Team of the Tournament
15: Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
There was little to choose between Ireland’s Keenan and France’s
Thomas Ramos, who finished as the leading points scorer with 84, more than double his nearest rival.
They were among three players who ran more than 500 metres with the ball during the tournament but Keenan’s prowess under the high ball and ability to sense even a sliver of space shade it.
14. Damian Penaud (France)
The top try scorer with five was rivalled by Ireland’s Mack Hansen who brought back memories of Grant Batty with his rubber ball bounce and indestructibility. Penaud is like a cobra, able to pounce at any time. When he played against England at Twickenham, he was the only survivor appearing in the same position (Gael Fickou was on the wing) from the side that sank without trace there in 2019. He still scored a try that day and there is a deceptive effortless about his running, changing gears imperceptibly.
13 Huw Jones (Scotland)
Fickou rolled back the years for France and Garry Ringrose, until his concussion against Scotland, was imperious for Ireland, but Jones, a surprise inclusion by Scotland ahead of Chris Harris having gone nearly two years without adding to his caps, was a statement of attacking intent. His four tries were the most by a centre, as were the 438 metres he covered with the ball. Juan Ignacio Brex had his moments for Italy while Fickou’s 67 successful tackles were the most by a back.
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
Jonathan Danty made a considerable difference in defence and attack when he returned from injury for France’s final two matches while Stuart McCloskey and Bundee Aki enriched Ireland, but Tuipulotu was the ideal foil in between Finn Russell and Huw Jones, a solid all-rounder able to break, kick off either foot, off-load and tackle, and he rarely made a mistake.
11. James Lowe (Ireland)
Just shaded Scotland’s Duhan van der
Merwe, the scorer of a memorable try against
England at Twickenham and a marauder only Ireland kept quiet. Lowe’s try against
France would have been a contender for the best of the tournament had one camera angle showing his left boot momentarily brushing the top of the grass just before he touched down. Not the most elegant of wings but he grafts and made more turnovers than any other back.
10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
England wavered between Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell and Wales wobbled between Dan Biggar and Owen Williams, but the other four nations had no doubts at 10. France’s Romain Ntamack was at his best when bolstered by Danty, Finn Russell varied his game to keep Scotland in contention for four rounds and Paolo Garbisi made Italy worth watching, while learning how to control a game. Sexton is a winner among winners, a string puller unlike any other in the game.
9. Antoine Dupont (France)
Probably the best player in the world. It seems there is nothing he cannot do, whether somehow preventing Hansen scoring for Ireland or spotting England’s defenders lying deep for a kick swapping positions and kicking a 50-22 as they passed each other. He played all but 17 minutes in France’s campaign, simply irreplaceable.
1. Cyril Baille (France)
No forward carried more than Scotland’s Pierre Schoeman, but Baille is an all-rounder who relishes scrummaging as much as getting the ball in his hands and making an impact at breakdowns. It was a hotly contested position with Andrew Porter and Danilo Fischetti prominent.
2. Julien Marchand (France)
Dan Sheehan finished with a flourish for Ireland, but Marchand was the driving force in France’s pack throughout. He is not one for the outrageous or showy but is at the heart of the action whether making metres or forcing turnovers, the ballast who gives Dupont his sea legs.
3. Finlay Bealham (Ireland)
Started the tournament in the absence of Tadhg Furlong and it says everything about him that Ireland did not miss the game’s leading tighthead. A sumptuous assist against France showcased his skill but he also excels at the basics.
4. Thibaud Flament (France)
Another who was given his opportunity through injury when Cameron Woki pulled out, the former Loughborough University player more than made the most of his opportunity. He scored two tries against England, but only Scotland’s Matt Fagerson made more tackles in the tournament and he was his side’s leading lineout target.
5. James Ryan (Ireland)
Strange to reflect that he was left out by the Lions two years ago. He would be leader of the pack now after a strong tournament in which he kept Ireland’s engine ticking over, a player who gets his hands dirty so others can put their foot down.
6. Sebastian Negri (Italy)
A hotly contested position with Francois Cros outstanding for France, Jamies Ritchie prominent for Scotland and Peter O’Mahony typically dogged, but Negri was all action, making dents with and without the ball and running himself into the ground.
7. Charles Ollivon (France)
Josh van der Flier showed why he was named the world player of the year in 2022, but Ollivon was back to his very best for France, summed up in the way he ran all over England. Jack Willis showed that England are not without hope.
8. Lorenzo Cannone (Italy)
Caelan Doris and Gregory Alldritt stood out in successful sides, but Cannone made his mark in a side that lost all five matches, having an eye for the gap and the pace to storm through it. And he is only 22.