First XV Opinions International Rugby Teams

RBS 6 Nations - Team of Round 1 & 2

by 1 February 19, 2016

Now that the dust has settled on Round 2 of the 2016 RBS Nations and a rest weekend coming up, we thought it time to reflect on what we’ve learned about each team so far and play chief selector with our pick of the players from the opening rounds of games.

What have we found out about each nation?

England - As we already knew Eddie Jones is a shrewd operator, with two RWC finals and the immense rise of Japan under his belt, we know what he is capable of. Whatever his secret formula is, it seems to be rubbing off on the England squad with two very solid performances to be proud of. Thinking ahead, it could be quite frightening what England could achieve; their huge resources - both financially and player numbers - teamed up with Jones’ expertise will surely see them mixing it again with the Southern Hemisphere elite.

France – Two close and ugly wins to their name so far but I’m sure Guy Noves and the French public will be relatively happy with that, winning is a habit after all . With games against England and Wales to come, arguably the two strongest looking sides in the tournament, they will have to step up their standard of rugby to rub shoulders with the form teams.

Wales – with a slight let up in injuries since the RWC and the usual Gatland levels of fitness and intensity, Wales to me as started look like one of the form sides. Yes it’s “Warrenball”, sometimes quite a limited game plan, but its effectiveness cannot be denied. A win and a draw in this highly competitive tournament is not to be shirked at - just look at how it came to the wire in 2015’s final day.

Ireland – With big Pauly missing it now does appear Ireland are going to have to go through a phase of re-building. With back-to-back Championships to defend, it was never going to easy, especially with some pretty big rugby boots needing filled. However with Scotland and Italy still to visit the Aviva Stadium the Irish will not be short of confidence in these two fixtures.

Scotland - now look to have developed a really solid 1^st XV, with 1 or 2 substitutes capable of impacting a game, however overall the bench, so crucial in international rugby, is just not cutting the mustard. The drop off in standard come the later stages of matches is very worrying. The Scots will still fancy their chances in Rome but if the usual Wooden Spoon decider becomes an arm wrestle there shall be only one winner.

Italy – With one or two players showing up well, and joining the World Class Parisse, Italy certainly seem to be competitive in the earlier match stages. Similarly to Scotland they are lacking that cutting edge to last 80 minutes with the big guns of the Northern Hemisphere. Where the improvement can come for Italy I am unsure, and with Parisse now 32, the talisman cannot bind this team forever. Based on our vast playing experience of Scottish amateur and school boy rugby, this is our team of the 1^st two rounds:

1. Jack McGrath (IRE)

2. Guilhem Guirado (FRA)

3. WP Nel (SCO)

4. Jonny Gray (SCO)

5. George Kruis (ENG)

6. CJ Stander (IRE)

7. Justin Tipuric (WAL)

8. Billy Vunipola (ENG)

9. Danny Care (ENG)

10. Dan Biggar (WAL)

11. Virimi Vakatara (FRA)

12. Jamie Roberts (WAL)

13. Jonathan Joseph (ENG)

14. George North (WAL)

15. Maxime Medard (FRA)

Coach – Eddie Jones (ENG)

An experienced, industrious pack and a back line combining some hefty bruisers with some sparkling talent. Of course Eddie Jones gets the nod at coach after turning around the toxic English atmosphere post-RWC. We'd like to think there is not much to argue with in our selection but if you think differently just let us know in the comments below.
Share:

1

Author

Comments will be approved before showing up.

Also in Rugby Stuff News

Will this be the Lions 1st Test Squad?

by Adam Clark June 21, 2017

British & Irish Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland will tonight unveil his team for the first Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday. Is this the team he is set to name?

View full article →

British and Irish Lions

Our Top 5 Lions YouTube Moments So Far

by Adam Clark June 17, 2017

The British & Irish Lions tour of 2017 is certainly off with a bang! The Lions and their partners have been in overdrive churning out social media and YouTube videos like no tour before it.

View full article →

British and Irish Lions New Zealand All Blacks

adidas prepares Māori All Blacks with battle jersey to tame the Lions

by Adam Clark June 08, 2017

Adidas has unveiled a special edition Māori All Blacks jersey as they prepare for battle against the 2017 British & Irish Lions

View full article →

Home page

First XV rugbystuff.com - Purveyors of the finest selection of rugby shirts, kit, boots and balls!

Replica Kit - At Rugbystuff.com, you will find an extensive collection of replica rugby kit from clubs and countries around the world. The Six Nations sides Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy sit alongside the Southern Hemisphere nations of Australia’s Wallabies, New Zealand’s All Blacks and the Springboks from South Africa. You'll also find a range of the best Pro Team rugby kits from around the globe, including Super Rugby, Pro12, Top 14 and Aviva Premiership. Local teams Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors are of course well catered for.

Rugby Boots - The most important piece of equipment for any rugby player, rugbystuff.com has a range of rugby boots that cater for every position on the park. From the youngest kids to gnarled veterans, Adidas, Canterbury, Asics, Under Armour and Optimum all offer rugby boots in a variety of fits and styles to ensure there is something for everyone.

Protection - If you’re feeling the knocks the morning after the game, it’s time to invest in some rugby protection. With padding covering the shoulders, biceps, sternum, kidneys and back, the bumps won’t hurt as much in a set of rugby pads from Canterbury. Worried about developing cauliflower ears? A rugby headguard helps keep them covered but still allows you to hear the important calls on the pitch.

Baselayers - When the temperature plummets, base layers from Under Armour and Canterbury help to keep you warm. Leggings, shorts and long sleeve baselayer tops prevent the chill setting in on match day. Under Armour HeatGear is designed to keep you cool, dry and light when the mercury rises to over 24°C.

Teamwear - A recent addition to the rugbystuff.com stable, we now feature an expansive collection of rugby teamwear. From Canterbury and Under Armour, there is guaranteed to be a style and colour to suit your club side. If you want to ensure your team stands out from the crowd, then we can do a bespoke range for your club. We’ll design the kit and arrange all the embroidery, names, numbers and sponsors logos so sit back and relax whilst the best team wear wings its way to your Clubhouse.

Shirt Printing - If you need a rugby jersey personalised, perhaps for a birthday or big occasion then it is now easier than ever. Simply choose the rugby shirt you are after, select the required initials, names or numbers, enter the text all on the same page and our expert team will get it printed and delivered in no time at all.