Blindside Flanker
Options: Tom Croft, Thierry Dussatoir, Stephen Ferris, Alessandro Zanni, John Barclay, Dan Lydiate
An embarrassment of riches here, essenitally this hanges on how you like your backs, if its more based on power its Dussatoir, a lithe, athletic runner and its Croft and a mix of the two, but more the former than the latter and its Lydiate
Any manager would be honoured to have the choice, but I'll go for Dan Lydiate due to his slightly more all round abilities
Openside Flanker:
Options: Chris Robshaw, Julien Bonnaire, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony, Robert Barbieri, Ross Rennie, Sam Warburton
Again another great set of options, were they fully fit the choice between O'Brien and Warburton would be mouth watering, however, neither were and so Julien Bonnaire is my choice at 7
Number 8:
Options: Ben Morgan, Imanol Harinordoquy, Jamie Heaslip, Sergio Parisse, David Denton, Toby Faletau
Possibly the position with the most strength in depth, how then to pick - perhaps Harinordoquy & Heaslip weren't firing on all cylinders - possibly Faletau too. Parisse was solid but didn't seem to offer the vital spark going forward - though with a poor back line there is a question of nature versus nurture. Denton was also outstanding but for me Morgan was the total package for an 8, rampaging runs, brutal tackles, and an all round get stuck in attitude - great hands too
Next up - the half backs!
Team of the tournament - Back Row
posted on 22/3/12
Hi there DBM
Ferris seems quite an interesting, and to me surprising, choice - what made you plump for him rather than say Croft or Lydiate out of curiosity?
posted on 22/3/12
Croft
Warburton
Parisse
posted on 22/3/12
Off topic, but could I (should I?) ask who Michael Gove is?
posted on 22/3/12
Several reason for me mate, He is a pure 6 IMO, very aggressive, was head and shoulders our best player in the back row, and indeed was the only Irish player who shined in the England game. His ruck was work excellent and he has that miraculous ability to offload after charging through a couple of opposition players.
That said, there are so many good back row players and combinations we could make here, that to be honest i cant argue with any other choice made above.
Personally its just about balance with a player in each position who is really good in that position. For example O'Brian, i feel for this guy. He is the European player of the year, but that was not awarded for any work from the 7 position. His position is 6 90% of the time with leinster, and when he swiches position he goes to 8! where he is quite good also. DK has him on the pitch simply because he can't justify dropping Heaslip and can't justify not having the European player of the year on the bench.
Lydiate would probably be the most consistent people choice and to be fair i couldn't argue with it.
P.S
I see there was a 1 star silent hero in during the night. I will give a 5 to try and balance it.
posted on 22/3/12
SARS - He's Secretary of State for Education... and a bit of a pr[ck. Someone in his position shouldn't have such a narrow view of education. Yet to meet a teacher who doesn't think he's a moron.
And he looks a bit like Pob. http://cdn.politicalscrapbook.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/gove_michael_pob.jpg?cda6c1
posted on 22/3/12
Ferris, of course, Bonnaire (as Warburton only played in fits and starts) and that beast Morgan (gets the nod for his clever fielding) for me.
posted on 22/3/12
Pob - I hadn't heard that expression in 20 years, which sits in the same mental store as the charming likes of Joey & flid
posted on 22/3/12
There is one thing i would like to add, could be inflammatory, but anyway. I don't believe any of the scot backrow can be considered. Sure they ran France close, but not a good french team. They went well against England, but that was a developing England, They lost to a hungrier Italy in a bore fest etc etc. They got taken to the cleaners against Ireland, showing them up and pointing out that the relatively good games before were more about luck in meeting the other teams at the right time. A lot of talk about Denton, for me he needs time before he fulfills his potential, and he needs to get in to a good club side.
posted on 22/3/12
Very good selection of back row players from this 6 nations, and the toughest group to call.
based on the tournment performances i would say:
6. Lydiate
7. Bonnaire
8. Morgan
Warburton is a fantastic player, but didn't feature enough.
However, when all fit my back row would be:
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Morgan
on the bench would either be Ferris or O'Brien.
I've picked that back row for balance, as each position has it's particular job for me.
6. Lydiate
The six is a big hitter, he has to stop the big runners on the game line. His role is to do the dirty work, hit the rucks and make the tackles, and Lydiate is perfect for that.
Ferris adds a different dimension with his big running game, an excellent ball carrier and would be introduced with 25 minutes to go when opposition legs tire and shoulders weaken so he can punch holes at will.
7. Warburton
Ball winner, gets to the rucks and disrupts. Ensure quick ball for your own team, and slow for the oppostion. Always looking for a turnover. A fearless tackler and the fittest bloke on the pitch. Got to be pacey too.
No one in the NH is more suited to this than Warburton
8. Morgan
Your go to man. When you want go forward ball stick it up his jumper. A monster ball carrier who crashes through defences time and time again. Pacey and built like the proverbial outhouse. Gets the team moving forward.
Morgan is the perfect man for this, Parisse is fantastic, world class, but more athletic in his play, adds a different dimension to the back row, but i'm not sure he gives you the raw power when going forward that i'd want from an 8
posted on 26/3/12
6. dussatoir
7. lydiate
8. morgan
or
6. lydiate
7. warburton
8. morgan