Team of the Week: Flower of Scotland

And it caused plenty of debate as the rugby365 team sat down to name our famous weekly selection.

In the end it was Scotland who stood tallest, with five players in our starting XV – just one more than England's four.

Ireland, despite their loss to the powerful England team, managed to sneak two players into out first-choice selection, the same as Wales, with Italy and France (one each) making up the numbers.

There is plenty of reward for Wales in our back-up squad, after their win over France – with six Welshmen bubbling under.

England (three), Scotland, Italy and Ireland (two each) completes our back-up squad.

It is also a team of much change with just two players returning from week two – centre Michele Campagnaro (Italy) and hooker Guilhem Guirado (France).

Team of the Week – Round Three:

15 – Stuart Hogg (Scotland):

Consistency is a word synonymous with the Scot – who is equally effective on defence and attack.

Bubbling under: Liam Williams (Wales)

14 – Anthony Watson (England):

To think he is still just 22. His performances show a maturity that suggest he is going to be around for many years … if injuries stay away.

Bubbling under: Tommy Seymour (Scotland)

13 – Michele Campagnaro (Italy):

If only the Azzurri had a few more players with this class, then they will be more competitive and perhaps even finish mid table and higher.

Bubbling under: Jonathan Joseph (England)

12 – Stuart McCloskey (Ireland):

It was the kind of debut that suggested Ireland's midfield stocks are not as depleted as was suggested after the departure of legend Brian O'Driscoll. Young and raw still, but talent in abundance.

Bubbling under: Jamie Roberts (Wales)

11 – Jack Nowell (England):

Flawless on defence and more than just a handful on attack. His try-saving tackle on Robbie Henshaw will be talked about for weeks, maybe even months, to come.

Bubbling under: George North (Wales)

10 – Dan Biggar (Wales):

There are still those who mock him for the his pre-kick dance routine, but the rest of his game is from the top drawer.

Bubbling under: Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)

9 – Conor Murray (Ireland):

Not flawless, but one of the main reasons Ireland stayed in the game so long.

Bubbling under: Edoardo Gori (Italy)

8 – Billy Vunipola (England):

You need to look beyond the statistics – which in themselves are very impressive – to see the impetus he gives England.

Bubbling under: Sergio Parisse (Italy)

7 – Sam Warburton (Wales):

Back in the No.7 jersey – after two starts at No.6 – he carried with vigour and was certainly effective, while he made a real nuisance of himself at the breakdown.

Bubbling under: John Hardie (Scotland)

6 – John Barclay (Scotland):

He is becoming one of the best flank in the Six Nations and capped of a fine performance with a try.

Bubbling under: Dan Lydiate (Wales)

5 – Johnny Gray (Scotland):

Maybe some will question his effectiveness when carrying the ball, but for a lock to make 22 tackles means his workrate is something special.

Bubbling under: Alun Wyn-Jones (Wales)

4 – Maro Itoje (England):

He certainly lived up to the hype. For this 21-year-old there is a bright future ahead if he stays injury free.

Bubbling under: Bradley Davies (Wales)

3 – Willem Nel (Scotland):

He is fast becoming the rock around which the Scottish scrum is built.

Bubbling under: Dan Cole (England)

2 – Guilhem Guirado (France):

One of the few French players who emerged from Cardiff with their reputation intact.

Bubbling under: Rory Best (Ireland)

1 – Alasdair Dickinson (Scotland):

Along with Nel forming a solid front row that is central to Scotland's future growth.

Bubbling under: Joe Marler (England)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Jack Howell, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 John Barclay, 5 Alun Wyn-Jones, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Jack McGrath.

Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 John Hardie, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Joe Marler.

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 George North, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 John Barclay, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Rory Best, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 John Barclay, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Previous selections:

Team of the Week – Round Two: 15 Maxime Médard (France), 14 George North (Wales), 13 Michele Campagnaro (Italy), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Virimi Vakatawa (France), 10 Jules Plisson (France), 9 Greig Laidlaw (Scotland), 8 Damien Chouly (France), 7 John Hardie (Scotland), 6 CJ Stander (Ireland), 5 Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 4 Luke Charteris (Wales), 3 Dan Cole (England), 2 Guilhem Guirado (France), 1 Jack McGrath (Ireland).

Team of the Week – Round One: 15 Stuart Hogg (Scotland), 14 George North (Wales), 13 Michele Campagnaro (Italy), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Virimi Vakatawa (France), 10 Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9 Conor Murray (Ireland), 8 Billy Vunipola (England), 7 John Hardie (Scotland), 6 CJ Stander (Ireland), 5 Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 4 Luke Charteris (Wales), 3 San Cole (England), 2 Ross Ford (Scotland), 1 Jack McGrath (Ireland).

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