Six Nations Team Of The Competition
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After 5 thrilling rounds of the Six Nations, Wales are the Champions and claimed the Grand Slam!
With the competition done and dusted for 2019, we pick our team of the competition.
1. Ben Moon - England
Mako Vunipola put in a mammoth shift in the opening game of the competition, Eddie Jones was forced to turn to Exeter Chiefs' Ben Moon and the 29-year-old did not disappoint.
Moon was excellent in the scrums and England hardly missed a beat in terms of work rate with Vunipola missing. Moon's competition did come to an abrupt end in the final game of the competition but his efforts does see him beat Rob Evans and Cian Healy to a place in our team.
2. Jamie George - England
George is the second Englishman to make the squad after yet another outstanding Six Nations campaign. George started all 5 of England's matches and continued to put in some massive shifts for Eddie Jones' men, including 24 tackles against Wales.
His lineouts were solid throughout the competition and he is making harder and harder for Dylan Hartley to try and reclaim his place in the side. Rory Best was busy for Ireland but Ken Owens is the unluckiest hooker to miss out in the squad.
Owens was a key player in Wales Grand Slam win providing a solid platform for Wales to attack off.
3. Tomas Francis - Wales
Tadgh Furlong dominated last year helping Ireland to their Grand Slam but this year it is Francis who gets the jersey. The physical Welshman worked hard throughout the competition and was superb in the scrum.
Furlong was solid for Ireland while Demba Bamba stood out for France.
4. James Ryan - Ireland
Another standout season for the Irish second-rower continues to put in outstanding performances despite his being just 22. Ryan made 48 tackles missing just one while making 63 carries, only Billy Vunipola made more tackles than the Irishman.
His lineouts were superb and he was a standout for Ireland. Cory Hill was solid for Wales before suffering an injury while Courtney Lawes impressed for England while Grant Gilchrist was immense for Scotland.
5. Alun Wyn Jones - Wales
Wales joint most-capped player had yet another stellar campaign for his country as he lead his side to a Grand Slam and their 14th consecutive win.
Jones was outstanding for Wales both on attack and defence. A true leader Jones shows no sign of slowing down at the age of 33.
Leader. Captain. Slam Winner. #AWJ pic.twitter.com/ijdP2lvtyH
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) March 16, 2019
6. Josh Navidi - Wales
Peter O'Mahony, Mark Wilson and Braam Steyn were outstanding for their respective nations but Josh Navidi's impact in the Welsh back row that lead his helped his side to Grand Slam.
Navidi put up some ridiculous numbers on defence finishing just behind Tom Curry on the tackle count. He was also fantastic at the breakdown and filled in superbly for at no.8 against Italy.
7. Justin Tipuric - Wales
Tipuric has successfully filled the void of Sam Warburton since the former captain's retirement and he continued to perform in the 7 jersey this Six Nations.
Tipuric was immense on defence, a menace at the breakdown and formed part of a stellar Welsh loose trio. England's Tom Curry is incredibly unlucky not to make the side after his efforts throughout the competition.
8. Ross Moriarty - Wales
Moriarty completes an all-Welsh loose trio. The Welshman was excellent in the starting line up as the Welsh back row putting in numerous tackles throughout the competition.
Sergio Parisse, Louis Picamoles and Billy Vunipola shined at times for their sides but in the end Moriarty's consistency gets him the jersey.
9. Antoine Dupont - France
A competition to forget for most scrumhalves with both Greig Laidlaw and Morgan Parra losing their starting roles for their nations. There was some good form for some of the halfbacks with Ben Youngs impressing against the likes of Ireland.
However, our pick of the 9s is France's Antoine Dupont who broke into the France squad and cemented his place in the starting line up.
He was sensational off the bench against England and helped his side to victory over Scotland the following week.
Could Dupont turn things around for France? 🤔 #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/2Zhnqejhib
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) February 11, 2019
Dupont is a shining light in a campaign France will be eager to forget.
10. Finn Russell - Scotland
Russell was exceptional for Scotland and was sorely missed in their loss to France. The Scottish playmaker brought is Racing 92 form into the competition and set the Six Nations alight with some incredible skills. His link up play and kicking was simply superb as too was his keen eye for the interception.
Owen Farrell was superb against Ireland but faded somewhat as the competition went on making some uncharacteristic errors. Gareth Anscombe and Dan Biggar were outstanding throughout the competition while Romain Ntamack impressed in his debut season in the competition.
11. Jonny May - England
The tournament's top try scorer nabs the 11 jersey after a blockbuster Six Nations. May scored a sensational hattrick against France and played a crucial role in England's wins over Ireland and Italy. He also finished in the top 5 for metres gained. Edoardo Padovani was superb for Italy while Joe Cokansiga, Jack Nowell, Blair Kinghorn and number of other wingers impressed this year.
12. Hadleigh Parkes - Wales
A warrior in defence, lethal in attack and key cog in the Welsh backline throughout the competition. Parkes was key to Wales' Six Nations victory and beats the impressive Manu Tuilagi to a place in the side.
13. Jonathan Davies - Wales
Davies enjoyed another stellar Six Nations combining brilliantly with Parkes as Wales powered towards a Grand Slam. Davies combined brilliantly with his wingers and at his defensive best throughout the campaign.
Henry Slade is unfortunate not to make the side while Garry Ringrose was solid for Ireland.
14. Josh Adams - Wales
A tough call with Keith Earls, George North, Damian Penaud and other wingers impressing throughout the Six Nations, however, Adams' efforts for Ireland gets him in the side.
Adams stepped up to the plate at key times for Wales including a match-winning try against England. He scored another cracking try against Scotland and finished the competition with three tries.
He was also outstanding under the high ball and was stellar in defence.
15. Liam Williams - Wales
With Leigh Halfpenny absent for the Six Nations, Liam Williams stepped up and delivered 5 fantastic performances for Wales that could see him win the player of the competition award.
His work under the high ball was simply outstanding and he got Wales out of a number of tough situations.
Elliot Daly impressed in the 15 jersey for England while Rob Kearney sured things up for Ireland on his return to the side.