Official player of the 6N

by **RDW** Mon 21 Mar 2016, 7:24 am

The shortlist

England: Billy Vunipola, Jonathan Joseph and Jack Nowell
Wales: Gareth Davies, George North
Ireland: Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray
Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Duncan Taylor
France: Guilhem Guirado, Virimi Vakatawa
Italy: Sergio Parisse

Vote at

http://www.rbs6nations.com/mobile/en/news/29945.php#Yb82TTfqqRC7gKLc.99

As a Scotsman I'd love to see Hogg get it - and I don't think many would deny that he'd be a worthy winner - but I suspect it will go to Vunipola.

If I was to do a top 3 I'd say:

3 Guirado
2 Vunipola
1 Hogg

by Exiledinborders Mon 21 Mar 2016, 7:35 am

Very odd selection.

For England I would have had Vunipola, Kruis and Itoje. I cannot see how either Joseph or Nowell are in the running.

by No 7&1/2 Mon 21 Mar 2016, 8:07 am

Is this down to who picks up motms again then? Would probably have to go Vunipola but Kruis for me was the player of the tournament.

by RuggerRadge2611 Mon 21 Mar 2016, 8:09 am

Voted for Hogg, he's been amazing. Vunipola a close second for me but I would understand if he won.

by HammerofThunor Mon 21 Mar 2016, 8:25 am

Not MotM. For England Ben Youngs and Itoje both got that, along with Billy. Don't think Joseph or Nowell got one.

by **RDW** Mon 21 Mar 2016, 8:27 am

Over five rounds of games each country has had stand-out performers and the Royal Bank and NatWest panel of rugby legends have been analysing the Championship.

Over 1,200 minutes of rugby action have been scrutinised and, together with expert analysis from Accenture, Official Technology Partner of the RBS 6 Nations, the likes of Phil Vickery and Gareth Thomas have decided on the top 12

by RuggerRadge2611 Mon 21 Mar 2016, 8:28 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:
Over five rounds of games each country has had stand-out performers and the Royal Bank and NatWest panel of rugby legends have been analysing the Championship.

Over 1,200 minutes of rugby action have been scrutinised and, together with expert analysis from Accenture, Official Technology Partner of the RBS 6 Nations, the likes of Phil Vickery and Gareth Thomas have decided on the top 12

Does Phil Vickery still play it has he retired?

by No 7&1/2 Mon 21 Mar 2016, 8:29 am

It's just a strange list. From an England perspective Nowell and Joseph were below par for me and despite them not being popular Robshaw and Haskell were among the best.

by **RDW** Mon 21 Mar 2016, 8:30 am

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:
Over five rounds of games each country has had stand-out performers and the Royal Bank and NatWest panel of rugby legends have been analysing the Championship.

Over 1,200 minutes of rugby action have been scrutinised and, together with expert analysis from Accenture, Official Technology Partner of the RBS 6 Nations, the likes of Phil Vickery and Gareth Thomas have decided on the top 12

Does Phil Vickery still play it has he retired?

You know what I'm not too sure!

There should probably be a thread about it..

by RuggerRadge2611 Mon 21 Mar 2016, 8:34 am

No 7&1/2 wrote:It's just a strange list. From an England perspective Nowell and Joseph were below par for me and despite them not being popular Robshaw and Haskell were among the best.

Haskell's only real contribution was to grass on a secondary school pupil to his head master. Robshaw I'll give you, a terrific player and he has been professionalism personified in the wake of Hartley's selection as Captain.

by beshocked Mon 21 Mar 2016, 8:57 am

exileinborders completely agree.

I thought England's top 3 players were Billy,Kruis and Itoje in that order.

The way Kruis and Itoje attacked the Irish,Welsh and French lineouts were key to the victories.

Billy 3 Man of the match awards though I think Kruis should have got the award vs France.

Agree with the comments on Nowell and Joseph. I thought had mediocre tournaments. Nowell was pretty good but had a torrid time against Vakatawa in the final game. Joseph was pretty quiet bar his hattrick vs Italy.

I thought the best Irishman was Stander.

Think it will be a travesty if Billy doesn't win it, just like the year when bizarrely Harinorduquy did not pick up the award.

Glad to see Taylor's influence recognised for Scotland. Two cracking tries and I think it was him who did that excellent try assist vs Ireland.

Hogg had a great tournament - best Scot but better than Billy? No. What hurt Hogg's credentials was his unfortunate injury vs Wales, was a big loss when he went off.

by Comfort Mon 21 Mar 2016, 9:28 am

George North: 448 metres made ball in hand (1st), 26 defenders beaten (1st), 4 tries scored.

Billy V: Carries 72 (2nd), 325 metres made (5th), defenders beaten 24 (3rd), offloads 8 (2nd)

I'd be happy with either.

Billy V should take it for inspiring England to the grand slam.

by Pete330v2 Mon 21 Mar 2016, 9:28 am

The absolutely stand out winner for me is Big Bad Billy V. No contest.

by Hoonercat Mon 21 Mar 2016, 10:12 am

Billy V will win, it's going to come down which country has the highest number of voters rather than who actually deserves it. He has been excellent but I wouldn't rate him as England's best let alone the tournament best. Kruis for me, he has been exceptional. How he didn't make the shortlist is beyond me.

by beshocked Mon 21 Mar 2016, 10:23 am

Hoonercat who deserves it can be subjective.

Kruis has been great agreed but a not perfect lineout vs Italy probably counted against him. Unlucky not to be MOTM vs France though.

Should have made the shortlist agreed.

Doesn't always come down to highest numbers of voters - France should have more voters than Ireland but when France won the GS in 2010, Harinorduquy lost out to Bowe in one of the more bizarre decisions. Perhaps the French vote was split as there were 3 nominations.

Comfort bear in mind it's easier for a back three player to make metres, breaks and beat defenders. Plus score tries.

Don't get me wrong I think North was great. The best Welsh player but North didn't influence in my opinion like Billy.

by Shifty Mon 21 Mar 2016, 10:38 am

I couldn't pick Itoje so I went with George North because of his 4 tries.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 21 Mar 2016, 10:44 am

Billy V.

England worthy Grand Slam champions and Billy V was at the heart of everything.

by TightHEAD Mon 21 Mar 2016, 10:46 am

Kruis and Itoje deserved to be on that list.

I know rugby is a team game and boy did the lads do well on Saturday night (Grand Slam btw Very Happy

)
but I can't help but think had Lawes and Launchbury were playing on Saturday instead of those guys England wouldn't have won that game.

by dummy_half Mon 21 Mar 2016, 10:47 am

Definitely some odd selections in the list
Nowell had a decent tournament bar the France game, but I'd rate him as the least good of England's back 3 over the course of the 5 games.
Joseph had an excellent half in the Italy game but has otherwise largely been confined to defensive duties.
As others have said, Kruis, Itoje and Robshaw have been outstanding for England and even Haskell has done pretty well.

Vakatawa? As was pointed out on the France v England match thread, for all his metres made, what came of them? Mostly England line-outs...

Didn't see enough of Ireland to really comment on whether Murray and Sexton where their top performers, but from other comments I think the absence of Stander is surprising.

Was Gareth Davies really one of Wales's outstanding performers? I'd have gone with Faletau or even Rob Evans ahead of him.

Parisse - had to fulfil the quota and have an Italian. for me though, the outside centre (Campagnaro?) had a better tournament but perhaps missed out because of not playing the last match.

For me, I'd put the others as:
1 - Billy V
2 - North
3 - Guirardo
4 - Hogg

by funnyExiledScot Mon 21 Mar 2016, 11:04 am

Nowell on the list is pretty odd. He had an ok tournament, nothing special. Brown and Watson were comfortably better. I don't see Nowell getting more than 30/35 caps.

by beshocked Mon 21 Mar 2016, 11:16 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:Nowell on the list is pretty odd. He had an ok tournament, nothing special. Brown and Watson were comfortably better. I don't see Nowell getting more than 30/35 caps.

Nowell for not the first time had a torrid time away in France.... still think he had a pretty good tournament though. Doesn't like playing the French in Paris..... Nightmares of Huget and Vakatawa I imagine!

Who do you think can replace Nowell though?

May? I don't think so.

Wade,Rokodiguini,Ashton,Yarde have a lot of work to do to be in contention.

I don't see wing as a particular strength for England at the moment.

by TightHEAD Mon 21 Mar 2016, 11:17 am

Nowells tackling was woeful on Saturday, but I like him and is a positive player with ball in hand.

by **RDW** Mon 21 Mar 2016, 11:20 am

I'd say wing across the whole 6N hasn't been a massive position of strength.

There are plenty good options but the only player with superstar appeal who you could genuinely count as world class is George North IMO.

Nowell, Watson, Seymour and Vakatawa all had good moments but also had quiet games.

by GunsGerms Mon 21 Mar 2016, 11:22 am

Thought Nel was very good for Scotland and given Scotland had one of the best front rows in the tournament thought he might get selected.

Top performers of the competition for me were Hogg, Itoje, Guirado and Vunapola.

Nowell and Nel also stood out for me but not as much as the others.

Sexton and Murray didn't have their best tournament in my opinion. Sexton's decision making was poor and Murray's passing way to slow at times.

by SecretFly Mon 21 Mar 2016, 11:36 am

Billy did most of his best work against us...the Basterde!!!

Em, the list does have a striking sniff of a name already chosen though - then naming a few 'famous' names from the other sides to make up the numbers. I can't really believe Sexton, Murray, Davies, Vakatawa or Parisse were the best for their teams this season.

I quite liked the pizzazz of Michele Campagnaro through the series. It's probably always easy to be noticed if you have some spice in a poor side...but then again it's a tough job keeping up the motivation for spice in a poor team too.

Still - I guess you gotta give it to the battering ram Billy Batter'emBitches.

by lostinwales Mon 21 Mar 2016, 2:42 pm

SecretFly wrote:Billy did most of his best work against us...the Basterde!!!

Em, the list does have a striking sniff of a name already chosen though - then naming a few 'famous' names from the other sides to make up the numbers. I can't really believe Sexton, Murray, Davies, Vakatawa or Parisse were the best for their teams this season.

I quite liked the pizzazz of Michele Campagnaro through the series. It's probably always easy to be noticed if you have some spice in a poor side...but then again it's a tough job keeping up the motivation for spice in a poor team too.

Still - I guess you gotta give it to the battering ram Billy Batter'emBitches.

He was pretty good that day Smile

I do think that Kruis should have been MotM on Saturday but you can see the argument for Billy. He was well contained in the first half but kept up the same work rate all through the match (or if anything upped rate in the 2nd half) and as time went on made bigger and bigger holes in the French defense. He was a point of difference as he was in every game.

by yappysnap Mon 21 Mar 2016, 3:42 pm

Still can't work out Kruis not being on the list so went for Billy, Hogg a close second.

From the Italians I'd go with their 12 with that massive beard, thought he was quality on every game he played and far better then the Poopie around him.

by lostinwales Mon 21 Mar 2016, 3:46 pm

yappysnap wrote:Still can't work out Kruis not being on the list so went for Billy, Hogg a close second.

From the Italians I'd go with their 12 with that massive beard, thought he was quality on every game he played and far better then the Poopie around him.

We could do with a best beard of the 6N poll

by SecretFly Mon 21 Mar 2016, 3:47 pm

Yeah, I forgot Redbeard!!!! Best Italian player by far. Agree.

by bsando Mon 21 Mar 2016, 4:17 pm

Vunipola for me. Consistently awesome for England.

by Cyril Mon 21 Mar 2016, 4:28 pm

Of the ones on the list it's Billy V edging Hogg for me. Like others, I'm surprised Kruis didn't make the short-list. He's been brilliant.

Rather surprised to see Joseph and Nowell on there. Both had a decent 6Ns but Itoje and (especially) Kruis should be ahead of them from an English perspective. The list is mainly backs as per usual though.

Very impressed with Duncan Taylor.

I think Parisse will keep getting on these lists even when he's retired. Speaking of which, where's Vickery?

by SimonofSurrey Mon 21 Mar 2016, 6:41 pm

As an Englishman, I thought several players excelled and the collective brought close to the best out of each other. Easier perhaps when you're winning. Ditto Wales, for whom Faletau and North stood out while several others were consistently good. Hogg was brilliant, Parisse is ageless - provided he doesn't try to drop goals (he's no Zinzan Brooke).

But my Player of the Tournament is someone who had five outstanding games and stood out constantly in the sea of mediocrity around him. And all this as captain, by shining example, of an otherwise desperately forgettable and disappointing team (bar Vakatawa and Machenaud, at times).

Step forward ... Guilhem Guirado.

by No 7&1/2 Tue 22 Mar 2016, 7:55 am

Was looking forward to having a closer look at Guirado but don't think the England game was the time to do it! Gave away penalties and had his lineout destroyed by 2 very good locks granted.

by GunsGerms Tue 22 Mar 2016, 8:53 am

Quite surprised no one is talking about Nel. Id have him on the team of the 6N and probably Lions starter at this point.

by Exiledinborders Wed 23 Mar 2016, 9:57 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:
Over five rounds of games each country has had stand-out performers and the Royal Bank and NatWest panel of rugby legends have been analysing the Championship.

Over 1,200 minutes of rugby action have been scrutinised and, together with expert analysis from Accenture, Official Technology Partner of the RBS 6 Nations, the likes of Phil Vickery and Gareth Thomas have decided on the top 12

If Accenture's computer experts came up with that list I would look elsewhere for a digital provider.

by Jimpy Wed 23 Mar 2016, 10:02 am

Billy V has officially been voted top player, so its moot really.

For me he was probably the best anyway. Nowell has come on leaps and bounds - if he was in the Welsh team, he'd be world class.

You've got to feel for Parisse, a talisman for Italy and such a good player - it's just a pity he is most usually on the losing team.

by rainbow-warrior Wed 23 Mar 2016, 10:38 am

Jimpy wrote:Billy V has officially been voted top player, so its moot really.

For me he was probably the best anyway. Nowell has come on leaps and bounds - if he was in the Welsh team, he'd be world class.

You've got to feel for Parisse, a talisman for Italy and such a good player - it's just a pity he is most usually on the losing team.

We have enough world class players thanks

by Jimpy Wed 23 Mar 2016, 10:44 am

rainbow-warrior wrote:
Jimpy wrote:Billy V has officially been voted top player, so its moot really.

For me he was probably the best anyway. Nowell has come on leaps and bounds - if he was in the Welsh team, he'd be world class.

You've got to feel for Parisse, a talisman for Italy and such a good player - it's just a pity he is most usually on the losing team.

We have enough world class players thanks

Probably one - Falatau, but thanks for contributing.

by mikey_dragon Wed 23 Mar 2016, 2:04 pm

Of the Welsh candidates I agree with North but wouldn't have Davies in there - his kicking and passing this tournament wasn't very good. I would have Faletau in his place, but I guess they purposely left him out as they want Billy V to win it.

by TightHEAD Wed 23 Mar 2016, 2:34 pm

Toby is a poor mans Billy V.

by Fanster Wed 23 Mar 2016, 3:21 pm

TightHEAD wrote:Toby is a poor mans Billy V.

Toby? Flood? Maguire?

It's an odd list, best backrowers in the competition were Falatau, Vunipola and Stander, but tbh my player of the tournament would probably be one of Guirado, or Stander, who over all 5 rounds were superb, especially when playing against the best (England and Wales).

by No 7&1/2 Wed 23 Mar 2016, 3:26 pm

Did you not think Guirado struggled against England? Pens and lost lineouts, just looked under a lot more pressure than previously to me.

by Fanster Wed 23 Mar 2016, 3:35 pm

No 7&1/2 wrote:Did you not think Guirado struggled against England? Pens and lost lineouts, just looked under a lot more pressure than previously to me.

He did, but that pressure was failings from his pack, and England having jumpers at the lineout before the French got there, his throwing was easily stolen, but stolen from where they were meant to go (Make sense).

I honestly think without Guirado in that pack France would've slumped to a huge defeat, every time France got go forward, or some sort of standing he was heavily involved. He was also superb v Wales in a beaten pack.

I can see why Billy would beat out Stander, as Stander's carrying despite being superb didn't compare to Billy's when head to head (kind of), partly due to Irelands genious defence of 'stand still boys, he'll come to us' hahaha, but for me Guirado was standout.

I was tempted to mention Minto too, but with the Italian performances he wouldn't seriously be considered, despite being probably Italy's best forward in every game, not easy to do with Parisse in the team.

by No 7&1/2 Wed 23 Mar 2016, 3:39 pm

It does and it does. Because of that though I still think saying he was superb in all 5 matches is a stretch. He led well but he was under pressure and didn't excel at all vs England (for me). Still think Kruis was the standout English player.

by lostinwales Wed 23 Mar 2016, 3:53 pm

Problem with 'player of the 6N' when its a team game is that the bias will be towards players whose most visible individual contributions were the greatest over the 6N. On that basis its easy to see why BV won, as he had a big visible impact every game, did a lot to put England on the front foot etc. He was the front man...

Value to the team as a whole can be harder for objective observers to see. (if you are a fan of a particular team its easier to see where its heartbeat is at). For England Kruis quite possibly did as much as Billy but it wasn't as visible.

by TightHEAD Wed 23 Mar 2016, 3:55 pm

No 7&1/2 wrote:Did you not think Guirado struggled against England? Pens and lost lineouts, just looked under a lot more pressure than previously to me.

Also tackled the wrong man, heads up and use your eyes,

by No 7&1/2 Wed 23 Mar 2016, 3:59 pm

True.

by bluestonevedder Wed 23 Mar 2016, 4:35 pm

Fanster wrote:
No 7&1/2 wrote:Did you not think Guirado struggled against England? Pens and lost lineouts, just looked under a lot more pressure than previously to me.

He did, but that pressure was failings from his pack, and England having jumpers at the lineout before the French got there, his throwing was easily stolen, but stolen from where they were meant to go (Make sense).

I honestly think without Guirado in that pack France would've slumped to a huge defeat, every time France got go forward, or some sort of standing he was heavily involved. He was also superb v Wales in a beaten pack.

I can see why Billy would beat out Stander, as Stander's carrying despite being superb didn't compare to Billy's when head to head (kind of), partly due to Irelands genious defence of 'stand still boys, he'll come to us' hahaha, but for me Guirado was standout.

I was tempted to mention Minto too, but with the Italian performances he wouldn't seriously be considered, despite being probably Italy's best forward in every game, not easy to do with Parisse in the team.

Minto is a good shout for Italian player of the tournament. He quietly had a cracking series of games.

by Fanster Wed 23 Mar 2016, 5:42 pm

TightHEAD wrote:
No 7&1/2 wrote:Did you not think Guirado struggled against England? Pens and lost lineouts, just looked under a lot more pressure than previously to me.

Also tackled the wrong man, heads up and use your eyes,

Prob best not to get into the obstruction debate...

by Fanster Wed 23 Mar 2016, 5:45 pm

bluestonevedder wrote:
Fanster wrote:
No 7&1/2 wrote:Did you not think Guirado struggled against England? Pens and lost lineouts, just looked under a lot more pressure than previously to me.

He did, but that pressure was failings from his pack, and England having jumpers at the lineout before the French got there, his throwing was easily stolen, but stolen from where they were meant to go (Make sense).

I honestly think without Guirado in that pack France would've slumped to a huge defeat, every time France got go forward, or some sort of standing he was heavily involved. He was also superb v Wales in a beaten pack.

I can see why Billy would beat out Stander, as Stander's carrying despite being superb didn't compare to Billy's when head to head (kind of), partly due to Irelands genious defence of 'stand still boys, he'll come to us' hahaha, but for me Guirado was standout.

I was tempted to mention Minto too, but with the Italian performances he wouldn't seriously be considered, despite being probably Italy's best forward in every game, not easy to do with Parisse in the team.

Minto is a good shout for Italian player of the tournament. He quietly had a cracking series of games.

Not just Italian, hell he's on my shortlist for player of the tournament...

North
Falatau
Hogg
Vunipola
Kruis
Guirado
Minto
Stander
Taylor

by Sponsored content

Player of the 6N