6N team of the week

Editor

Well, what a weekend! Italy running Ireland close, Wales breaking their Twickenham hoodoo, France unearthing some new gems!

Well, what a weekend! Italy running Ireland close, Wales breaking their Twickenham hoodoo, France unearthing some new gems!

New(ish) kids on the block, such as Ireland's Eoin Reddan, impressed and surpassed their contemporaries, but there were reassuringly excellent performances from some established names as well.

Both new and old feature in our Team of the Week for the first round of the Six Nations…

15 C̩dric Heymans РIt seems a long time since 'Crazy Bernie's' experiment of fielding the Toulouse winger at full-back backfired so horribly. Heymans seemed to the manor born, launching numerous counter-attacks and setting up the first try (we'll ignore the forward pass).

14 Vincent Clerc – Belying every moan that rugby is no longer a game for all shapes and sizes, Clerc continues to terrorise defences of all levels and statures from the wing, racking up try after try.

13 Brian O'Driscoll – Perhaps there is a shade less pace than in BOD's golden era, but there is no doubting the class and endeavour he brings to Ireland's cause. Ireland's team looks a little lost even with him at the moment, they'd be utterly directionless without him.

12 Damien Traille – He looks so happy back at centre, busting tackles, backing up his fly-half, kicking big goals. He should never move.

11 Julien Malzieu – One of this week's starring newbies, Malzieu's call-up was a tad overdue anyway, but it was invigorating to see him bring his stellar club form to the international stage.

10 James Hook – It's noticeable that people have ceased with the Barry John comparisons – Hook is beginning to become a benchmark that future fly-halves will be measured by. The artistry of his run to set up Wales' first try was just wonderful.

9 Eoin Reddan – Ireland's latest scrum-half was a revelation, breaking round the fringes and varying his play superbly. A mystery to all why he was removed.

8 Sergio Parisse – Italy's new captain gave a true captain's performance in adversity, tackling, running, and breaking.

7 Martyn Williams – Wales must be so glad he reversed his retirement decision. He may not have been the most outstanding performer on the park, but it was the little details – check his quick hands during the build-up to Wales' second try, for example.

6 James Haskell – One of very few Englishmen to shine, Haskell confirmed his potential. Give him a couple of years, and he could be the leader England seemed to be lacking.

5 Lionel Nallet – France's captain was dominant all over the park – the very heartbeat of his side.

4 Steve Borthwick – The other Englishman to put his hand up in the first half and keep it raised during the second.

3 Martin Castrogiovanni – Gave Marcus Horan an hour and a half of pure misery.

2 William Servat – Another player to translate excellent club form to the international stage, Servat picked up in both loose and tight from where Raphaël Ibañez left off.

1 Lionel Faure – France were murdered in the scrum on a couple of occasions, but when they got their act together in the second half, Faure was prominent for being a colossus on his side of the scrum.

Individual XVs:

Marcus Leach XV: 15 Cédric Heymans, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 James Hook, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Euan Murray, 2 William Servat, 1 Marcus Horan.

Danny Stephens XV: 15 Cédric Heymans, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 James Hook, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 James Haskell, 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 William Servat, 1 Lionel Faure.

Andy Jackson XV: 15 Cédric Heymans, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Vincent Clerc, 10 James Hook, 9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 James Haskell, 5 Alun Wyn-Jones, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 William Servat, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Andrew Henderson, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 James Hook, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Martín Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andy Sheridan.

Adam Kyriacou XV: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 David Marty, 12 Toby Flood, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 James Hook, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Elvis Vermeulen, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Steve Borthwick, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Allan Jacobsen.

Dave Morris XV: 15 Cédric Heymans, 14 Julien Malzieu, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Vincent Clerc, 10 James Hook, 9 Eion Reddan, 8 Sergio Parrise, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 James Haskell, 5 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 4 Lionell Nallet, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 William Servat, 1 Lionel Faure.