Immense: Parisse and Twelvetrees
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Now that the dust has settled across Europe, Planet Rugby thought it was only right to hand out some praise to the stars of Six Nations, Round One.
Without further ado, here comes our offering - be sure to send in your own 15-1 team selections.
Team of Round 1
15 Stuart Hogg (Scotland) - The top performer wearing blue at Twickenham. Hogg cut loose early on with a fantastic break that saw him travel 50 metres, which led to Sean Maitland going over for a try on debut. Hogg also got a score late and becomes latest name with 'Lions bolter' attached.
14 Simon Zebo (Ireland) - Both Chris Ashton and Alex Cuthbert performed admirably while Italy's Giovambattista Venditti was solid. But with a metre-making Englishman selected on our other touchline, we had to make room for this Irish youngster who continues to mature. He took his try well and was a decent outlet in Cardiff.
13 Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) - That Zebo try was down to this returning veteran's fine offload after drawing two Welsh tacklers. BOD, in what is set to be his last Six Nations, rolled back the years on Saturday in a superb performance that has already whet the appetite ahead of next weekend's game against England.
12 Billy Twelvetrees (England) - Note to self: Never doubt Stuart Lancaster. Have England found the missing midfield gem they were looking for? It seems so after Saturday's debut showing from Twelvetrees. Duck to water and all that, he was outstanding in all facets.
11 Mike Brown (England) - The Harlequin was the top metre maker (133) in the opening round of Six Nations 2013 and continues to prove that he deserves his place in the Test XV, even out of position. One kicking error led to a Scotland score but other than that, superb.
10 Luciano Orquera (Italy) - A watching Diego Dominguez must have been delighted to see the Azzurri seemingly discover a long-term fly-half option to move forward with. Orquera was sublime on Sunday and led Italy's backline with a calmness and clear head that they have long been lacking. We feel that mentions should also go to his scrum-half Tobias Botes, centres Tommaso Benvenuti and Alberto Sgarbi and of course the man wearing 8.
9 Ben Youngs (England) - There were a few grumbles when Lancaster opted for Youngs over the in-form Danny Care but once again the coach's decision proved a successful one. Youngs took the right calls all day and played a heads-up style when England were going forward. Life may be a good deal tougher in Dublin as the Irish pack is a much sterner test.
8 Sergio Parisse (Italy) - Italy's talisman was not alone in excellent Azzurri performances, but led from the front as always. His try opened matters and his workrate was exceptional.
7 Sean O'Brien (Ireland) - The Leinster flank is making his mark on the Lions pecking order - any man who makes an astonishing 23 tackles in a game deserves to wear the red jersey.
6 Alessandro Zanni (Italy) - One of Italy's most productive runners, Zanni was everywhere against the French - carrying productively and regularly evading defenders on Sunday.
5 Joe Launchbury (England) - The young Wasp carried on from where he left off against Scotland after an outstanding November. A dynamic runner and effective line-out option.
4 Andrew Coombs (Wales) - Wales were atrocious in the first half, but Coombs epitomised their second-half comeback. His work ethic was summed up by an impressive 17 carries.
3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy) - A crucial try for Leicester's finest swung the momentum back the way of Italy with the clock ticking away in the second half. Nine carries and no missed tackles reflect his performance statistically, but the emotion on his face said more.
2 Rory Best (Ireland) - Whilst his line-out work was not always accurate, the Ulster hooker seems set for the British & Irish Lions starting jersey on the back of another strong Test performance. Plenty of carries and a crucial charge-down proved his class once again.
1 Cian Healy (Ireland) - 15 tackles and a smartly taken try from close range land Healy a spot in the side, continuing his impressive Leinster form on the international stage. Dan Cole awaits next week in Dublin in what should be a titanic battle at the Aviva Stadium.
By Adam Kyriacou and Ben Coles
@PlanetRugbyAK and @bencoles_
Comments
carpelone says...
I have to say that, as a neutral with an interest in Italy, that was a really cracking week end of rugby.
Congratulations to all the Six Nations, even Scotland (particularly Hogg) produced some good sparks of rugby.
I said even Scotland because theirs was the most unbalanced game of the week end, in spite of my expectations.
Posted 14:31 04th February 2013
bullitt says...
Brown and Youngs?
Are you having a laugh?
Posted 14:20 04th February 2013
tellitlikeitis says...
And as for picking Ben Youngs?! Maggie thatcher would have had an easy ride the way scotland werent tackling at the ruck or trying to get to him. I've never seen a more comfortable game for a scrum half. He had acres and ages and England still stuttered. Ireland will be praying he starts this weekend
Posted 14:18 04th February 2013
tellitlikeitis says...
Twelvetrees best 12?? "Never doubt Stewart Lancaster"?
PR smoking the patriotic weed over the weekend it seems to pander to the crowd. Scotland didnt try at all, and were absolute rubbish. Twelvetrees had a couple of carries and an easy try, through a defence that was just trotting back all day. England are in for a massive shock next week.
Posted 14:13 04th February 2013
99call says...
yeah probably the right selection, I thought Combs did really well in a poor welsh performance, Parisse was his usual brilliant self, the only question I would put is at 15, I though Rob Kearney was amazing in defence, as were the rest of the irish backs, he threw himself at everyone and was his usual secure self under the high ball
Posted 13:53 04th February 2013
Frooschman says...
Orquera at ten is an emotional call surely? Farrell was the stand out ten of the weekend. Possibly his best game for England. Again at six, Zanni was good but Wood was excellent and I thought the French lad Ouedraogo looked tasty amid the shambles that was the rest of the French team. However, got to agree on the hooker. Rory Best was simply outstanding.
Posted 13:38 04th February 2013
dan73 says...
I'm not sure how long-term Orquera can be considered: he's 31.
Posted 13:35 04th February 2013
macte says...
I never thought I would've lived to see an Italian fly-half chosen for the team of the week.
Posted 13:15 04th February 2013
butl says...
Orquera before Farrell, surely not!
Did you see Farrell clear out the ruck for Parlings try, or the pass for 12Ts try?
Posted 13:15 04th February 2013
makemehappy says...
Who on earth thought Healy deserved to be in the team. He had a very torid time in the scrum and I'm sure Mr Cole is rubbing his hands again!
Posted 13:13 04th February 2013
Willy says...
Fair team although no mention of either Irish second row, both had massive tackle counts Mike Mccarthy in particular was fantastic in defence.
Some weekend of rugby though roll on next weekend for more of the same
Posted 13:05 04th February 2013
Bristolquin says...
I am a big Mike Brown fan, but I still think he looks out if place on the wing. I know he is making yards just can't see him scoring tries.
Posted 12:44 04th February 2013
melkdave says...
A fair reflection of the weekends games .But no mention of Picolmoles seems a tad strange,also think B.Morgon was excepional before he had to go off.But no complaints
Posted 12:13 04th February 2013
connaughtabu says...
Great weekend, heh?
Player of the week was definitely Parisse - pity he isn't Irish, cause old Jamo Heslipped (as Leinster_goy might say) is a cart horse in comparison.
I'm not sure Brown (Eng) [rather have North in my team] or O'Brien deserve to be included. Where was Seano when the Tipuric was running rampant in the second half?
But Mr O'Driscoll, sir, I will never utter negative another word about you and your little legs again. Sheer genius, mate!
Roll on the weekend!!
:-))
Posted 12:13 04th February 2013
RugbyLeRoux says...
Can't believe you can mention Zebo and not his audacious bit of skill flicking up the ball with his heel mid stride to set up a try. Loved it!
Posted 12:13 04th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
10 pro12 players... Launch i thought played at 4 and was better than Coombs, but Gray was great. Should be Launch or Gray and Parling. Cuthbert gets a mention but had a shocker in the first half. Tough to ignore Farrell and Robshaw.
Posted 11:54 04th February 2013
Coshie78 says...
I think the Italian 10 had a good game going forward, but was Italy's biggest weakness in defense. Tough on Jonny Sexton and Owen Farrel who both played well in attack and defense. Also think Kelly Brown deserves to be in the team, many of O'Briens tackles were assisted by others and should be counted as a half.
Posted 11:45 04th February 2013
caramba13 says...
No French? I thought Picamoles deserved a mention at 8. Even though he was on his own for much of the game he did get a try and was the pick of the French pack.
Posted 11:44 04th February 2013
APV1 says...
I'd love to say that I think you've got it all wrong and here's my 15. but I can't. There might be some minor tweaks (Wood for Zanni, perhaps), but I think that's a pretty good reflection of the weekend's matches.
Posted 11:43 04th February 2013