6 Superstars to light up the tournament

STUART HOGG

(Scotland): I was going to opt for Finn Russell until his expulsion from the squad earlier this week but the other firecracker in the Scotland backs is the Exeter full-back who has twice been voted player of the tournament. Sublime hands, a lovely array of passes and a good repertoire of dinks ahead. Howitzer boot for long penalties when required.

VIRIMI VAKATAWA

(France): Big, very strong and quick when he needs to be, Vakatawa hails from Fiji but moved to France ten years ago and decided to make his future there. Initially a talented but erratic sevens player, he has buckled down and is arguably the form centre in Europe. Virimi v Manu will be some match-up.

MARO ITOJE

(England): Seems to have been around for a while but not long turned 25 with his best years ahead of him — and this is somebody who has already been a star turn in a Lions series in New Zealand and at a World Cup. Great athlete, clever forward, will increasingly be a leader for England. Feel he needs to stamp his undoubted leadership qualities on and off the pitch with this group.

JUSTIN TIPURIC

(Wales): Phenomenal flanker whose brilliance was sometimes overlooked with the likes of Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau in the Welsh back row. So fast and good with the ball in hand that he could unquestionably play Test rugby at centre. Would walk into any Six Nations team despite all the brilliant flankers on show these days.

JAMES RYAN

(Ireland): The new breed of locks rather like Itoje. Tall but lean and athletic, Ryan is a superb lineout operator and a prodigious worker around the park with his carries and tackling. Very tough mentally, at the age of 23 he is already one of the best locks in the world.

JAKE POLLEDRI

(Italy): Not the biggest but lean and powerful and almost unstoppable as a ball carrier, he defied belief sometimes and it can need three or four to bring him down. Italy must find a way of involving Polledri as much as possible. He can get them on the foot front.