Brendan Gallagher's Six Nations 2012 XV

Fullback is one of the hardest picks of all. You wouldn't hesitate asking either Leigh Halfpenny or Rob Kearney to pull on the Lions 15 jersey against Australian next summer, both have been in prime form.

A fit-again Kearney remains the king of the high ball and has got his "gas" back; Halfpenny has become a Test class goal-kicker and his general play has been excellent, notably against England when he pushed Sam Warburton hard for MOM honours.
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I'm going with Halfpenny but this is a selection that could easily change during the course of Saturday.

Wings I am pretty clear cut on. There is the powerful try-scoring machine that is Ireland's Tommy Bowe and the world's most capped teenager George North. Next.

Centre is more difficult. Six Nations debutant Wesley Fofana, another try-scoring machine with one in each of his four games, is a shoo-in at 12 but outside him I'm agonising between the stalwart Brad Barritt of England and the impressive all-round game of Jonathan Davies.

Almost too close to call but the firepower of Davies gets the nod.

At scrum-half Mike Phillips might not whip the ball out quick enough for some but he would be the first name I put down in any Lions selection so that's the end of that debate as far as I'm concerned!

Fly-half is THE problem position. Nobody has totally dominated and convinced. Jonny Sexton hasn't yet unleashed his 'Leinster' game yet, France have been faffing around with personnel and game plans, Italy and Scotland likewise.

Rhys Priestland has been competent but no more. Which brings me to Owen Farrell. His attacking game is not yet fully developed but his Jonny-like tackling and precision goal-kicking is in rude working health. Farrell it is, narrowly, from Sexton.

In the front row we don't really need to look beyond Wales' two Lions props Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins but a big shout should go out for Dan Cole and Alex Corbisiero who are improving with every game.

By this time next year those England tyros are going to be pushing the Welsh duo hard for Lions selection. Ireland's Rory Best has been the clear front runner at hooker.

At lock there have been some fine performers and I would like to have seen Donnacha Ryan start for Ireland from the off, but for sheer 80-minute effectiveness Wales' Ian Evans, who almost gave up with injury a few years ago, has been superb and is my first name down.

Scotland's Richie Gray has not been quite so consistent but when he is good he is magnificent and to be honest he earns selection for 'that' try alone.

Back row is the second huge selection dilemma - a choice that the Lions will come up again next summer in Australia. How do you choose between Stephen Ferris, Tom Croft and Dan Lydiate at blindside flanker? Frankly I've got no idea.

Ferris has been brilliant every time I have really studied his game closely, Croft in Paris gave possibly the best individual display of the entire tournament and I have a feeling that Lydiate is nearly as important to Wales as their skipper Sam Warburton.

I'm not sure if you categorise Thierry Dusautoir as a blindside because he wears six. Or as an openside because that is the role he most commonly adopts but frankly he has been a couple of notches below his best post World Cup anyway.

At this precise time I'm going with Ferris, ask me in half an hour and it will probably be Lydiate or Croft.

At No 8 although I have enjoyed David Denton's work going forward, the promise of Ben Morgan, the wonderfully mature work of Toby Faletau and occasional glimpses of he real Imanol Harinodoquy.

Italy's Sergio Parisse is still the most complete operator and your heart goes out to him sometimes having to play his entire Test career in a team simply unable to compete against the very best.

It must be difficult to motivate himself some days but he is never found wanting. Bravo.

And finally at openside it has to be Sam Warburton even though he has only played 120 minutes of championship rugby thus far. Warburton gets in from the Ross Rennie, who has enjoyed a fine tournament, on account of his man-of-the-match performance against England alone.

An honourable mention also for Chris Robshaw who has been playing out of position for England but putting in the hard yards and big tackles match after match.

maestegmafia wrote:Brendan Gallagher's Six Nations 2012 XV
Leigh Halfpenny (Wales): Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Wesley Fofana (France), George North (Wales); Owen Farrell (England). Mike Phillips (Wales); Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Rory Best (Ireland), Adam Jones (Wales), Richie Gray (Scotland), Ian Evans (Wales), Stephen Ferris (Ireland), Sam Warburton (Wales) Sergio Parisse (Italy).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/sixnations/9145976/Six-Nations-2012-Brendan-Gallaghers-team-of-the-tournament.html