Six Nations 2017: RUCK pick their Team of the Week after Round 1

Six Nations 2017: RUCK pick their Team of the Week after Round 1

Scotland kicked off their 2017 Six Nations on Saturday with victory over Ireland and Vern Cotter’s star performers dominate the RUCK Team of the Week after Round One

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Fullback: Stuart Hogg (Scotland) 
Utterly brilliant. One of the best Scotland has ever produced – two tries here and Lions No.15 jersey looks a certainty.


Wing: George North (Wales)
Equalled Shane Williams’s record by scoring a try in fifth consecutive Six Nations match, and it was a peach of a touchdown as well, seeing the big man speeding clear from deep inside his own half.

Centre: Jonathan Davies (Wales)
Davies was able to power across for Wales’ opening try before putting the icing on cake with a great pass for the second Welsh touchdown.

Centre: Ben Te’o (England) 
The bench provided the stimulus for England in the final quarter with Te’o scoring the winning try 10 minutes from the end. He and James Haskell provided the ball-carrying thrust that had been missing. Also, his try 93 seconds after coming on today is the fastest ever debut try in Six Nations history.

Wing: Elliot Daly (England) 
Stepped up and delivered with a long-range penalty to tie the scores at the break. Great tackle to stop Spedding on the break. His last appearance here ended in a four-minute red card, but this time he was brilliant and proved he belongs on this stage.

Fly-half: Paddy Jackson (Ireland) 
He played a little deep in the first half but excelled in the second 40-minutes with lovely variation and little touches, taking his try well and giving Ireland the direction they so badly lacked in the first half.

Scrum-half: Greig Laidlaw (Scotland) 
Captained superbly. His cool head, planning the close of the game and knowing he had the full minute to take the final penalty showed his cleverness.


Prop: Cyril Baille (France) 
Got the better of opposite number Dan Cole in a number of scrums.

Hooker: Ken Owens (Wales) 
It wasn’t an easy day for the Wales front row, but Owens found his targets in the line-out and showed up well enough around the field.

Prop: Rabah Slimani (France) 

Lock: Richie Gray (Scotland)
He won the majority of Scotland’s lineout ball, proved a real thorn on the Irish throw, was the second highest carrier (13) to his brother and made just the 17 tackles.

Lock: Jonny Gray (Scotland) 
Made a Scottish record 28 tackles in a remarkable defensive effort. Such competition for a Lions lock spot but he’s playing his way in.


Flanker: Sam Warburton (Wales) 
More pumped up early on than the Michelin Man, making five carries in the first 10 minutes. Brilliant turnover killed threatening Italian thrust before break. Maintained his strong offensive game throughout. A really fine effort.

Flanker: Sean O’Brien (Ireland)
One of the few players who managed to punch some holes in the excellent Scottish defence, using power and footwork.

Number 8: Louis Picamoles (France) 
Started like a house on fire, with two rampaging runs through the gut of England’s defence exposing the hosts. Took a whack when he ran into teammate Fickou that took the wind out of his sails, but returned in the second half determined not to be on the losing side. The best player on the pitch by far.