Team of the Week: Emerald shades
Ireland were not exactly pure Emerald, but they were good enough to take their winning streak to a record-equalling 10 Tests and move clear at the top of the Six Nations standings.
While England produced a late rally, it never really looked like they would overpower the impressive Irish team – a result which is also reflected in rugby365's famous weekly selection.
Jonathan Sexton spearheaded the Irish victory in Dublin and also heads a list of six Irish players in our starting XV.
Wales, with four players, are next best in our first-choice selection. Italy, as reward for only their second-ever Six Nations away win, gets three starters – with France and England (one each) making up the numbers.
There's further reward for the men from the Emerald Isle, with five in our back-up squad.
Wales (with four) and England (three) are next best, followed by Italy (two), France and Scotland (one each).
Only two players return from last week – the Irish halfback combination of flyhalf Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray.
Team of the Week – Six Nations, Round Three:
15 – Luke McLean (Italy):
Wasn't required to do much defending, but with ball in hand he kept the Scottish defenders honest.
Bubbling under: Rob Kearney (Ireland)
14 – George North (Wales):
Did what was expected of him on defence (only one missed tackle) and made plenty of metres with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Yoann Huget (France)
13 – Jonathan Davies (Wales):
Made all his tackles and some decent metres with ball in hand – including one very impressive break in a game of tight defences.
Bubbling under: Mark Bennett (Scotland)
12 – Robbie Henshaw (Ireland):
Still just 21 (he'll be 22 in about three months), but already he looks settled in the No.12 jersey on the international stage.
Bubbling under: Enrico Bacchin (Italy)
11 – Giovanbattista Venditti (Italy):
It has taken him a while, but he is finally getting some acknowledgement as one of the game's better wings. Consistency remains a problem.
Bubbling under: Jack Nowell (England)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (Ireland):
Few would argue with the statement that he is currently the world's premier flyhalf.
Bubbling under: Dan Biggar (Wales)
9 – Conor Murray (Ireland):
His combination with Sexton is vital to the Irish cause.
Bubbling under: Rhys Webb (Wales)
8 – Sergio Parisse (Italy):
Never short of passion and commitment. Finally got some reward for his dedication to the cause.
Bubbling under: Jordi Murphy (Ireland)
7 – Bernard le Roux (France):
Sometimes a player does so much of the dirty work that he goes almost unnoticed, but his stand-out feature was his extraordinary high tackle count – more than anybody else and did not slip a single tackle.
Bubbling under: Chris Robshaw (England)
6 – James Haskell (England):
Another player who does not shirk the dirty stuff and is invaluable to his team's cause.
Bubbling under: Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)
5 – Alun Wyn Jones (Wales):
Everything you expect from a goof No.5 – solid in the line-outs, plenty of tackles and a few good carries.
Bubbling under: Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
4 – Devin Toner (Ireland):
England just simply could not tone him down.
Bubbling under: George Fabio Biagi (Italy)
3 – Mike Ross (Ireland):
And they said the Irish scrum was a weakness…
Bubbling under: San Cole (England)
2 – Rory Best (Ireland):
The veteran played himself to a standstill!
Bubbling under: Scott Baldwin (Wales)
1 – Gethin Jenkins (Wales):
The veteran stood his ground in the hotly-contested set pieces.
Bubbling under: Cian Healy (Ireland)
Our individual selections:
Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Luke McLean, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Warren Fortune XV: 15 Luke McLean, 14 George North, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 James Haskell, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Jack McGrath.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Rory Best, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Bernard le Roux, 6 James Haskell, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Previous selections:
Team of the Week: Six Nations, Round Two: 15 Stuart Hogg (Scotland), 14 Yoann Huget (France), 13 Jonathan Joseph (England), 12 Alex Dunbar (Scotland), 11 Liam Williams (Wales), 10 Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9 Conor Murray (Ireland), 8 Billy Vunipola (England), 7 Sam Warburton (Wales), 6 Peter O'Mahony (Ireland), 5 Paul O'Connell (Ireland), 4 Richie Gray (Scotland), 3 Dan Cole (England), 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (Italy), 1 Joe Marler (England).
Team of the Week – Six Nations, Round One: 15 Stuart Hogg (Scotland), 14 Anthony Watson (England), 13 Jonathan Joseph (England), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Teddy Thomas (France), 10 Ian Keatley (Ireland), 9 Conor Murray (Ireland), 8 Taulupe Faletau (Wales), 7 Chris Robshaw (England), 6 James Haskell (England), 5 Jonny Gray (Scotland), 4 David Atwood (England), 3 Dan Cole (England), 2 Rory Best (Ireland), 1 Joe Marler (England).
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