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RBS 6 Nations: Bloodandmud.com Team of the Tournament
Congratulations to Ireland, who managed finally to throw that giant, 61-year-old monkey from their collective backs in Cardiff yesterday - a well deserved win in what has been a strange tournament this year. Italy went backwards for the second year running, they will hope that their academy starts bearing fruit soon; England started off looking as SHIT was we expected, before somehow becoming GOOD; Wales suffered from some congenital loss-of-form disease that grew worse every week; Scotland were nowhere near as bad or as good as people like to think, but they still are not winning enough games. Ireland were the most consistent team in what, it must be said has been a relatively poor year - their Slam has something of the Wales win in 2005 about it - but it is not my intention to damn them with faint praise, their achievement is one of which to be justly proud.
Here is our team of the tournament, feel free to hurl abuse in the comments
1. Gethin Jenkins - A rock in the new Wales destructo-scrum and a revelation in the loose.
2. Jerry Flannery - No real outstanding candidates in the 2 jersey, but Flannery was the strongest. Lions selectors will not be rubbing their hands with glee when they sit down to decide on this one.
3. Phil Vickery - All the obituaries of the big man's career were written a little prematurely. Slight discipline problems, but that should not tale away from a mammoth effort in an often losing course.
4. Paul O'Connell - Wasn't exaclty ripping up trees every week, but such is his quality that he doesn't have to.
5. Ian Gough - Many would go for his partner Alun Wyn Jones, but this fella is the usung hero of the Wales engine room.
6. David Wallace - Whether playing at 8 or 6 or 7, a man anyone would want in their side
7. Martyn Williams - Still the best breakaway in Europe by some distance. Different class
8. Sergio Parisse - The only Italian who looks like and international rugby player, and a bloody good one at that. Harinodoquy misses out for going missing in the last fortnight.
9. Mike Phillips - Another position where options are weak, Phillips stands out in a field of general mediocrity.
10. Ronan O'Gara - tackles like a balsawood weeble, but his game management is still second to none. His constant probing for territory was one of the main reasons Ireland won.
11. Tommy Bowe - Always dangerous, runs lovely angles and blistering pace
12. Riki Flutey - Top tournament try-scorer. This may be seen as the tournament that he finally became and international player, and was central to everything that was good about England, particularly in the France Game
13. Brian O'Driscoll - Like Vickery, far too many people lamented his passing too soon. A powerhouse in defence, attack and as a leader; if there was ever any doubt about his Lions place it has firmly been put to bed now.
14. Maxime Medard - What no Shane Williams? If it was based solely in talent it would be Shane. Based on performances alone, Medard shades it.
15. Lee Byrne - Still a class apart. Makes you wonder where he's been until last year.
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March 22, 2009 in Six Nations 2009 | Permalink
