My Six Nations Fantasy XV - Andy Goode
It’s that time of the year, with all the squads announced and the tournament just a week away, when people will be debating who would get in a combined Six Nations team or picking their fantasy XV so here’s who makes the cut for me…
It’s no surprise that over half the team is made up of Irishmen, given the year that they had in 2018, but it might shock a few people that only two England players have made my team and they both come from the same family!
My Six Nations Fantasy XV
15 Stuart Hogg
It’s up for debate whether England are going to go back to Mike Brown or stick with Elliot Daly, Leigh Halfpenny is out injured and Rob Kearney is starting for Leinster this weekend after missing some time through injury but Hogg has been consistently excellent for years in the Six Nations. He made more metres than anyone else in last year’s Six Nations and was Player of the Tournament in 2016 and 2017, so is an automatic selection for me.
14 Liam Williams
I’m a big fan Jack Nowell but you just can’t say whether Eddie Jones is going to pick him, so it’s hard to go for him. Liam Williams is definitely going to start for Wales, though, and might even cover at full back. He’s scored a couple of hat-tricks already for Saracens this season and is a world class finisher.
13 Jonathan Davies
Outside centre isn’t a position that is completely nailed down for some of the other nations but Jonathan Davies is Wales’ main man, he’s started there for the Lions on the last two tours and has looked in great form again this season so it’s impossible to look past him.
12 Robbie Henshaw
A lot of people will be surprised I haven’t gone for Owen Farrell here but I’ve always said you should pick players in their correct positions and I think Henshaw is a key man for Ireland and can be underrated by some people. He takes the ball to the line, makes breaks and has the ability to put other players through holes as well. His partnership with Sexton is great to watch and the wrap arounds between the two of them have become a feature of Ireland’s play.
11 Jacob Stockdale
I’d be surprised if anyone didn’t pick him in their team after the records he set last season and then with him scoring six tries in six games in the pool stages of the Champions Cup this season as well. He’s the size of a horse and as fast as a horse and I fully expect him to score another hatful of tries in this year’s competition.
10 Johnny Sexton
Finn Russell has been box office in the Champions Cup for Racing 92 this season and his pass against England last year was one of the highlights of the tournament, so he deserves a mention but it’ll be between Farrell and Sexton for most people and how can you go against the World Player of the Year!
9 Conor Murray
He would have been an automatic pick in previous years and maybe isn’t as much now as he’s only just returning from a lengthy period out of action but I’d still go for Murray. He’s the best box kicker in world rugby and is a threat with ball in hand as well. There are other options but I still think he’s head and shoulders above the likes of Gareth Davies, Ben Youngs and whoever France pick at scrum half.
1 Mako Vunipola
Cian Healy is a brilliant player and is the only other player who comes close to getting picked at loosehead but Mako’s all-court game sets him apart. His offloading ability and tip-on passes, combined with the sheer number of carries and tackles he puts in make him the standout choice for sure.
2 Ken Owens
Guilhem Guirado would be an option but he’s been in a Toulon side that has been shocking this season. Rory Best always deserves a mention as well and is hugely consistent and a great leader. But, for me it’s between Jamie George and Ken Owens at hooker and I’m going for the Welshman after his recent shifts at number eight for the Scarlets! That positional switch has shown just what he offers in the loose as well as in the tight and has added another string to his bow.
3 Tadhg Furlong
Tightheads used to be just about scrummaging and anything else was a bonus but he’s taken the position to another level over the past 18 months. His hands are ridiculous at times and he carries and tackles more than most forwards as well. I’d be shocked if anybody picked anyone else!
4 James Ryan
He’s now lost three times in his 39 appearances for Leinster and Ireland so at least there’s some proof he’s human but James Ryan makes it in easily for me, despite there being a load of quality options at lock. His work rate is incredible and he’s got the skills to go with it as well.
5 Alun Wyn Jones
He may be at the other end of the experience spectrum to Ryan but Alun Wyn Jones is looking as formidable as ever at the age of 33 and I just can’t leave him out. There’s a lot of hype around Maro Itoje but Jones is a real leader, runs the lineout, gets through a huge amount of work off the ball and he gets the nod for me.
6 Peter O’Mahony
It’s tempting to move CJ Stander to blindside because of his carrying ability but I’ve already mentioned my policy of picking players where I think they’ll be picked by their countries and there aren’t many better blindsides in world rugby than Peter O’Mahony. He’s one of the best lineout forwards in the world and his influence on this hugely successful Ireland side is massive, so he has to be included.
7 Sean O’Brien
Tom Curry is up and coming and Justin Tipuric or Josh Navidi have their strengths too but if he can stay fit, then Sean O’Brien is about as good as they come. He can play across the back row and his all-round game is phenomenal but I think he’s the best openside in this Six Nations.
8 Billy Vunipola
There’s always a concern when someone’s had back-to-back injuries but Billy’s come back and proven his fitness in the past couple of weeks and there just isn’t a better number eight in Europe than him. England rely on him so much and he’s one of the first names on the team sheet.
And, if I was picking a coach it’d be Joe Schmidt without a shadow of a doubt. People will be debating it in the pub and picking their own teams in the coming week ahead of the Six Nations kicking off but this is the one for me and I can’t see anyone beating this lot.
Comments on RugbyPass
This looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to comments