Team of the Week: Emerald shine

Ireland were the most impressive in the opening round of the Six Nations and they were duly rewarded in our famous weekly selection.

The men from the Emerald Isle have six players in our starting XV, followed closely by the French – who have four starters.

England, Italy (two each) and Wales (one) make up the numbers.

England, who were seconds away from a win against France, get their reward in our back-up squad, where they have six members.

Ireland get further reward here with four members bubbling under, while Italy, France (two each) and Wales (one) make up the numbers.

Team of the Week – Round one:

15 – Rob Kearney (Ireland):

Showed his class. Secure under the high ball, made some serious metres with ball in hand and didn't miss a single tackle.

Bubbling under: Mike Brown (England)

14 – Yoann Huget (France):

Pundits may rave about the two tries, but he had an outstanding allround game.

Bubbling under: Andrew Trimble (Ireland)

13 – Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland):

The old master is still a class above the rest in the Northern hemisphere.

Bubbling under: Scott Williams (Wales)

12 – Jamie Roberts (Wales):

His combination with Scott Williams proved invaluable for the Welsh.

Bubbling under: Wesley Fofana (France)

11 – David Kearney (Ireland):

This was a tough call, but we went for the Kearney double.

Bubbling under: Jonny May (England)

10 – Jonathan Sexton (Ireland):

Produced an allround masterclass – classic break, missed just one kick and made all his tackles.

Bubbling under: Tommaso Allan (Italy)

9 – Danny Care (England):

He may have slipped a couple of tackles, but his allround game was from the top shelve.

Bubbling under: Conor Murray (Ireland)

8 – Sergio Parisse (Italy):

Again confirmed his status as the best No.8 in the Northern Hemisphere and probably second in the world only to Kieran Read.

Bubbling under: Billy Vunipola (England)

7 – Chris Robshaw (England):

The cliche will say he put his body on the line. He was a class act and did all he could to help his team over the line. It was not his fault they ran out of puff.

Bubbling under: Mauro Bergamasco (Italy)

6 – Yannick Nyanga (France):

If they have to show a highlights collection of his performance it will probably take up most of the game.

Bubbling under: Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)

5 – Pascal Papé (France):

Most people would look at his line-out work and ball carriers, but it was on defence where he was most effective.

Bubbling under: Courtney Lawes (England)

4 – Devin Toner (Ireland):

Some may argue that the quality of the opposition is different. Our argument is that Devin and his fellow forwards made the opposition look weaker.

Bubbling under: Joe Launchbury (England)

3 – Nicolas Mas (France):

The English scrum was constantly under pressure and even though a few calls went against the French, they were the dominant force on the day.

Bubbling under: Dan Coles (England)

2 – Leonardo Ghiraldini (Italy):

was at the centre of a strong Italian performance.

Bubbling under: Rory Best (Ireland)

1 – Cian Healy (Ireland):

It was another close call, but a couple of missed tackles cost Thomas Domingo.

Bubbling under: Thomas Domingo (France).

Our individual selections!

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Jonny May, 10 Jonathon Sexton, 9 Danny Care, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Pascal Pape, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Yoann Huguet, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Danny Care, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Pascal Papé, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Coles, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Thomas Domingo.

Quintin van Jaarsveld XV: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Danny Care, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Cian Healy.

Jan de Koning XV:  15 Mike Brown, 14 Yoann Huguet, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 David Kearney, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Danny Care, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Pascal Papé, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Thomas Domingo.