Six Nations team of the tournament: Who makes our selection after thrilling edition?
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A dramatic edition of the Six Nations to rival any in recent memory was settled with the final kick as Thomas Ramos secured back-to-back titles for France.
Ramos’s nerveless strike with the clock dead against England provided a fitting finale to a remarkable campaign of twists and turns, with Ireland narrowly finishing second thanks to the full-back’s penalty
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Scotland pushed to a new level to challenge for a title, though ultimately fell short again, while both Italy and Wales could take heart after ending long waits for wins over England and in the Six Nations respectively.
And what of Steve Borthwick’s side? A disappointing campaign ended with four defeats but an improved showing in Paris perhaps provides hope for the future.
Which individuals stood out across the five rounds? Here is The Independent’s selection for the team of the tournament:
Loosehead prop: Jean-Baptiste Gros, France
There might have been other props more prominent at the set-piece, yet Gros got through a load of work for France. Be it biffing back carriers in defence or showing both aptitude as a carrier and delicate hands in attack, the loosehead was uber impressive.
Hooker: Dan Sheehan, Ireland
Dan Sheehan scored against Scotland (PA Wire)Such a fine athlete, Sheehan’s nuts and bolts are now just as trusted as what he can do in the loose. A word for JamieGeorge, as well, who always fronted up in a tough England campaign.
Tighthead prop: Simone Ferrari, Italy
Italy's scrum was one of the stories of the tournament (AFP via Getty Images)He may have missed the final round but Simone Ferrari was a titan throughout in a tournament of such strides for Italy. A set-piece force, Ferrari also provided a number of thumping hits in the Ireland game particularly. Joe Heyes was probably England’s best player from start to finish.
Lock: Charles Ollivon, France
France's lock Charles Ollivon was excellent (AFP via Getty Images)It was the No 8 shirt on his back for the tournament finale but Ollivon embodied France’s shift in strategy by adapting to a relatively new second row role at the start of the campaign. He covers so much ground and has a scoring strike-rate that plenty of backs would be ecstatic with.
Lock: Tadhg Beirne, Ireland
Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne celebrates after beating England (PA Wire)Below his best in Paris on the opening night, Beirne bounced back with trademark showings against England and Scotland particularly. How many times does he manage to get hands on ball near his own line for a crucial turnover? A late-bloomer is ageing like a fine wine.
Blindside flanker: Francois Cros, France
(REUTERS)An ugly incident removes OscarJegou from candidacy but his fellow France flanker was just as impactful in France’s success. Cros is the oil in the machine for Les Bleus, keeping everything moving in attack and defence.
Openside flanker: Rory Darge, Scotland
(Brian Lawless/PA Wire)Sorting the back row selection is a nightmare with so many standouts across the six sides. Darge, though, characterised much of Scotland’s defensive steel with his breakdown nous and persistence. He even managed a cameo at centre in the 50-40 France win, too.
No 8: Caelan Doris, Ireland
Caelan Doris was one of Ireland's best at Twickenham (Getty)The leadership of Doris was questioned in parts after Ireland’s tough start; few are questioning him now. Such a beautifully-rounded back row, he straddles the line between licit and less so expertly to disrupt in defence, and always seems to make metres with ball in hand. Any of Jack Dempsey, Lorenzo Cannone, Ben Earland AaronWainwrightmight have been worthy.
Scrum half: Antoine Dupont, France
(AFP via Getty Images)Jamison Gibson-Parkruns him very close but there are times where Dupont appears to be playing a different sport to other scrum halves in the competition. His capacity to navigate in and out of contract is supreme, while his kicking game can be forgotten yet is so crucial in providing France stability when exiting the 22. Not, maybe, at his best, but still pivotal in a French success.
Fly half: Finn Russell, Scotland
(Brian Lawless/PA Wire)Scotland may have fallen short in the end, but their mid-tournament transformation had much to do with Russell’s calm, creative controlling head. His moment of quick-thinking ensured Scotland escaped Cardiff with a narrow win, while the more extravagant performances against England and France were built around his delicious range of skills. France’s MatthieuJalibert burned brightly, also.
Left wing: Louis Bielle-Biarrey, France
(Getty Images)A try-scoring phenom, Bielle-Biarrey just seems to get better and better. Added security and strategy under the high ball has given France greater capacity to attack in transition, and few are more devastating in that phase than the speedster. Still just 22 – a freak.
Inside centre: Stuart McCloskey, Ireland
(Getty Images)A decade on from his international debut, McCloskey has come of age as an Ireland player after seizing his opportunity at inside centre. A thunderous carrier with deft offloading hands, he’s been key in Ireland unlocking opposition defences, and his performance against England was a real tour de force. SioneTuipulotu runs him close.
Outside centre: Tommaso Menoncello, Italy
(AFP via Getty Images)Menoncello more often wears No 12 when Juan Ignacio Brex is available in a midfield marriage of wonderful contrast, but is often running amok in the 13 channel in attack. Devilishly difficult to stop in full flow and with room for much more growth.
Right wing: Kyle Steyn, Scotland
(AFP via Getty Images)An all-rounder, Steyn seems to have just about everything you would want in an international wing. He was one of few Scots to emerge in credit from their defeat in Rome and then scarcely put a foot wrong thereafter, showing both his attacking gifts and the defensive discipline that have made him a key leader at Glasgow for so long.
Full-back: Thomas Ramos, France
(AFP via Getty Images)There’s a lot to like about the way that Jamie Osborneis tracking in Irish green but the current class of full-back play in Europe is clearly Ramos. That Dupont/Jalibert/Ramos creative axis worked so wonderfully at times, and it was he who had a fitting final word with a nerveless penalty to seal success against England.