NPR

50 50 calls with Ramos and Penaud over Keenan and Hansen but can see why they got the nod.

No Doris? Usually takes me a while to warm up to players from other countries but the man's class.

The one thing everyone can agree on is the absence of English players. Annus horribilis.

Rugbyrama's take

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/03/20/6-n ... 073392.php

1. Pierre Schoeman (Écosse)
2. Dan Sheehan (Irlande)
3. Zander Fagerson (Écosse)
4. Thibaud Flament (France)
5. James Ryan (Irlande)
6. Charles Ollivon (France)
7. Josh van der Flier (Irlande)
8. Caelan Doris (Irlande)
9. Antoine Dupont (France)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Irlande)
11. James Lowe (Irlande)
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Écosse)
13. Huw Jones (Écosse)
14. Damian Penaud (France)
15. Thomas Ramos (France)

Jim Lahey wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:18 am 50 50 calls with Ramos and Penaud over Keenan and Hansen but can see why they got the nod.

Hansen really only got going properly in the last couple of games, was pretty underwhelmed by him at the star.

I like Keenan, he just goes about his business quietly and never seems to make mistakes

Gumboot wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:42 am The one thing everyone can agree on is the absence of English players. Annus horribilis.

How could you leave this guy out?

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:54 am Rugbyrama's take

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/03/20/6-n ... 073392.php

1. Pierre Schoeman (Écosse)
2. Dan Sheehan (Irlande)
3. Zander Fagerson (Écosse)
4. Thibaud Flament (France)
5. James Ryan (Irlande)
6. Charles Ollivon (France)
7. Josh van der Flier (Irlande)
8. Caelan Doris (Irlande)
9. Antoine Dupont (France)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Irlande)
11. James Lowe (Irlande)
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Écosse)
13. Huw Jones (Écosse)
14. Damian Penaud (France)
15. Thomas Ramos (France)

I was going to say too many Scots. But it's not been a vintage year for props - and both France and Ireland had their issues at tighthead especially. Would possibly still go with Furlong at 3, even if he didn't play much; when he did play he showed he's a class above.
And Huwipolotou was the best centre partnership and played all 5 matches, but Danty and Fickou deserve to be there too, so I'd possibly go Danty/Jones 12/13.

As wonderful as Ramos was, Keenan was perhaps even a shade better and the grand slam winners deserve more representation, so I'd swap the 15 as well.

Furlong struggled in the scrum against a side not known for their scrummaging prowess, I wouldn't be keen to shoehorn him in there.

Aldritt ahead of Doris for me. Doris is excellent, Aldritt game-breakingly good.

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 9:08 am Furlong struggled in the scrum against a side not known for their scrummaging prowess, I wouldn't be keen to shoehorn him in there.

Aldritt ahead of Doris for me. Doris is excellent, Aldritt game-breakingly good.

I think from 1 to 15 we could make the case for the French or Irish player to be in the team of the tournament, there's very little between the teams and they have quality in every single position.

But tighthead was a funny one - France lost a couple, Furlong didn't play much, Fagerson came in later in the tournament, England were shite, Wales don't have a team, Italy have no Castrogiovanni-level ox anymore. If we're already honouring the Scottish efforts with Schoeman at loosehead, I'd still go Furlong over Atonio at TH.

Ymx wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:06 am

Gumboot wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:42 am The one thing everyone can agree on is the absence of English players. Annus horribilis.

How could you leave this guy out?

Back when I still listened to The Good, The Bad and The Rugby I remember Ellis Genge giving out to the Italians for celebrating little things in game while behind on the scoreboard (admittedly the given example is only a one point gap, but we've all seen instances when it's more significant).

I understand the principle (and why it originated with Saracens...) of needing to creating your own atmosphere and drawing energy from the things that go right, but it's embarassing when players are as over the top about it as Itoje.

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 9:08 am Furlong struggled in the scrum against a side not known for their scrummaging prowess, I wouldn't be keen to shoehorn him in there.

Aldritt ahead of Doris for me. Doris is excellent, Aldritt game-breakingly good.

I agree. Doris was exceptional but Aldritt for me is the best forward in the game atm, closely followed by VDF.

Interesting looking at the stats for the 6Ns. Schoeman made most carries as a prop in 6Ns. Russell in top 10 for points scored, try assists, conversions, penalties, passes made, metres made and off loads. No stats for intercept passed thrown though! Both deserve their places.

Really don't get the hype about Josh van der Flier. Imho the worst playerof the year ever.
Seems that apart for some tinkering most teams of the 6N look very similar.
I suppose the 8 position for many is a close call, too close for me to call.

However these teams are always a bit of fun.

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:10 am Anyone not picking Doris is on drugs

Aldritt is better :p

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:54 am Rugbyrama's take

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/03/20/6-n ... 073392.php

1. Pierre Schoeman (Écosse)
2. Dan Sheehan (Irlande)
3. Zander Fagerson (Écosse)
4. Thibaud Flament (France)
5. James Ryan (Irlande)
6. Charles Ollivon (France)
7. Josh van der Flier (Irlande)
8. Caelan Doris (Irlande)
9. Antoine Dupont (France)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Irlande)
11. James Lowe (Irlande)
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Écosse)
13. Huw Jones (Écosse)
14. Damian Penaud (France)
15. Thomas Ramos (France)

Is this Torq's selection?

Imagine Dupont and Fin at 9/10....

Slick wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:16 am

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:54 am Rugbyrama's take

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/03/20/6-n ... 073392.php

1. Pierre Schoeman (Écosse)
2. Dan Sheehan (Irlande)
3. Zander Fagerson (Écosse)
4. Thibaud Flament (France)
5. James Ryan (Irlande)
6. Charles Ollivon (France)
7. Josh van der Flier (Irlande)
8. Caelan Doris (Irlande)
9. Antoine Dupont (France)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Irlande)
11. James Lowe (Irlande)
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Écosse)
13. Huw Jones (Écosse)
14. Damian Penaud (France)
15. Thomas Ramos (France)

Is this Torq's selection?

Imagine Dupont and Fin at 9/10....

I doubt Dupont would give him the ball after he has thrown is 1st intercept.

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:27 am

Slick wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:16 am

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:54 am Rugbyrama's take

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/03/20/6-n ... 073392.php

1. Pierre Schoeman (Écosse)
2. Dan Sheehan (Irlande)
3. Zander Fagerson (Écosse)
4. Thibaud Flament (France)
5. James Ryan (Irlande)
6. Charles Ollivon (France)
7. Josh van der Flier (Irlande)
8. Caelan Doris (Irlande)
9. Antoine Dupont (France)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Irlande)
11. James Lowe (Irlande)
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Écosse)
13. Huw Jones (Écosse)
14. Damian Penaud (France)
15. Thomas Ramos (France)

Is this Torq's selection?

Imagine Dupont and Fin at 9/10....

I doubt Dupont would give him the ball after he has thrown is 1st intercept.

Yeah, but the first 3 minutes would be magic

Aldritt only got going in the later stages of the tournament. He didn't do much against us and Doris was supreme in the final quarter to get us over the line. It's a tough one but you'd have to go with the head to head.

Stats wise, Doris carried for more metres, made more tackles and stole more ball.

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:12 am

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:13 am

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:10 am Anyone not picking Doris is on drugs

Aldritt is better :p

Whoever wins player of the tournament is likely to be currently better. Rumour is Hanson in with a serious shout as well but he had a stinker or two

Flament Is not in doubt for that.

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:12 am

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:13 am

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:10 am Anyone not picking Doris is on drugs

Aldritt is better :p

Whoever wins player of the tournament is likely to be currently better. Rumour is Hanson in with a serious shout as well but he had a stinker or two

He really didn't have any stinkers. This seems to have been established as FACT but it's bullshit when you look at his contributions in the games he was meant to be shit in.

I think some people may have blotted France's performances in the first 2 games and a lot of the Scottish game out of their minds.

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:12 am

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:13 am

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:10 am Anyone not picking Doris is on drugs

Aldritt is better :p

Whoever wins player of the tournament is likely to be currently better. Rumour is Hanson in with a serious shout as well but he had a stinker or two

Some great breakdown work in the Scotland game tbf.

Jim Lahey wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:32 am

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:12 am

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:13 am

Aldritt is better :p

Whoever wins player of the tournament is likely to be currently better. Rumour is Hanson in with a serious shout as well but he had a stinker or two

Some great breakdown work in the Scotland game tbf.

He was great against Scotland.

No point in engaging in any of this kind of stuff with CM11

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:59 am

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:18 am

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:12 am

Whoever wins player of the tournament is likely to be currently better. Rumour is Hanson in with a serious shout as well but he had a stinker or two

He really didn't have any stinkers. This seems to have been established as FACT but it's bullshit when you look at his contributions in the games he was meant to be shit in.

Ah he was a bit shite. I know you love the unseen work but we all know that means he was scratching his arse

An underrated ability.

POM secured a few central contracts between 2018-2021 on the basis of his world class arse scratching ability.

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:59 am

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:18 am

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:12 am

Whoever wins player of the tournament is likely to be currently better. Rumour is Hanson in with a serious shout as well but he had a stinker or two

He really didn't have any stinkers. This seems to have been established as FACT but it's bullshit when you look at his contributions in the games he was meant to be shit in.

Ah he was a bit shite. I know you love the unseen work but we all know that means he was scratching his arse

It wasn't unseen work.

Ramos (Fr)
Hansen (Ir)
Jones (Sc)
Fickou (Fr)
Lowe (Ir)
Russell (Sc)
Dupont (Fr)
Fischetti (It)
Sheehan (Ir)
Bealham (Ir)
Flament (Fr)
Ryan (Ir)
Ollivon (Fr)
van der Flier (Ir)
Doris (Ir)

Bench: Turner, Schoeman, Sinckler, Itoje, Tipuric, Gibson-Park, Sexton, Penaud

7 Irish, 5 French, 2 Scottish, 1 Italian in the XV seems fairish. 9 Irish, 6 French, 4 Scottish, 2 English, 1 Italian, 1 Welsh in the 23.

These were the outstanding players in each position according to Fantasy Six Nations!

charltom wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:24 pm Ramos (Fr)
Hansen (Ir)
Jones (Sc)
Fickou (Fr)
Lowe (Ir)
Russell (Sc)
Dupont (Fr)
Fischetti (It)
Sheehan (Ir)
Bealham (Ir)
Flament (Fr)
Ryan (Ir)
Ollivon (Fr)
van der Flier (Ir)
Doris (Ir)

Bench: Turner, Schoeman, Sinckler, Itoje, Tipuric, Gibson-Park, Sexton, Penaud

7 Irish, 5 French, 2 Scottish, 1 Italian in the XV seems fairish. 9 Irish, 6 French, 4 Scottish, 2 English, 1 Italian, 1 Welsh in the 23.

These were the outstanding players in each position according to Fantasy Six Nations!

Proportions seem about right, if nothing else.

charltom wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:24 pm Ramos (Fr)
Hansen (Ir)
Jones (Sc)
Fickou (Fr)
Lowe (Ir)
Russell (Sc)
Dupont (Fr)
Fischetti (It)
Sheehan (Ir)
Bealham (Ir)
Flament (Fr)
Ryan (Ir)
Ollivon (Fr)
van der Flier (Ir)
Doris (Ir)

Bench: Turner, Schoeman, Sinckler, Itoje, Tipuric, Gibson-Park, Sexton, Penaud

7 Irish, 5 French, 2 Scottish, 1 Italian in the XV seems fairish. 9 Irish, 6 French, 4 Scottish, 2 English, 1 Italian, 1 Welsh in the 23.

These were the outstanding players in each position according to Fantasy Six Nations!

Yep - there or thereabouts.

charltom wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:24 pm Bench: Itoje

Piss orf

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:36 pm

charltom wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:24 pm Bench: Itoje

Piss orf

I agree with you, even if the numbers don't. TBF it would be Beirne just on average performance but he's hampered by a lack of games.

charltom wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:46 pm

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:36 pm

charltom wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:24 pm Bench: Itoje

Piss orf

I agree with you, even if the numbers don't. TBF it would be Beirne just on average performance but he's hampered by a lack of games.

Itoje had a really poor tournament. Beirne or Richie Gray for the bench.

clydecloggie wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 2:29 pm

charltom wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:46 pm

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:36 pm

Piss orf

I agree with you, even if the numbers don't. TBF it would be Beirne just on average performance but he's hampered by a lack of games.

Itoje had a really poor tournament. Beirne or Richie Gray for the bench.

In terms of impact on his team, Richie Gray ought to be in the XV! But this was simply a team based on Fantasy Six Nations' numbers.

charltom wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 2:44 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 2:29 pm

charltom wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:46 pm

I agree with you, even if the numbers don't. TBF it would be Beirne just on average performance but he's hampered by a lack of games.

Itoje had a really poor tournament. Beirne or Richie Gray for the bench.

In terms of impact on his team, Richie Gray ought to be in the XV! But this was simply a team based on Fantasy Six Nations' numbers.

As massive a tournament as he had, I wouldn't pick him in the XV over Flament or Ryan.

Ramos, Dupont, Penaud, Hansen, Doris and Keenan the nominees for player of the tournament.

clydecloggie wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 3:59 pm

charltom wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 2:44 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 2:29 pm

Itoje had a really poor tournament. Beirne or Richie Gray for the bench.

In terms of impact on his team, Richie Gray ought to be in the XV! But this was simply a team based on Fantasy Six Nations' numbers.

As massive a tournament as he had, I wouldn't pick him in the XV over Flament or Ryan.

I'll rephrase:

In terms of impact on his team, Richie Gray ought to be in the XV! But this was simply a team based on Fantasy Six Nations' numbers, so he is nowhere near it.

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:26 pm Ramos, Dupont, Penaud, Hansen, Doris and Keenan the nominees for player of the tournament.

How is Flament not listed ?

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:27 pm

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:26 pm Ramos, Dupont, Penaud, Hansen, Doris and Keenan the nominees for player of the tournament.

How is Flament not listed ?

Because he exploded in the later stage of the tournament?

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:26 pm Ramos, Dupont, Penaud, Hansen, Doris and Keenan the nominees for player of the tournament.

4 out of the 6 are back 3 players - that's just not right.

Has to go to Dupont surely, but Id have Flamnet in the shortlist instead of maybe Hansen.

PornDog wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:39 pm

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:26 pm Ramos, Dupont, Penaud, Hansen, Doris and Keenan the nominees for player of the tournament.

4 out of the 6 are back 3 players - that's just not right.

Has to go to Dupont surely, but Id have Flamnet in the shortlist instead of maybe Hansen.

Odd that Fin isn’t there. Probably Dupont I’d say.

As I said elsewhere, Dupont if France beat Ireland and slam but think it has to be Keenan or Doris given they didn't. Dupont hasn't been so good that he's clearly influenced the tournament more than those two. I mean Keenan nearly made 200m against France alone.