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A Six Nations 'team of the tournament' selection

By PA
(Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

It was a Six Nations tournament that lasted for nine months because of the coronavirus pandemic, but still produced plenty of thrills and spills.

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Here, the PA news agency reflects on those players that excelled, and selects a team of the tournament.

15: Anthony Bouthier (France)
The Montpellier full-back was a tower of strength for France, displaying an outstanding all-round game. Defensively sound with a huge kicking game, he also offered considerable attacking flair.

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Wayne Pivac faces the press after Scotland loss:

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Wayne Pivac faces the press after Scotland loss:

14: Josh Adams (Wales)
It was a Six Nations to forget for Wales, but Adams, who scored three tries, remains one of their shining lights. His work-rate, finishing ability and consistency were all top-drawer.

13: Virimi Vakatawa (France)
A go-to player for France, he did not disappoint as he showcased his renowned physical power and elusive running skills. Made some stunning off-loads and was a handful for every opposition defence.

12: Bundee Aki (Ireland)
A largely-unsung member of the Ireland team, the Connacht centre gets on with his business without fuss or bother. Strong with ball in hand and an excellent defender, he was key to keeping the Irish in title contention.

Ireland Aki Six Nations
(Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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11: Jonny May (England)
One of English rugby’s finest finishers, his current total of 29 Test tries underlines how important a player he is to England head coach Eddie Jones. Delivered a blistering display, scoring two tries, in defeat against France.

10: Romain Ntamack (France)
Made his Test debut less than two years ago, but he performs like a seasoned veteran at the age of just 21. Nothing seems to faze him, whether it is pressure goal-kicks, tactical pressure or attacking inventiveness.

Six Nations

9: Antoine Dupont (France)
The Six Nations player of the tournament award has never been won by a Frenchman, but scrum-half Dupont will surely end that wait. A tactical general with an ability to create attacking moments from nothing, he is a world-class operator.

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1: Rory Sutherland (Scotland)
Loosehead prop Sutherland has helped give Scotland solid set-piece foundations, combined with his impressive work-rate around the field. A consistent performer who looks a strong contender for the 2021 British and Irish Lions squad.

Rory Sutherland
Rory Sutherland

2: Jamie George (England)
Won his 50th cap during England’s victory over Italy in Rome, and he maintained excellent form throughout the Six Nations. A natural leader whose performance levels rarely dip.

3: Kyle Sinckler (England)
Has gone from strength to strength in an England shirt, relishing the big-game occasions and becoming a major cog of England’s set-piece machinery. A powerful scrummager who also excels in the loose.

4: Maro Itoje (England)
Played every minute of England’s Six Nations campaign, and was outstanding in all areas. He also underlined exactly why he is viewed in so many quarters as a natural choice to lead the Lions in South Africa next summer.

5: James Ryan (Ireland)
The leading Six Nations lock this season in terms of lineouts won, and he did nothing to diminish his Lions tour prospects. The 6ft 8in forward provides a commanding presence and is a player Ireland can pick their pack around for years to come.

6: Tom Curry (England)
England’s breakdown king was once again a force of nature. It is easy to forget at times that he is just 22, such is his ability to compete with and dominate the world’s best. Like Itoje, a Lions Test team certainty.

england rugby squad
Jamies George and Tom Curry (Photo by Alex Davidson – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images )

7: Justin Tipuric (Wales)
A world-class operator, he was head and shoulders above any other Wales player in terms of his impact on games. Brilliant in a narrow defeat against England at Twickenham, the 31-year-old continues in peak form.

8: Gregory Alldritt (France)
The 23-year-old La Rochelle forward made 83 tackles during the tournament – second only to his team-mate Bernard Le Roux – and also carried possession for 398 metres. A dynamic force who has emerged rapidly in a transformed France team.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

This piece is nothing more than the result of revisionist fancy of Northern Hemisphere rugby fans. Seeing what they want to see, helped but some surprisingly good results and a desire to get excited about doing something well.


I went back through the 6N highlights and sure enough in every English win I remembered seeing these exact holes on the inside, that are supposedly the fallout out of a Felix Jones system breaking down in the hands of some replacement. Every time the commentators mentioned England being targeted up the seam/around the ruck or whatever. Each game had a try scored on the inside of the blitz, no doubt it was a theme throughout all of their games. Will Jordan specifically says that Holland had design that move to target space he saw during their home series win.


Well I'm here to tell you they were the same holes in a Felix Jones system being built as well. This woe is now sentiment has got to stop. The game is on a high, these games have been fantastic! It is Englands attack that has seen their stocks increase this year, and no doubt that is what SB told him was the teams priority. Or it's simply science, with Englands elite players having worked towards a new player welfare and management system, as part of new partnership with the ERU, that's dictating what the players can and can't put their bodies through.


The only bit of truth in this article is that Felix is not there to work on fixing his defence. England threw away another good chance of winning in the weekend when they froze all enterprise under pressure when no longer playing attacking footy for the second half. That mindset helped (or not helped if you like) of course by all this knee jerk, red brained criticism.

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