Team of the Week: Sweet chariot
England put down an early Six Nations marker and they are rewarded in rugby365's famous selection!
There are seven England players in our first Team of the Week for 2015 – a clear indication of their dominance of the weekend's action.
Ireland, despite struggling against Italy in Rome, are next best – the defending Six Nations champions getting three players in our starting XV.
Scotland, Wales (both two) and France (one) make up the numbers.
Ireland get further reward in our back-up squad, with seven Irishmen bubbling under.
Scotland, for their brave efforts in Paris, have four players in our back-up squad – with Wales, France (both two) and Italy (one) making up the numbers.
Team of the Week: Six Nations, Round One:
15 – Stuart Hogg (Scotland):
Both on attack and defence he was masterful – not flawless, but very good.
Bubbling under: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
14 – Anthony Watson (England):
Maybe not as many spectacular runs as some other wings, but his all-round game was superior – with particular emphasis on his flawless defence.
Bubbling under: Yoann Huget (France)
13 – Jonathan Joseph (England):
Came of age in the Cardiff cracker.
Bubbling under: Mark Bennett (Scotland)
12 – Jamie Roberts (Wales):
He has his critic, supposedly for being one-dimensional. However, ask the England players and they will tell you he remains a major threat.
Bubbling under: Alex Dunbar (Scotland)
11 – Teddy Thomas (France):
Has his shortcoming, but remains a very exciting prospect.
Bubbling under: Simon Zebo (Ireland)
10 – Ian Keatley (Ireland):
Emphasised the enormous dept the Irish have in the No.10 channel.
Bubbling under: Dan Biggar (Wales)
9 – Conor Murray (Ireland):
He is key to Ireland's cause.
Bubbling under: Rory Kockott (France)
8 – Taulupe Faletau (Wales):
An enormous workrate, especially on defence, in a losing cause.
Bubbling under: Sergio Parisse (Italy)
7 – Chris Robshaw (England):
Strong competition from Ireland's Tommy O'Donnell, but Robshaw made an amazing 26 tackles – double that of the Irishman.
Bubbling under: Tommy O'Donnell (Ireland)
6 – James Haskell (England):
Another player that is crucial to his team's cause.
Bubbling under: Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)
5 – Jonny Gray (Scotland):
Already outshining elder brother Richie.
Bubbling under: Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
4 – David Atwood (England):
Missed a few tackles, but his workrate and line-out performance was phenomenal.
Bubbling under: Richie Gray (Scotland)
3 – Dan Cole (England):
A monster in the scrums.
Bubbling under: Mike Ross (Ireland)
2 – Rory Best (Ireland):
His surname says it all.
Bubbling under: Ross Ford (Scotland)
1 – Joe Marler (England):
Growing in stature.
Bubbling under: Jack McGrath (Ireland)
Our individual selections:
Darryn Pollock XV: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 James Haskell , 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Joe Marler.
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 James Haskell, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Joe Marler.
Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 David Attwood, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Rory Best, 1 Joe Marler.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 David Attwood, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Rory Best, 1 Joe Marler.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 James Haskell, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 David Attwood, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Rory Best, 1 Joe Marler.
@rugby365com
