BBC Team of the Six Nations and the leading Stats...!

From the BBC

FULL-BACK:
LEIGH HALFPENNY (WALES). HMs: Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Alex Goode (England), Andrea Masi (Italy)
"He has been the man of the tournament and without peer the way he has played." Not my words, but those of Wales legend Gareth Edwards. Brave in defence, brilliant under the high ball, Leigh Halfpenny was also the top points-scorer (74) with an 81% goal-kicking success rate. Stuart Hogg also impressed for Scotland with some dazzling breaks and individual tries.

RIGHT WING:
ALEX CUTHBERT (WALES). HMs: Sean Maitland (Scotland), Craig Gilroy (Ireland), Gio Venditti (Italy)
It was a hardly a vintage tournament for wingers, with only two managing more than a single try. So Alex Cuthbert's four tries stand head and shoulders above everyone else, a bit like the man himself. His defensive positioning and visual awareness are still developing but his power, pace and attacking lines have made him a major weapon in Wales' armoury.

OUTSIDE CENTRE:
MANU TUILAGI (ENGLAND). HMs: Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Mathieu Bastareaud (France)
A tough call with no-one consistently good. Brian O'Driscoll started superbly but his frustration got the better of him with his yellow card for a stamp against Italy. Jonathan Davies improved as the tournament went on, while Mathieu Bastareaud showed his power, but Manu Tuilagi just edges it for his barnstorming display against France, even if Wales snuffed out his threat in the decider.

INSIDE CENTRE:
WESLEY FOFANA (FRANCE). HMs: Matt Scott (Scotland), Brad Barritt (England)
It was a shame Wesley Fofana was wasted out on the wing for the opening two matches, but he delivered the outstanding individual moment of the Championship with his sensational try at Twickenham when restored to centre, and finished with another smartly taken score against Scotland. Matt Scott impressed for Scotland, while Brad Barritt was a rock for England.

LEFT WING:
GEORGE NORTH (WALES). HMs: Tim Visser (Scotland), Mike Brown (England), Luke McLean (Italy)
Tim Visser's poacher's instincts for Scotland brought him two tries and made this a close call, but North's all-round game just edged it. A brilliant finish in Paris transformed Wales' campaign, his break led to the only try at Murrayfield, and he would have scored against England but for Brown's tap tackle. A shame injury restricted Simon Zebo to just one full game for Ireland.
FLY-HALF: OWEN FARRELL (ENGLAND). HMs: Dan Biggar (Wales), Luciano Orquera (Italy)
Owen Farrell missed two penalties against Wales with the pressure at its fiercest, but was previously a controlling presence in England's first three games, especially their win in Dublin. With Jonathan Sexton injured in Ireland's second game, and Rhys Priestland out of action, Dan Biggar also propelled himself into Lions contention with some increasingly assured displays.
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SCRUM-HALF:
MIKE PHILLIPS (WALES). HMs: Ben Youngs (England), Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
Mike Phillips has his detractors, but the way he took the fight to England confirmed his reputation as a man for the big occasion. His physical power gives Wales a potent extra ball-carrier and tackler around the fringes, while his passing improved as the tournament went on. Ben Youngs also impressed in patches, while Greig Laidlaw's 88% goal-kicking was vital for Scotland.

LOOSE-HEAD PROP:
GETHIN JENKINS (WALES). HMs: Mako Vunipola (England), Ryan Grant (Scotland)
Ireland's Cian Healy carried the ball more than any other prop but blotted his copybook with his ugly stamp on England's Dan Cole at Twickenham. Gethin Jenkins, short of match fitness at the outset, got stronger with each game, reasserting himself in Paris and Rome, and finished by leading Wales to the title. The giant Mako Vunipola also served notice of his burgeoning potential for England.

HOOKER:
RICHARD HIBBARD (WALES). HMs: Tom Youngs (England), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Italy), Ken Owens (Wales)
Tom Youngs' progress since his conversion from centre has been remarkable, his extra dynamism in the loose pushing him ahead of Dylan Hartley for England. But Richard Hibbard's impact was huge, coming into the Wales side in Paris and helping make their scrum a weapon that won 26 penalties overall. His tackling was also something to behold, as Joe Marler will testify.

TIGHT-HEAD PROP:
ADAM JONES (WALES). HMs: Euan Murray (Scotland)
Many thought England's Dan Cole had stolen a march on the Lions Test jersey before the Six Nations, but by the end of it Adam Jones had restored his reputation as one of the best - if not the best - tight-heads in the northern hemisphere. After some struggles in Paris, the Welsh scrum was dominant in their final three matches, with Jones the cornerstone.

LOCK:
JOE LAUNCHBURY (England). HMs: Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Jim Hamilton (Scotland), Andrew Coombs (Wales)
Joe Launchbury, like other England players, appeared to struggle with the extreme physicality of the decider in Cardiff, but until then the 21-year-old's athleticism, breakdown prowess and tackling (he made 51, more than any other lock) confirmed the arrival of a major talent. Alun Wyn Jones only started Wales' last two games, but reasserted his class in emphatic style.

LOCK:
IAN EVANS (WALES). HMs: Donnacha Ryan (Ireland), Geoff Parling (England)
Until Ireland's late wobble in Rome, Donnacha Ryan was the dominant line-out presence in the tournament, assuming the mantle of the absent Paul O'Connell. Geoff Parling is also highly influential in England's evolving side, but Evans was one of the unsung stars for Wales, a reliable target in the line-out, heavy scrummager, willing ball carrier and punishing tackler.

BLIND-SIDE FLANKER:
ALESSANDRO ZANNI (ITALY). HMs: Ryan Jones (Wales), Tom Wood (England)
Ryan Jones had a major influence on Wales' campaign, marshalling the troops superbly before injury forced him out of the decider. Tom Wood started at six before moving to eight and remained a defiant presence, topping the tournament tackle count with 70. But Alessandro Zanni, over-shadowed by the more illustrious Sergio Parisse, was superb again. As well as his ball-carrying (50), tackling (36) and line-out presence (19), Zanni also made 12 offloads, four more than any other player.

OPEN-SIDE FLANKER:

CHRIS ROBSHAW (ENGLAND). HMs: Sean O'Brien (Ireland), Sam Warburton (Wales), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Kelly Brown (Scotland)
Debate over Chris Robshaw's suitability for the open-side role will only intensify as Lions selection comes to the boil, and Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric both delivered stand-out performances more akin to an out-and-out seven. But the England captain had a fine Championship, his influence - third highest number of tackles (65), fourth in ball-carrying (57) - bringing two man-of-the-match awards. Sean O'Brien's power and relentlessness also shone in a grisly campaign for Ireland.


NUMBER EIGHT:

LOUIS PICAMOLES (FRANCE). HMs: Toby Faletau (Wales), Sergio Parisse (Italy), Johnnie Beattie (Scotland)
Worthy candidates abound, and Toby Faletau can consider himself unlucky after a superb campaign. Sergio Parisse provided more sublime moments, but Louis Picamoles announced himself a worthy successor to Imanol Harinordoquy. He carried the ball (70 times) more than any other player, made more metres (351) than any other forward, topped the players beaten stats (15) and scored two tries to boot. A real handful.


STATS


Six Nations: Most metres made:

Alex Goode (Eng) 387
Louis Picamoles (Fra) 351
Mike Brown (Eng) 347
Stuart Hogg (Sco) 336
Yoann Huget (Fra) 288

Six Nations: Most defenders beaten:

Louis Picamoles (Fra) 15
Mathieu Bastareaud (Fra) 15
Rob Kearney (Ire) 14
George North (Wal) 14
Alex Cuthbert (Wal) 14

Six Nations: Top tacklers:

Tom Wood (Eng) 70
Kelly Brown (Sco) 69
Chris Robshaw (Eng) 65
Thierry Dusautoir (Fra) 58
Ryan Grant (Sco) 52

Six Nations: Ball carriers

Louis Picamoles (Fra) 70
Sean O'Brien (Ire) 69
Toby Faletau (Wal) 63
Chris Robshaw (Eng) 57
Andrea Masi (Ita) 53

Stats courtesy of Opta Sports

Manu Tuilagi is the only name I would disagree with.

Tuilagi played three and a bit games, scored one try and didn't create any.

BOD scored a try and created a number of others, Jon Davies scored one created a couple of others both had better tournaments than Tuilagi.

Tuilagi will most likely be remembered this year for dropping England's only decent possibly try scoring pass in Cardiff.

Picamoles' stats are insane!

I love these lists when they name the Best player and then make honourable mention of four others in the same position when there are only 6 teams.

Kinda sitting on the fence, don't you think?

I would disagree with Manu at 13 too. I'd shove Jonathan Davies in there to be honest.

Amazing stats for Picamoles there, and Brown did well considering England seem to forget they have wingers.

Tom Wood is a machine. Most tackles, and a completion rate of 95% apparently. Good on him. Shame his talent was wasted at 8.

maestegmafia wrote:Manu Tuilagi is the only name I would disagree with.

I would agree with you - but I would not name anyone there. Frankly no OC had a good tournament.

maestegmafia wrote:
Tuilagi will most likely be remembered this year for dropping England's only decent possibly try scoring pass in Cardiff.

by some perhaps. Pessimists mostly. As an English fan my abiding memorry of Manu this season will be the display against New Zealand. As a tigers fan that against Ospreys at WR.

Wales showed him at his worst - and was great fuel for those people who wish to talk him down. the flip side is that other games have shown him at his best. his best is excellent and, in my opinion better than any other NH OC at their best (because BOD is not what he was). His worst can be appalling but with experience it will happen less often.

Raw statistics may confuse people.

Most metres made can be caused by inept oppositions hoofing the leather off the ball leaving the catcher plenty of space to run in. Most tackles made (e.g. Wood/Robshaw made 135 of them) may belie the fact that they needed to be made due to the fact that ball retention is actually a significant problem.

Stats should be used as a tool for monitoring performance, not a measure of deterministic evidence of it.

Biltong wrote:I love these lists when they name the Best player and then make honourable mention of four others in the same position when there are only 6 teams.

Kinda sitting on the fence, don't you think?

In the six nations even the loser gets a prize... There are still plenty of wooden cooking utensils in the WRU kitchen. Though they are all getting a bit old now.

No Irishmen in there which is a fair reflection of a dire campaign.

The stats reinforce what I thought. Ireland had a lot of posession but didn't make many metres...O'Brien tried hard but our absence of ball carriers, strike runners, creativity and general attacking gameplan was badly exposed over the tournament.

rodders wrote:No Irishmen in there which is a fair reflection of a dire campaign.

The stats reinforce what I thought. Ireland had a lot of posession but didn't make many metres...O'Brien tried hard but our absence of ball carriers, strike runners, creativity and general attacking gameplan was badly exposed over the tournament.

Ireland had most of their strike runners and threats in attack taken by injury after the first match. By the time you played France there was point where an injured BOD re-entered the field as both the other centre cover were injured.

Very interesting. For all the stats, Parisee surely for his audacious offload against Ireland and taking into account his ridiculous ban ruling him out for the Welsh match should still be the number 8. I think he's the best player in the Wirld currently.

Glas a du wrote:Very interesting. For all the stats, Parisee surely for his audacious offload against Ireland and taking into account his ridiculous ban ruling him out for the Welsh match should still be the number 8. I think he's the best player in the Wirld currently.

Awesome player, he and Picamoles lit up the tournament.

I would have thought Huget at FB deserved a mention above Goode or Masi. Para aside he was the best French back (although he did butcher one chance against Ireland).

Can somebody check if Picamoles has any English grandparents ?
I see the England flankers / back row were obliged to tackle themselves to death for their team to finish 2nd in tournament. Some is due to them for that, but partly it is an indictment of England's (lack of) possession.

Given the lack of quality 8s in the home nations it's about time we let Italy and France into the Lions.

Imagine the selection headache having to choose between Picamoles and Parrisse?

rodders wrote:

Glas a du wrote:Very interesting. For all the stats, Parisee surely for his audacious offload against Ireland and taking into account his ridiculous ban ruling him out for the Welsh match should still be the number 8. I think he's the best player in the Wirld currently.

Awesome player, he and Picamoles lit up the tournament.

Toby Faletau was superb in the England game, best performance yet for Wales, but he has to produce those weekly to equal Parisse.

Definitely the leading British lions eight, Beattie second, old heaslip's stock has fallen.

offload wrote:I would have thought Huget at FB deserved a mention above Goode or Masi. Para aside he was the best French back (although he did butcher one chance against Ireland).

And one against Wales.

maestegmafia wrote:Manu Tuilagi is the only name I would disagree with.

Tuilagi played three and a bit games, scored one try and didn't create any.

BOD scored a try and created a number of others, Jon Davies scored one created a couple of others both had better tournaments than Tuilagi.

Tuilagi will most likely be remembered this year for dropping England's only decent possibly try scoring pass in Cardiff.

And Davies for passing to the crowd...twice!

I'll try and remember BOD for his performance against Wales, but unfortunately last seems to linger longer, so for many it might be the stamp.

I agree with the other poster above, that very few backs (in particular the centres) had good tournaments.