>> Cain: Here’s my team of Six Nations
THIS was Ireland’s Six Nations title a week before the tournament ended in their Grand Slam victory at Twickenham. The fact that they were champions from so far out was testament to their overall superiority – so, to the victors the laurels.
Ireland’s dominance is reflected in this 2018 Six Nations Top Team, with Joe Schmidt’s outfit claiming ten of the 15 starting shirts, with two more on the bench. The rest of the side consists of two Welshmen, and one each from France, Scotland and England – with the Scots claiming three more seats on the bench, England two, and France one.
The Irish contingent is split equally between forwards and backs, reflecting the team’s allround attributes. It is also well balanced in terms of experience and youth, with seasoned hands like half-backs Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton blending with newcomers like wing Jacob Stockdale and flanker Dan Leavy.
In a tournament in which away wins are becoming increasingly hard to come by the Irish bucked the trend by winning their opening game in Paris, albeit by a whisker. Sexton’s drop-goal in the last play of the game, following a 41-phase attack, was epic. This was not just down to the mounting pressure, but because, given the distance, it required a strike as sweet as it was powerful.
The fly-half delivered – as he does so often for Ireland and Leinster – and the green machine was ticking over nicely as a trio of home victories followed over Italy, Wales and Scotland.
It was not as smooth for England. After a big away win over Italy, and a less convincing home victory over Wales, there was still optimism among English supporters that the 2016 and 2017 champions could win an unprecedented third title in succession. Instead, the going got increasingly rough. Eddie Jones’ outfit came to a juddering halt against the Scots in Edinburgh before slipping to their second defeat in succession against France in Paris and then the convincing defeat by Ireland at Twickenham. With the exception of Owen Farrell – whose masterclass against Wales at Twickenham pulled his side over the line – England looked like a side running on empty.
Even though Ireland pulled away on the ledger this campaign was always fiercely contested, with their victories over France and Wales close-run affairs, and the unpredictable theme was illustrated by Wales beating Scotland and then losing to England, who were subsequently turned over by the Scots.
This made selection for this team of the tournament highly competitive, and there were a number of notable absentees who missed the cut by a fine margin. In the front five of the pack Scottish hooker Stuart McInally had a rip-roaring tournament bar one big blip against Wales, whereas Guilhem Guirado and Rory Best were more consistent.
However, by contrast, consistency was not enough to win Ken Owens a place, or get Alun Wyn Jones ahead of Devin Toner and Cory Hill in the second row, while another Welshman, quicksilver scrum-half Gareth Davies, was also nip-andtuck with Maxime Machenaud for a place on the bench.
Elsewhere, the revolving door in the Irish midfield due to injuries ruled out Robbie Henshaw, Chris Farrell and Garry Ringrose simply because none of them had enough time on the pitch. The same applied to Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny. Meanwhile, Welsh inside-centre Hadleigh Parkes, had enough matchplay to top-score by beating 15 defenders – but it was not enough to get him past Owen Farrell, either when the teams met at Twickenham or in the overall rankings.
While Stockdale was out on his own among the finishers, Keith Earls and Jonny May were pushed hard for their places in our tournament 23 by axed French nightclubber Teddy Thomas, as well as Welsh wing Steff Evans, his Scottish counterpart Sean Maitland, and Italian whizzkid Matteo Minozzi.
However, with the arrival of not just Stockdale, but Hill, Shingler, Leavy, Huw Jones, Simon Berghan, and Bundee Aki to join the more established names, our 2018 Six Nations Top Team team reflects a tournament that is vibrant and – as England will acknowledge given their shrunken contingent – fiercely contested.
1. CIAN HEALY
Has come back with a vengeance this season and is in the vanguard of a powerful Irish pack. A combative, technically sound scrummager who brings dynamism in the loose. The Leinster loose-head rarely fails to make yardage, and is a menace close to the line.
2. GUILHEM GUIRADO
Led France like a man possessed, highlighted by his Championship record of 31 tackles against the Irish. While the French line-out was no work of art the vivid brushstrokes left by Guirado, below left, around the pitch in the wins over England and Italy inspired his team.
3. TADGH FURLONG
A genuine strongman with the size and power to apply torque at the scrum and make big dents when he carries up the middle. Still relatively inexperienced but has an added authority with the Lions experience under his belt. A forward star in the making.
4. DEVIN TONER
The Irish lighthouse has shone bright this campaign and is getting the recognition he deserves after working so diligently to improve his game. Has ballast to go with his 6ft 10ins frame, and provides the scaffold on which the Irish driving maul is built.
5. CORY HILL
An impressive breakthrough season for the Newport man, who is a sound line-out operator and offers a strength and mobility in the same mould as Alun Wyn Jones. Has good hands and was prominent in support – making his first Test try against Italy well deserved.
6. AARON SHINGLER
The buccaneering blindside started with a command performance against Scotland and was part of the Llanelli legion that injected new life into Wales. His speed over the ground and into the air at the lineout gave Wales a new dimension.
7. DAN LEAVY
Tough, abrasive young Leinster flanker who has the speed and instincts of an openside, the size and power of a blindside, and a nonstop work ethic. Difficult to shift when he gets over the ball, and hard to stop when he comes round the corner.
8. CJ STANDER
The workhorse. Not the biggest No.8, but honest as the day is long. Has a huge appetite for hard work, topping the tournament carry count with 72 going into the final round. Raised his defensive game by nailing his tackles
9. CONOR MURRAY
Not just world-class, but arguably the best 9 in the world. A driving force who is physically strong, dank, gerous on the break and an all-round footballer with a precision kicking game and great tactical nous. You couldn’t ask for more.
10. JOHNNY SEXTON
Inspirational. Set he tone with his
last-gasp 45 metre drop-goal for the win in Paris and never looked back. The angular fly-half leveraged his experience to the full to steer Ireland to the title with a round to go, mixing his game expertly with exquisite passing and astute kicking.
11. JACOB STOCKDALE
The young Ulster flyer fulfilled the great expectations of him before the tournament by leading the try scoring table with six ahead of the England match. Quick feet for a big man, a poacher’s instinct, safe hands – and speed – guaranteed him the headlines.
12. OWEN FARRELL
The only England player who got going when the going got tough. Kept Wales at bay almost singlehanded, and tried to revive his flagging team-mates in Edinburgh and Paris. A steely competitor and an ice-cool goal-kicker, who keeps improving his game.
13. HUW JONES
His sensational line-breaks for the Scots lit up the tournament, and his two tries against England burned them to a crisp. A bustling power runner with a handy chipkick, he would have caused even more havoc if the Scots passing – including his own – had been more accurate.
14. KEITH EARLS
Ireland’s go-getter. Provides attacking spark because he is prepared to have a go, and has the speed and agility to make incisions. If the ball doesn’t run his way in attack he goes looking for work – and for gaps – and has few peers as a defensive sweeper.
15. ROB KEARNEY
Back to his best after a couple of injury-hit seasons. A gliding counter-attacking full-back who makes inroads and creates chances, but who is also rock-solid under the high ball and a tenacious defensive scrambler.
REPLACEMENTS 16. RORY BEST
One of the best scrummaging hookers in the game. His clean striking ensures that his half-backs have fast, tidy ball to play with, and he is also one of the key components in marshalling the Irish line-out drive.
17. MAKO VUNIPOLA
Provided momentum in the loose where other England forwards fell short, even though the demands of the Lions tour appeared to have caught up with him. Also, got the jump on Slimani in Paris.
18. SIMON BERGHAN
The Scottish scrum was expected to crumble against England and Ireland, but the Kiwi-born tight-head’s refusal to budge kept it solid despite his pack being outweighed.
19. JONNY GRAY
The Scottish lock’s workrate was exceptional, culminating in him finishing Round 4 as the top tackler in the tournament with 80.
20. JOHN BARCLAY
The Scottish captain bounced back after being shut-out against Wales to lead the breakdown assault that was intrinsic to the victory over England.
21. MAXIME MACHENAUD
The French scrum-half ’s dead-eye goal-kicking punished England and Italy, and his athleticism and industry around the fringes in attack and defence were crucial to those wins.
22. BUNDEE AKI
Ireland’s powerful Polynesian import took to Test rugby quickly, making his mark in his first Six Nations by wrestling over for tries against Italy and Wales.
23. JONNY MAY
Pin-sharp finishing highlighted by both tries against Wales. The first showcased his blistering pace, and the second his right place right time intuition – as it did in reading Daly’s palm-pass in Paris.