Rugby 2020-style isn’t over quite yet. There’s still the Pick-Your-Team-of-the-Six-Nations tournament to be decided.
Already declared are Giselle Mather’s Sky line-up and the Burford-Donnelly-Hammond combo:
Mather’s Runners
15 Rollie
14 Dow
13 Scarratt
12 Reed
11 Banet
10 Daley-Mclean
9 Sansus
1 Arricastre
2 Moloney
3 Djougang
4 Cleall
5 Aldcroft
6 Beckett
7 McMahon
8 Lillicrap
B-D-H Runners
McKenna
Banet
Scarratt
Naoupu
Parsons
Bourdon
Sansus
Peat
Moloney
Bern
Cleall
Aldcroft
Beckett
Fleetwood
Lillicrap
But there’s a late starter! The Perkins-Powell duo hoping to hit the jackpot. What have they come up with?
Perkins-Powell Long Shot
15 Trémoulière – France
14 Dow – England
13 Scarratt – England
12 Reed – England
11 Banet – France
10 Daley-Mclean – England
9 Sansus – France
1 Arricastre – France
2 Moloney – Ireland
3 Djougang – Ireland
4 Cleall – England
5 Aldcroft – England
6 Beckett – England
7 Fleetwood – England
8 Lillicrap – Wales
And their reasoning?
Full-back: Jessy Trémoulière – not as exceptional as last year, but still a commanding figure; her kicking, tackling and counter-attacking are first-class
Right wing: Abby Dow – her play has been consistently outstanding all season; scored the try of the tournament against Scotland; defence as ruthless as her attacking prowess
Outside-centre: Emily Scarratt – who else?
Inside-centre: Amber Reed – regained her top form after a long sapping absence; produced the off-load of the tournament
Left-wing: Cyrielle Banet – a constant menace to wide defences; Jess Breach can consider herself hard done by
Outside-half: Katy Daley-Mclean: the complete link player with hand and foot; her defence was crucial too
Scrum-half: Laure Sansus repeated the fine impression she made in the Super Series; quick-witted and inventive; a worrying threat to fringe defences
Loose-head: Lise Arricastre – celebrated her 70th cap at Pau; no opponent got the better of her in the tight
Hooker: Cliodhna Moloney – continued her fine form for Wasps at international level; it takes a lot to outdo Amy Cokayne
Tight-head: Linda Djougang – became a vital and welcome ingredient for Ireland in tight and loose
Locks: Zoe Aldcroft and Poppy Cleall – who would have credited England’s back-up pair becoming so dominant? Aldcroft led in line-out takes and was fast around the park; Cleall added a flanker’s contribution to her front-five duties
Blind-side: Sarah Beckett – the management spotted her talents early on; a constant presence at breakdown and counter-attack
Open-side: Vicky Fleetwood – showed her all-round qualities by switching from No 2 to No 7 so efficiently; she added 50 tackles to her attacking threats
No 8: Siwan Lillicrap – led her struggling side with huge commitment; Sarah Hunter and Romane Ménager would embellish any side
Do you agree?