Made it: Masi and Warburton
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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 Four.
Without further ado, here comes our offering - be sure to send in your own 15-1 team selections.
15 Andrea Masi (Italy) - This, simply, was the performance of a former Six Nations Player of the Championship. Masi was rock solid for Italy on Sunday as he carried, defended and got stuck into England in an aggressive yet intelligent manner.
14 Giovambattista Venditti (Italy) - Carried very well on the wing as the Azzurri back-three got the better of their English counterparts. Venditti made 48 metres - most of them by bouncing off would-be tacklers - in an impressive effort on Sunday.
13 Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) - Maybe harsh on Manu Tuilagi, who made inroads, but for what O'Driscoll gave to the Irish cause we had to pick him. Concussed and not wanting to leave the field, it was a gritty shift in what could be his last game for his country at the Aviva Stadium.
12 Gonzalo Garcia (Italy) - Came in, did a job, won his personal battle. Garcia was rock solid for Italy, demonstrating how he was not going to let his opportunity to cement his place in the team slip by. It is no coincidence that fly-half Luciano Orquera's game improved because of Garcia's strong performance.
11 Luke McLean (Italy) - George North didn't put a foot wrong against Scotland but how could we leave out McLean? Chris Ashton needed a big game but he was completely outplayed by the Treviso wing, who deserved his and the game's only try at HQ.
10 Dan Biggar (Wales) - If he was doing the goal-kicking and knocked over 100 percent from the tee then people would be talking about an excellent showing from Biggar. Due to Leigh Halfpenny having those responsibilities, Biggar's mature performance somewhat slipped under the radar. It's good to see him growing into the Welsh fly-half jersey.
9 Conor Murray (Ireland) - Man-of-the-match despite being brought off after 62 minutes at the Aviva Stadium. We guess the question is, why was he replaced so early in Dublin?
8 Louis Picamoles (France) - Outstanding again. 90 metres racked up but five of those were key to the result in Dublin. Picamoles powered over from a tap penalty with the extras tying the scores. Yes, it was extremely tough to leave out Mr Italy himself, Sergio Parisse.
7 Sam Warburton (Wales) - Critics silenced. Man-of-the-match for Warburton, who is set to retain his place in the side on Saturday, but this week should be joined by Justin Tipuric due to Ryan Jones' injury. So, will the captaincy now go back to the Cardiff Blues flanker?
6 Alessandro Zanni (Italy) - He broke out from Parisse's sizeable shadow with an excellent showing on Sunday. Got the better of James Haskell in an all-action display that saw him make ten tackles to go with his 62 metres made. One of the game's under-rated players.
5 Ian Evans (Wales) - Quietly going about his business in a Welsh jersey. A titanic shift.
4 Quintin Geldenhuys (Italy) - Geoff Parling is beginning to become England's most consistent player. Another strong display from him before being forced off injured on 45 minutes. However, Geldenhuys gets in here following an abrasive hour at Twickenham. Thirteen tackles in defence were made by the lock who combined well with Johsua Furno.
3 Adam Jones (Wales) - We have Jones ahead of Dan Cole right now for the British and Irish Lions starting jersey. Both have been consistent this season but Jones seems to have a slight scrummaging edge that was evident again against Scotland at Murrayfield.
2 Tom Youngs (England) - Credit to Richard Hibbard for his display but we just felt Youngs gave a more rounded effort. England lost some dynamism when Dylan Hartley started in Round Three but with Youngs back, his running took some of the weight off the back-row.
1 Mako Vunipola (England) - Quite a starting debut. Stuart Lancaster is now well stocked in the loosehead department as Vunipola joins Joe Marler and Alex Corbisiero (when fit) as capable starters. Carried strongly while Cian Healy was another to do well last weekend.
Comments
Saint_Andre91 says...
I feel the Italians are duly rewarded for making at least half a game entertaining in what was otherwise a dull weekend of rugby (NH only, I didn't watch super rugby)...
Posted 08:12 12th March 2013
Piotr says...
I am impressed to see all these Italian players, more so as most of them are from the backs - Italy's historical weakest link. Alessandro Zanni was awesome as usual.
Posted 06:46 12th March 2013
chris21 says...
I know this isn't a Lions Team page but do they choose the captain before the Tour starts or after a game or 2, I can't remember... You dont know how everyone is going to react to the captain and he might not even be in form for his position. You would have the problem that Wales had were Tipuric was the better 7 but Warburton was playing instead. Give a couple of players a go during the warm up games and see who is in form and how the squad responds to their leadership.
Posted 04:56 12th March 2013
davodiablo says...
Six Nations has history and atmosphere and I always look forward to feb but the rugby is unfortunately mediocre.This weekend was just a demonstration of how bad it can get and pretty much the standard this year .
As for the turf ....can we have something that doesn't resemble a rug laid on polished flooring .
Posted 18:46 11th March 2013
NHsaints says...
Yes the Italians were good, but they were only as good as England made them look.
Posted 18:20 11th March 2013
vince12 says...
Sorry i must say that the only English player that deserves to be in this list is Clancy the Ref that ultimately won the game for Cherry&Rose
Posted 18:04 11th March 2013
bothhands says...
@bok120592
good comment, except you missed out Masi as well. Those 3 were abso-fffing-lutely electric in 2nd half, all over their oppos, smashing through tackles, catching kicking running. They made England's supposedly superior back 3 weep, and I thought that 2nd half was the best half of the 6N so far, end to end action and Italy always looking like they were about to rip out and score the winner.
Posted 17:33 11th March 2013
Heathy says...
@ Frooschman - Fair point. I wouldn't disagree on that one although most of the forwards were okay. The battle wasn't lost there. The backs didn't execute well. I'm also really not sure on what the refs have been told in relation to reffing the scrum. This has been an issue with all teams over the last two games. I did think that Youngs had a good game though. Probably there as other hookers were non existent. I'm a back so would struggle with calling the props performances.
Anyway, glad we've now agreed ha ha.
Posted 16:25 11th March 2013
Jhamer25 says...
On this weeks performances this is my lions team of the week.
1.Vunipolo
2.Hibbard
3.Adam jones
4. Alyn wyn Jones
5.Joe Lauchbery
6.kelly brown
7.Sam Warburton
8.Johnnie Beattie
9.Danny care
10.Paddy Jackson
11.George North
12. matt scott
13.Brian O'driscoll
14.Mike Brown
15.Leigh Halfpenny
Just to clarify this is by far not my final lions team but i went with the people who played best in their position this weekend (round 4)
Posted 15:34 11th March 2013
Vincenzo260lbs says...
I think that rugby is a different sport, in which passion, commitment and ability to fight deserve respect.
I think that rugby is a sport in which the loser is plauded in the same way as the winner.
If this is still the spirit of rugby, the Italian players (my side, of course) deserved to be included in the Planet Rugby XV.
If only the winner matters, then let's call it soccer.
Posted 15:12 11th March 2013
Lucasrg says...
Good to see Zanni up there, he is just world class. It just hurt that BBC pundits still have all their redundant words for Parisse only, and barely know the other Italian players.
Furno in my opinion has to be in the list ahead of Geldenhuys. He was a rock in defence, and did a spectacular try saving tackle on Ashton. The future is bright for this young big lock.
Venditti shouldn't be in the list....first, he let Brown almost touching down the ball after the charge down, second, he let Brown running free and untouched in another occasion. McLean was very solid and finally a little bit more daring. I still think he should move 15 and Masi back to center.
Some said Picamoles and Parisse should made into the Lions, it's kinda fun but absurd, but isn't the time for Italy and France to come together and have their own version of a super team, maybe called The Legion or something like that?
BBC man of the match Masi was just gross...he did well, but at least 3 players were ahead of him in this selection. Maybe because he just play for an English side.
Greg Laidlaw was in my opinion the best scrum half of the week end.
Posted 14:53 11th March 2013
jose_jones says...
if points are equal it goes to tries scored,.. Wales are currently 2 up on England.
Posted 14:47 11th March 2013
Frooschman says...
@ Heathy Oh God no. Couldn't agree more. Far too many Italians in the list. Hugely patronising. Even Masi who I felt was the pick of the men in blue, was he really better than Halfpenny or Huget? Certainly not. My only point was that not one single Englishman put his hand up this week.
Posted 14:41 11th March 2013
ironmanI441 says...
ATG77 - It is not going to require a 14 point win, it is by the for vs against points totals. So Wales if they win by 7 will up their own points difference by 7 and reduce Englands by 7, thus making the points differences equal. Exciting stuff on Saturday
Posted 13:45 11th March 2013
heathy says...
@ Frooshman - My point is that Italy lost and still get 6 players in out of the 15. That is quite a lot for a losing side. In fact, all bar yourself, agree on that by the looks of it. I completely agree England were not good (I wouldn't go as far as awful as some of the other games were worse) but even with England not being good, Italy still lost. If a team had 6 players in the team of round four then you would think that they won well. It is a selection that is patronising to Italy and actually not right really as I don't think that all these Italian players deserved to be on this list. Marcia? McLean? Geldenhuys? I don't think so.
@ spam - I agree on that point. However, when a team loses to get 6 out of 15 in is far too large a margin for this to be taken seriously. That would imply that they won (or it should) and they didn't. So, if England were that poor (and they were) then why did they beat such a good side? The fact is that despite England being poor, they still won. So, what does that say about Italy? I agree with Masi and Venditti considering the circumstances. The others are just silly inclusions as it just says "look, Italy are not that great but they did weally weally well. Let's put a few names in to give them a boost. It makes us look all caring and cuddly." That isn't the point of this list!!
While I'm on the subject, I am a huge fan of BOD. I think he has been one of the greats of the modern game and is a legend for Ireland and rugby as a whole. However, he wasn't that great on Saturday I'm afraid. I've seen far far better games from him and I wouldn't have put him ahead of Tuilagi. I know I may sound bias but in a poor showing by England, he always went forward and gave a platform. He tackled well and had a good game. BOD's inclusion was sentimental and again makes a mockery of what this list is about.
Posted 13:33 11th March 2013
jose_jones says...
Why are there 2 of the English front row in this team,.. they did well for the first 20 minutes, then exit stage left for Castrogiovanni and all of a sudden the English front row were coming off second best to the Italians.. is this a token inclusion???
Posted 13:18 11th March 2013
atg77 says...
Correct me if I'm wrong someone, but England currently have a +14 points differential on Wales; so the Welsh have to beat England by more than 14 points to snatch the title from their grasp. I do wonder though who wins the title if the points dif. is equal? Does it go to the team who scored the highest number of points?
Posted 13:16 11th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Only 6 of the 15 won.
Posted 11:38 11th March 2013
cymruambyth says...
Lions team:
15. 1/2p
14. Cuthbert
13. BOD
12. Tuilagi
11. North
10. Sexton
9. Phillips
8. Faletau
7. Warburton (c)
6. O'Brien
5. Ian Evans
4. Hamilton
3. Adam Jones
2. Hibbard
1. Healy
Posted 11:29 11th March 2013
gungehammer says...
Gatland to tear up the rule book and select both Picamoles and Parisse for the Lions...
Posted 11:28 11th March 2013