Six Nations team of the weekend

1 Marcus Horan – To see the Irish pack dismantle France’s scrum as the game gathered in intensity was an unbelievable sight. To see a penalty try awarded (dubious in the extreme) earns Horan, hard around the park as ever, a place in this week’s team

2 Dmitri Szarsewski – France’s scrum against Scotland strengthened when he came off the bench; it collapsed when he departed after an aggressive and effective fifty minutes where his astounding fitness and attitude stood out

3 John Hayes – Massively maligned and maybe with some degree of justice in the past but he tackled his heart out and handled Nicholas Mas who was expected to tear into the Irish tight head side; it was surely one of finest games for Ireland.

4 Donncha O’ Callaghan – Even though Ireland struggled in the line out what little ball they won was often secured by him at the front of the line. Around the field he worked incessantly, shunting in the scrum, tackling and carrying in the loose and reminding everyone that Paul O’ Connell is not the only lock in Ireland.

5 Ian Evans – His line out work was as solid as ever but it was his ability to off load out of the tackle and prevent Scotland slowing the Welsh attacks down which caught the eye, in a subtle sort of way. A good player with a lot more to come

6 Thierry Dusautoir – Marc Lievremont is unafraid of making changes to the team and substitutions during a game but the capacity of the Toulouse flanker to cement his team in defence and gobble up any hint of loose ball on the floor marks him as central to the French team.

7 Martyn Williams – He may have struggled slightly at Twickenham but on the front foot in Cardiff he was back to his best. The combination of vision and execution has made him the peerless of this generation’s smaller flankers. John Barclay of Scotland is going to be a good one but Williams had too many tricks for him on the day.

8 Sergio Parisse – A major player in the defeat in Dublin he was simply monumental against England. Be it gathering line out ball, charging off the base, (with one adroit kick thrown in for good measure) or tackling his heart out, he lead from the front with control throughout; the outstanding player of the weekend.

9 Jean Baptiste Elissalde – He might throw an awful pass to his fly half in the first minute, under his posts, but so what? A quick shrug and its back to leading the French brains trust; he might not be the captain but he is the general. His vision and chip for Clerc’s first try was superb.

10 Jonny Wilkinson - Contrary to what his followers will claim did not answer all the questions. He disappeared for whatever reason as a presence in the second half but he looked the part on the front foot in the first half..and he has scored a lot of points.

11 Vincent Clerc – Two tries last week and three this week. The antidote to the Puritan work ethic with its insistence on grinding out wings; just give the man the ball.

12 Gavin Henson – He still fails to impose his will on the game but his quality of passing and running lines are pure class. He seems to be gently easing his way back towards the headlines;  Saturday’s understated excellence promises more.

13 Tom Shanklin – The partnership in the centre is a good one with Shanklin’s intelligent support runs and his huge work rate a decent balance. At times he worked beautifully with the Osprey 10 and 12 inside him.

14 Aurelien Rougerie – He marked a difficult kick in the opening salvo of the Irish game, metres from his line. Immediately he embarked on a sixty metre run which set the tempo that blew Ireland away in the first half. What I would give to see an English back play with such confidence..if he did he would probably not be picked.

15 Cedric Heymans – The conversion from winger to full back seems complete. He kicks like a mule, picks the best angles of any full back in Europe, gives his mate Clerc a try a game and pops up with a sprint for one of his own. Lee Byrne has improved immensely and had a fine start to this tournament but Heymans is leading the running for this particular verdict’s player of the tournament to date.

Comments

[shane mc dowell]

ireland will destroy england and wales to win the six nations

[Hamish]

Well said David. Jonny Wilkinson's love of kicking out of hand is a major problem. England have the most exciting backs in Cipriani, Geraghty, Tait, Strettle, Sackey, Vainikolo, Lewsey and Flood that I can remember. But who would want to play outside Wilkinson at the moment? Vainikolo did not receive one pass to run on to against Wales, a disgrace in its own right. I was at the debacle in Cape Town when we got hammered by the Kiwis in the WC. Every time Andrew got the ball in the first half he booted it to the opposition and we all know what happened. If Wilkinson does that this weekend the French then Heymans, Clerq and Rougerie will slaughter us. And if it means we'll get a younger coach with younger players then good job too!
With the players coming through, any player that might not make it to 2011 should not even be in the squad. England are making exactly the same mistakes as they did after 2003 by showing loyalty to ageing players.

[James]

It seems a little harsh not to have at least mentioned Shane Williams for one of the wing berths. His try regardless of opinion on its legality was a moment of genius, it effectively sealed the game for Wales at a time when they were not being clinical and finishing Scotland off. He also showed a nice step for the first score as well.

[David]

Jonny Wilkinson the best 10 of the weekend is surely a joke. Yes he set up a nice try for Sackey, but for most of the game it was the same old ponderous England who looked bereft of attacking ideas. Surely much of the blame for this must land at the door of the flyhalf? To my mind either of the welsh or french fly halves showed far more nous and dare I say it ability than Jonny. Is it just me, but does the fact that he has just signed a new contract with Newcastle, whilst admirable in terms of loyalty, indicate that perhaps the ambition is lacking.