Team of the tournament - Second Row

Following on from yesterday ..

Number 4
Options: Mouritz Botha, PascalPape, Donncha O'Callaghan, Quintin Guldenhys, Richie Gray, Alun Wyn Jones

I'd see this as a straight shootout between PascalPape and Richie Gray, the former is the more akin to a front row and the latter more akin to a back row, so its essentially defence or attack and any side that had the choice would be highly envied. I'd slightly give the edge to Gray for his rampaging runs but its very tough and I do like PascalPape - especially as his surname is a banned word!

Number 5:
Options: Geoff Parling, Yoann Maestri, Donncha Ryan, Paul O'Connell, Marco Bortolami, James Hamilton, Ian Evans

Previously this wasn't even a competition with O'Connell dominating the jersey since the days of Martin Johnson, this year however we saw little of the great man and its something of a hole with no truly outstanding candidate. Overall I'd probably go for Bortolami as his pack were Italy'd defence and attack in what was a reasonable campaign for them with a new home and new manager. Barring Ireland they were never humiliated and were a good side at home, with all their problems in the backs and missing Castrogiovanni for 2 games Bortolami was integral in their progress