Six Nations - Team of the Championship

Six Nations - Team of the Championship

As the dust settles on this year's battle for Six Nations glory it is time to choose our Team of the Championship.

France celebrated their 100th Championship with their ninth Grand Chelem and unsurprisingly their dominance is reflected in our selection - but how many of Marc Lievremont's charges get the nod in our team? None of France's title rivals managed to derail their Championship challenge but have any of their players earned a place in our side?

Here's who caught our eye and as ever we would love to hear you thoughts:

15. Clement Poitrenaud (France)The Toulouse star was back to his devastating best in this year's Championship with a series of outstanding displays. He played with a breath-taking confidence and his ability to spark an attack from nothing is a joy to behold - and there were none of the dreadful errors that have plagued his career.

14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)The Irish speedster's star continues to rise. Two tries against England and another against the Scots cemented his reputation as a world-class finisher. Lethal in attack and tenacious in defence, he poses a threat all over the field.

13. James Hook (Wales)Hook began a new chapter in his international career with a move to outside centre at the start of the Championship and took to it like a duck to water. Wales may have struggled for consistency but they can rest easy that they have found a long-term home for Hook's undoubted talent - and he weighed in with three tries to help cement his selection.

12. Yannick Jauzion (France) The veteran's centre partner Mathieu Bastareaud may have stolen most the headlines but Jauzion thrived in a supporting role - grabbing two tries with his usual mix of power and pace.

11. Shane Williams (Wales)Young guns may have stolen a lot of the headlines but old stager Williams showed he could still get the job done with the match-clinching score against the Scots and his 50th for his country against France - he may be 33 but there is life in him yet.

10. Francois Trinh-Duc (France)Handed a rare extended run in the side, Trinh-Duc has repaid the faith shown in him by Lievremont by forming a lethal half-back pairing with Morgan Parra. Not quite the finished article but at just 23 years old he has time on his side.

9. Morgan Parra (France)Not only the best scrum-half in the Championship but the most valuable place-kicker - notably booting his side to Grand Slam glory against England. The 21-year-old thrived on the responsibility handed to him by his coach and orchestrated his side's charge to the title.

1. Thomas Domingo (France)Another of France's young guns, the 24-year-old Domingo came of age in this year's Championship and repeatedly punched above his weight at scrum time.

2. William Servat (France)An ever-present throughout the Championship and another of the pillars of the French forward effort - and he even doubled his international try tally - to two.

3. Nicolas Mas (France)A formidable scrummager who helped wreak havoc throughout the Championship. And he claimed a rare Man of the Match honour for the front row union with a calculated display against England.

4. Simon Shaw (England)There were not that many high points for England in the Championship but the physical element provided by Shaw was definitely one of them. There are plenty of miles on the clock but he is still a formidable presence at the set piece and in the loose.

5. Julien Pierre (France)The Bourgoin lock's chance came and he grabbed it with both hands and held off the challenge of crowd-favourite Sebastien Chabal in the process. And he allayed any fears with some accomplished performances.

6. Kelly Brown (Scotland)Like the equally formidable Killer Bs - John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie, possesses a potent mix of strength and intelligence and used both to good effect to get the better of more illustrious opponents.

7. Thierry Dusautoir (France)The all-round excellence of the French skipper was the bond that held his side together on the rare occasion they were under the cosh. His dynamism knows no bounds and could snaffle the Player of the Championship honour from Harinordoquy and Parra.

8. Imanol Harinordoquy (France)The warrior-like Harinodoquy is favourite for the Player of the Championship honour thanks to a string of vintage performances. More often than not the driving force behind a dominant French pack and showed an unrivalled hunger for work.
Well, there you go. And to think last year's Team of the Championship did not include one Frenchman.