Immense: Parisse and Twelvetrees
Related links
Teams
Also see
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
heart_of_oak says...
Pierredelot1 - what do you mean by 'unless the referee opts out' in your comment about the duel between Healy and Cole ? Are you implying that Healy gets away with infringements ?
Posted 08:10 05th February 2013
Waz4before says...
A nice political spread of players from different countries selected here, very unlike PR ....
Posted 05:14 05th February 2013
cdn_content says...
Let's see luciano made a beautiful linebreak, slowed down and then found sergio for the first try, then somehow made a ridiculous offload for the second try, and otherwise marshalled the game to help his side beat an overwhelming favorite. Yeah, terrible choice (note sarcasm).
Posted 03:36 05th February 2013
Bandage says...
In what world did Alex Cuthbert perform "admirably"? He cost Wales at least 14 points, gifting Ireland their opening try with dreadful defence and then completely ignoring the simplest of 2 on 1 overlaps as Wales began their comeback. He was terrible.
Posted 22:20 04th February 2013
heart_of_oak says...
I meant to say there's the daft idea that we'd move Wood to No. 8. Finger trouble.
Posted 21:55 04th February 2013
heart_of_oak says...
Connaughtabu - another great post. Thought I'd already commented but I guess not.
Anyway, I reckon I'd have had Sexton at fly half. Up till now I've thought his kicking was a bit of a weak point and that, because of that, we might have to have Halfpenny at FB for the Lions. Having seen Sexton against the welsh, I think I'm wrong about that. Sexton was brilliant this weekend. Those saying Farrell was great, yes, he was good but he was playing against Scotland on home turf while Sexton was playing against Wales in Cardiff. I want to reserve my judgement of Farrell until I've seen him play in less favourable circumstances. I still think Burns is a more creative fly half. But we'll see. I can't honestly say Farrell has done much wrong so far.
I note that hardly anyone has mentioned Strettle or Goode in any reports. Neither did much of note this weekend. But while Goode has shown flair from time to time, Strettle has done precious little and like Waldrom before him, it's time the Strettle experiment was consigned to history. Especially when we have the likes of Varndell and Wade waiting "in the wings" so to speak. Dreadful pun most definitely intended.
Been reading that Ben Morgan might not be fit for the Ireland game and there's this daft idea that if he doesn't make it, then we'd move Wood to FB. Please let's not go down that route. Playing people out of position sends the wrong message to those in the Saxons who play the same position. If Morgan doesn't make it I'd like to see Vunipola or Haskell in at number 8 but keeping Wood at flanker.
Posted 21:53 04th February 2013
TheGreatOne says...
Imagine this lot played the All Blacks. NZ would be banned from international competition for genocide
Posted 20:18 04th February 2013
Jhamer25 says...
Good team but i would have leigh halfpenny at 15 becuase he continues to shine in a drak welsh team. Also ryan grant of scotland for healey. amuch more dominent scrummager than cian
Posted 19:45 04th February 2013
apr7 says...
Next time i need to run through a bulldozer i'll choose a Ferrari.
Posted 18:53 04th February 2013
porridge_time says...
Mike Brown in my opinion is a very talented and clever player... but just lacks searing pace.
Posted 18:26 04th February 2013
oldflanker says...
Surprised macte? I'll tell you why: Orquera, Parisse & Castrogiovanni are Argentinians,
Posted 17:41 04th February 2013
APV1 says...
@ whatisthis - close, but not quite...
@ chubbylugs - I know what you mean, but perhaps PR just think that the set pieces are a given, so it's the "added extras" which get the players onto this team sheet.
Posted 17:38 04th February 2013
papachinzo says...
Botes was the best Scrum half by a mile, followed by Phillips.
Posted 16:58 04th February 2013
FISH says...
surprised any of the over rated welsh players made it....they're pretty pathetic right now
Posted 16:40 04th February 2013
kennyisgay says...
Shouldn't be any Irish in this team. They only playe'd Wales who haven't won a game in god knows when
Posted 16:00 04th February 2013
chubbylugs says...
it always irritates me when you base selection on number of carries. Sure ball carrying is an important part of the game, but it shouldnt be the only parameter you use. Ask any prop or second row the praise they get for lineout or scrum work - none, but it's primarily more important than any line break. this is a dumbed down tv highlights reel selection
Posted 15:52 04th February 2013
daibok says...
I can only think Coombs is in out of charity to a truly appalling Welsh side.
Posted 15:47 04th February 2013
Lucasrg says...
About time to see Zanni on a PR's list, I guess the win over France trow a new light on the awesome Italian flankers...and wait for Barbieri to come back.
my XV: 1 - Healy, 2- Best, 3-Castro, 4 Minto, 5 Launchbury, 6 O'brian, 7 Zanni, 8 Parisse, 9 Care, 10 Farrell, 12 - 12trees! 13 BOD, 11 McLean/Brown, 14 Zebo, 15 Goode.
Posted 14:48 04th February 2013
lawynd says...
Parling wins all his lineout ball (Youngs overthrows notwithstanding), tackles like his life depends on it, makes more yards with the ball than the rest of the tight five on both sides put together and caps it all with a try...yet is beaten out by a player on a losing team and his own partner who was good but nowhere near Parling himself?
Mental selection.
Posted 14:43 04th February 2013
pierredelot1 says...
Interesting choice but based on the days games not far off. Brown however did make errors which stood, out to allow Scotland their first try and then when playing 15, he made an ill judged decision to run the ball deep in his own half. Good stuff always has to be compared with the bad. O'Brien all action but he doesn't play head up rugby, gets isolated (More than once) I sense not the sharpest knife in the box. Zebo fair play everything he did came off, I look to England to test him out next week. BOD and twelvetrees, spot on. Have to say Italy wouldn't have won but for their ten, but I'll be suprised if he gets away with that next week. Healy Cole next week will be a real interesting one. Can't see Healy getting anywhere in the set for sure, unles of course the referee opts out.
Posted 14:35 04th February 2013