Plenty left to play for , especially Ireland in round 5 but money talks too and the money on offer is substantial depending on where the teams finish. A controlled, patient, clinical performance
15. Rob Kearney (IRE) - His best outing in green in a long time , still not the most subtle of players but controlled the air above D4 and ran hard and straight and powerfully for a lot of metres giving his forwards good targets. Minozzi continues to impress for Conor O'Shea's men.
14. George North (WAL) - Approaching his best again , looks fitter than in a long time , the move back to the Valleys will benefit all concerned with a player who has been around forever it seems , yet still only 25.
13. Garry Ringrose (IRE) - At about midnight on Saturday whilst in his room , a few euro, a couple of receipts and Huw Jones fell out of Ringrose's pocket . Some return from an exciting talent , always beat his first defender and controlled the 13 channel with aplomb , the depth Ireland currently have in the centre is frightening. Basteraud has a great game too but Ringrose takes the outside centre slot.
12. Hadleigh Parkes (WAL) - Nothing flash does his basics very well , as one would expect of a kiwi, has brought his pro14 form onto the international stage seamlessly.
11. Jacob Stockdale (IRE) - 10 tries in 8 outings says it all , still a work in progress but some strike rate.
10. Jonathan Sexton (IRE) - Pulled the strings at the Aviva , aggression in the tackle and in contact too , a world class player.
9. Maxime Machenaud (FRA) - Kicked his goals and kept his forwards coming onto the ball with pace, Cono Murray has another strong performance but Machenaud nicks the 9 shirt.
8. Taulupe Falatau (WAL) - A solid rather than spectacular performance from the Welsh skipper , no no.8 really has a barnstormer so the dragon takes the jersey with some help from his hit on Tommy Allen.
7. Dan Leavy (IRE) - Another performance where in this case the stats don't lie , I reckon a firm favourite of Schmidt's now , his tackle count , high carries and ruck work are vital to Ireland's patient possession game.
6. Yacouba Camara (FRA) - A thorn in the English side , always a threat ball in hand , got across the gainline at will carrying plenty of white jerseys with him and a nuisance at lineout time , a great athletic performance , need to see it more often.
5. Jonny Gray (SC0) - Sebastian Vahaamahina had a big game but still too ill disciplined , Cory Hill also carried well in Cardiff but Gray had an outstanding game especially in defence and lineout in what was a game where his pack were second best more often than not.
4. James Ryan (IRE) - Devin Toner has his best game for a while but was still 2nd best to the outstanding Ryan. For me the most consistent 2nd row in the 6 Nations.
3. Tadhg Furlong (IRE) - Tough enough shift at scrum time but a great return from the Wexford man , the standard bearer for props. Does it all.
2. Guilhem Guirado (FRA) - Never fails to impress, very unfrench like in his very high workrate , a great leader and his all around game allied with strong set piece has him head n shoulders above the hookers in the northern hemisphere for me.
1. Cian Healy (IRE) - The HIA incident was not nice to look at , be it a stinger or not but Healy keeps rolling out quality games at the moment. His first half performance was top notch , carrying excellently and intelligently with good footwork to go along with his serious upper body strength .
Mark Jackson (@markusjacksonus) An Irishman in London....lover of rugby, NFL and family n friends not always in that order..consumer of meat, best friend to Wayne Barnes . All views my own and always open for a lively debate . Ireland, Leinster and the New York Giants fanatic.
*****
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