Last weekend saw the start of the 2019 Six Nations tournament. Favourites Ireland were handed a bettering from a ruthless England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Scotland showed glimpses of why they're real contenders this year against Italy at Murrayfield, and France showed that they know how to throw a game against the Welsh at the Stade de France.
Here's my GW1 Dream Squad!
15 | Full-Back - Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Stuart Hogg showed that no other Full-Back even comes close to his level in the 6N. He was absolutely lethal in attack, and the Glasglow man kept on propping up on the wings and making tonnes of metres. If Ireland don't sort their wide defense out for their game at Murrayfield this weekend, they won't even stand a chance!
14 | Wing - Jonny May (England)
I have to admit that before kick-off I was slating Eddie Jones for not picking a more physical (and in-form) Ollie Thorley to partner Jack Nowell on the wing; I've always thought that Jonny May didn't have much to offer apart from his speed, but, oh boy, he proved me wrong. His early try was good, but was created by Farrell & Slade, not him, so I won't give him much credit for that. What he does get credit for is his work off the ball and under the high-ball - I thought England would struggle without Mike Brown at FB but May filled the gap and was simply immense throughout.
13 | Outside Centre - Henry Slade (England)
Undoubtedly the standout man this weekend. Henry Slade was just on a different level against Ireland; lethal in attack, mixing up his play very well with outstanding decision-making under pressure, solid under the high-ball, and his kicking game was both unmatchable and unstoppable. Two tries to his name and he was instrumental in Daly's as well, without him England would've struggled. I'm dissappointed to see that Eddie Jones is talking about getting Billy Vunipola more fit and playing him at 12 with Tuilagi 13 - I don't know whether it's mindgames, but if it isn't, he needs the sack ASAP. Keep this going and Henry Slade will be World Player of the Year, fact.
12 | Inside Centre - Sam Johnson (Scotland)
A lot of talk about how Tuilagi played this weekend, but they must have been watching a different game; I thought he showed his lack of form and far from warranted a place in my dream squad, instead Scotland-debutant Sam Johnson gets it! The rugby league convert was incredible and it would have been difficult to notice it was his first game for the Scots. He did well of second phase ball and especially in the contact zone, he even made metres against one of the Italy locks which I was very impressed by! Should be one of the first names on the teamsheet against the Irish.
11 | Wing - Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)
The first Scottish player ever to score a hatrick in a Six Nations match, and all three of his finishes were tremendous finishes that only a leading winger would be able to produce. I hadn't seem much of Kinghorn before the game, but the 22-year-old eased to claim Man of the Match and looks like he has a very bright future ahead of him.
10 | Fly-Half - Finn Russell (Scotland)
Finn Russell has become a little bit 50/50 recently, but when he performs to his best he is incredible; and, this weekend, he was at his very, very best. We saw vintage Finn Russell once again and every aspect of his play was beautiful. His grubber-kick for Stuart Hogg's try was stupidly good, and he'll definitely be making a few highlight reels after this game!
9 | Scrum-Half - Ben Youngs (England)
It was Connor Murray who was expected to cause chaos for the opposition in this game, but it was his opposite number Ben Youngs who produced. Arguably Youngs' best ever performance in an England shirt, creating some big problems for Ireland's Full-Back
Henshaw to deal with throughout the game.
8 | Number Eight - Ross Moriarty (Wales)
Moriarty was a different beast last Friday. The Newport Dragons man put in the biggest defensive shift you can imagine, topping the tackles chart with a whopping 20 tackles! France are the most French side you can imagine and that involves draw-dropping physicality, and Moriarty matched up to it relentlessly. Anyone picking Vunipola or Picamoles after Moriarty's performance on the weekend should just be ignored!
7 | Blindside Flanker - Tom Curry (England)
The 7 shirt has been a troublesome one to fill for Eddie Jones recently. Tom Curry has been an absolute menace for the Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership so far this season, and he showed that fire on Saturday. Curry made Ireland's 'world-class' back-row look ordinary and his line-speed and desire was second-to-none. Admitedly the Englishman did end up in the sin-bin for 10 minutes, but it had very little impact on the game and his overall performance was simply incredible.
6 | Openside Flanker - Justin Tipuric (Wales)
Obviously Tipuric is more well-known on the Blindside, but with both Curry and Tipuric producing masterclasses on the weekend, they both had to make the cut. Tipuric had an excellent all-round performance, putting in a dogged shift in a defense and supporting attacks like no-one else. Right to the very last he was clearing out at the ruck and putting every last bit of energy he had into the game - without him, Wales would've struggled.
5 | Lock - Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
The Welsh Captain's leadership was incredible in what was very difficult conditions in the French Capital. Jones was the standout lineout player/reciever this weekend and played a huge role in the Welsh comeback in the second half. Ireland's James Ryan came close to taking this spot, but Wyn Jones' second half performance cemented his place.
4 | Grant Gilchrist (Scotland)
With both the experienced John Barclay and Richie Gray ruled out of the 2019 Six Nations, Scotland would need someone in their pack to step up to the mark and dominate - that someone was Grant Gilchrist! Like AWJ, Gilchrist ensured Scotland remained on top at the set-piece and ran one of the best line-outs of the weekend. He also put a huge shift defensively with 19 tackles to his name by the final whistle. Many would have selected Maro Itoje over Gilchrist, but I believe the Scotsman deserves it even against an Italian opposition.
3 | Tighthead Prop - Kyle Sinckler (England)
This position was between Tomas Francis and Kyle Sinckler, but I've given it to the latter for just how much effort he put into his performance. He broke tackles, made metres and looked unstoppable going forward, and his defensively display was faultless. At one point when being ticked off by the ref, he even said "Sorry, I'm just too excited". His game has improved immensely in his last few England performances and he is showing why he was hyped up so much just 2 years ago when he really came into the fore.
2 | Hooker - Jamie George (England)
About 2 years too late, but Eddie Jones has finally stopped putting Dylan Hartley in the teamsheet and instead opted for England's best and second best hookers at first-choice and second-choice. The Saracens man was the key to the England set-piece and without him I doubt the scrum and line-out would have operated so efficiently. His ball-carrying was also a very useful asset to have against a strong Irish opposition.
1 | Loosehead Prop - Mako Vunipola (England)
I'd say Mako is the best loosehead in the world right now, and his performance on Saturday definitely displayed that. He was one of the best three players in the England squad and the effort he put in was phenomenal. I saw a report not long ago that said Eddie Jones knew Mako had had a lot of action when he saw his ears, and I have to say I very much agree - I don't know how someone can bleed so much and still stand upright! The Ireland scrum was made to look very poor against a top-performing England front 3.
Give me your thoughts below!