two Six Nations titles to his name, and still only 29, Dupont is already regarded as one of the greatest to have ever played the game.
Forwards
8 Sergio Parisse: Another Care win, he argued that Parisse did so much for Italian rugby in the Six Nations, despite, as Marler put it, his “appalling win record”. The other options on the table were Jamie Heaslip, Billy Vunipola and Taulupe Faletau, but the now-Toulon coach won out.
7 Justin Tipuric: “As skilful as any back”, Tipuric got the “100%” vote over former Wales captain Sam Warburton. He retired having won four Six Nations and appeared on three Lions tours.
6 Courtney Lawes: Another simple selection, their former England teammate won three Six Nations. Known for his terrific tackling technique, the giant lock made over 100 caps for England and appeared on two Lions tours.
5 Maro Itoje: An easy decision, the Lions captain has played alongside the duo for years and has recently taken on leadership duties for England with great success. Verging on 100 caps for his country, Itoje has won the Six Nations three times and has a list of individual records longer than his giant arms.
4 Paul O’Connell: The Irish legend ousted Welshman Alun Wyn Jones to the number four slot after Marler bowled in, saying: “so overrated, unbelievable, he had one year”. O’Connell, on the other hand, was a key part of Ireland’s emergence to the upper tiers of world rugby, helping his side to win three Six Nations titles and was named the 2015 Player of the Championship.
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3 Adam Jones: It had to be the former Welsh prop, particularly having coached the duo very successfully at Harlequins for many years. One of a very small selection of players to have one three Six Nations Grand Slams, Jones was one of the greatest scrummagers to have played the game.
2 Richard Hibbard: Yet another Welsh addition, Hibbard “used to melt people,” Marler fondly remembered. Others in the conversation included Jamie George and Rory Best, but it was the two-time Six Nations winner who picked up the spot.
1 Mako Vunipola: After jokingly choosing himself, Marler selected his former international teammate, stating that he was “one of the best players I’ve ever played with”. Other French names were suggested in particular, but the Englishman held on.