It’s one of the hottest debate topics egg-chasing has to offer.
Given we live in something of a green goldfish bowl on these Irish shores, there’s no harm getting input from elsewhere.
And so we have the HarpinOnRugby Lions Selector Panel, made up of one fan from each nation, with even the Irish panellist, this week’s contributor Mark Jackson, based abroad.
Well 6 Nations is over, the Irish won’t complain about that too much, and if as true rugby fans as we claim to be, best forgotten in general considering the standard of play across the tournament.
The only 2 games worth the price of admission, IMO, were both staged at the mecca of stadia, that being the Millennium in Cardiff. Wales vs Ireland and Wales vs England were very good games with the second's atmosphere bringing a new level of national pride to the fore.
As for the this month’s selection the bulk will come from the principality with a few sprinklings from elsewhere, due to the usual reasonings of form and injury limitations. Some have played themselves somewhere approaching their previous best form while others are waning at the tail end of the tournament. So here comes the votes from the Irish jury…
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Player of the tournament for me. Consistent, kicks goals, safe as houses under high ball, tackles stick and can run with ball too which will definitely see more down under)
14. Alex Cuthbert (Still knows how to sniff out a try, big and powerful and quick, high work-rate very good all round tournament too, hope hamstring injury doesn't hamper his prep)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (everything has been written about him, still the best 13 in the tournament where others limitations were found out such as Tuilagi’s inability to pass)
12. Jamie Roberts (a most welcome return to form from the lantern-jaw Welshman. Himself and BOD should be wrapped in cotton wool before test series)
11. George North (Must be damning Mike Brown’s fingernails right now but although not scoring as regularly as his fellow countryman still a serious strike runner)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Farrell crumbled and Biggar is decent back up, if Kidney hadn't have messed it up picking Paddy Jackson might've been Madigan here, Sexton still miles best option)
9. Mike Philips (poor beginning but moved through the gears to peak at right time, as big as England back rows and quicker too)
8. Sean O'Brien (I know most will shout for Faletau and he was very close but I think his stats both carrying and tackling speak for themselves , if he develops an off loading game, scary)
7. Justin Tipuric (Classy operator, great link play, intelligent, skills and speed of a centre and enough of a nuisance at breakdown too)
6. Sam Warburton (Out of his favourite position but since losing the captaincy his play has stepped up a notch , his speed and greater attacking skill see him ahead of Tom Wood who also had a fine tournament )
5. Ian Evans (Improving lineout game added to his rucking/tackling see this man mountain get the nod , needs to work on his hands close quarters but a great tournament all round )
4. Geoff Parling (the only one of England’s front five to come out in positive light from Cardiff , keeps improving around the park lineout wobbles in Cardiff not all his fault)
3 . Adam Jones (welcome back Captain Hair Bear, destroyed Joe Marler, illegally and legally but if you get away with it so what. Another who went through gears as tournament went on)
2. Richard Hibbard (relished the physicality of close quarter contact work, great scrummager, lineout wobbles less frequent, not quite 80 min player yet but let him loose for 55 mins)
1 . Cian Healy (Just ahead of resurgent Gethin Jenkins, superior ball carrying ability sets him apart at moment but still needs to concentrate on defensive work and at scrum time)
16. Tom Youngs 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Dan Cole 19. Alun Wyn Jones 20. Tom Wood
21. Ben Youngs 22. Dan Biggar 23. Stuart Hogg
Well there’s my lot. All 23 would be in my touring squad of 37 which will be revealed closer to selection. I reckon Warren G probably has 28-30 places already picked with last few places up for grabs through performances returning from injury/form throughout the final weeks of Rabo12, Premiership, Top 14 and European Competition.
Mark Jackson (@markusjacksonus) is an Irishman living in London, a lover of this game we call Rugby along with Gaelic Football and NFL (All Hail The New York Giants), having played it for fun and money in many countries around the globe, am now earning a crust coaching, hopefully inspiring and passing along some knowledge gained to the next generation of players.
Thanks again Mark! As always we have put the four panellists’ selections together to make the HoR Composite XV…click here to see how it looks at the end of the 2013 Six Nations…a lot of changes this week!
We were going to wrap up the series now but the panellists all want to keep going until the end of the season, so far be it from me to stand in their way! Next week our English selector will be back to kickoff Round 8!
