Oval Talk

Six Nations Team of Week 2

Here is Oval Talk's Team of the Week and statistics following the second weekend of Six Nations rugby.

Selected from four teams as France v Ireland was postponed.

1. Alex Corbisiero (England)
He is really enjoying being the first-choice number one and should be pleased with this performance. His scrummaging and defence was outstanding and he won the battle against Martin Castrogiovanni.

2. Ross Ford (Scotland)
Ford was solid with the ball in hand and was reliable at the lineout. He also put in a good defensive display, making no fewer than nine tackles in what was a very physical game.

3. Adam Jones (Wales)
The Scottish pack were really fired up for this match and Jones matched them every step of the way. He was immense in the scrum and at the breakdown. Another strong performance from the tighthead.

Gray is Scotland's key player4. Richie Gray (Scotland)
Running out of superlatives for this man. Gray is consistently Scotland's best player. The Glasgow star made some big carries and was extremely useful at the lineout.

5. Tom Palmer (England)
He was key for Stuart Lancaster's team against Italy. Palmer was immense in the opening 15 minutes and he was probably England's main ball carrier. Influential at the lineout.

6. Dan Lydiate (Wales)
Lydiate was back in the team after recovering from an ankle injury and it was if he had never been away. Simply outstanding; he was exemplary in defence and his efforts meant Wales did not miss captain Sam Warburton too much.

7. Ross Rennie (Scotland)
Rennie showed great pace and the ability to evade a tackle. He was also effective at the breakdown, where he gained several turnovers.

Farrell battles with Parisse8. Sergio Parisse (Italy)
It was a man-of-the-match performance yet again from Parisse. He was involved in almost everything good that Italy did and led his team by example from the first minute to the very last.

9. Mike Phillips (Wales)
This was by no means a vintage performance from Phillips but his physicality drives Wales forward and that was the case against Scotland. He set up Leigh Halfpenny for the full-back's second try and on the whole had a good game. Despite being guilty of losing possession too often, he made up for it.

10. Rhys Priestland (Wales)
Priestland did not have the kicking responsibilities this week and seemed to blossom without that pressure. Time and time again he created the space for Jamie Roberts to go over the gainline and as the game opened up he was a real threat with the ball in hand.

Matchwinner Halfpenny11. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
Halfpenny switched to the wing after George North went off injured and it was another great performance from the Cardiff Blues player, scoring 22 of Wales' 29 points. Halfpenny only missed one kick, scored two tries and was a thorn in Scotland's side in both attack and defence.

12. Owen Farrell (England)
The Saracens youngster is settling into the international game very well. Farrell did not miss one kick and was solid in defence.

13. Jonathan Davies (Wales)
Davies always looked dangerous with the ball in hand and was a strong runner all afternoon. He was flawless in defence and certainly made an impression with a massive hit on Lee Jones in the first half.

14. Alex Cuthbert (Wales)
Forget George North... or not. But Cuthbert showed that he is also a quality winger, scoring his first try for Wales and working tirelessly for his team's cause.

15. James Hook (Wales)
The Perpignan star came on for the injured North and showed his class with some nice touches and offloads. The best example was when he broke through the Scottish defence and gave the ball to Jamie Roberts down the left in the second half.

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27 comments

  • BigRich  •  3 months ago
    I don't wish to be mean spirited but what, besides kicking penalties, did Farrell do ? This team has hHlfpenny to do the kicking so out he goes and in comes Jamie Roberts. Tom Palmers inclusion is suspect, particularly given Jim Hamilton's performance.
  • Eurwyn  •  Neath, Wales  •  3 months ago
    CORBEISERO .FARREL YOU ARE HAVING A LAUGH
    • YAHOO 3 months ago
      EURWYN WHAT A GAY NAME I BET U ARE THE ONLY GAY IN THE VILLAGE YOU NUMPTY. PMSL
    • Eurwyn 3 months ago
      W.R,W. Where you starved of attention when you where younger, Seek help.
    • alan 3 months ago
      He `s still a kid Eurwyn
  • David Peter  •  Muscat, Oman  •  3 months ago
    Comment @ Eurwyn, Neath, Wales - eight Welsh clowns - never!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Eurwyn 3 months ago
      Hey butt i don't pick the team.I like you can only comment, it's called banter,If you don't like the team take it up with Yahoo.toodle pip old boy
  • chris  •  3 months ago
    pssst i just heard that old johnny as been asked...... will he do american football coz they can post a few adverts between the time he took to kick a ball.
    I am so glad that the new kids on the block dont follow his ideas of kicking
    by the way jenkins was better
    • chris 3 months ago
      hey aberafon.............................
  • John L  •  Madrid, Spain  •  3 months ago
    England have had their two easiest games and managed to scrape two wins. If they carry on in that vein then they will be crushed in the next three. Then we will find out their true potential. The inclusion of Farrell or rather the exclusion of Roberts is a joke! And I agree with BigRich, Hamilton has put in two mighty shifts so far and Scotland suffered when he was replaced.
  • Graham H  •  Maidenhead, England  •  3 months ago
    Wales must be good at the mo for an English web site to enclude our players!!

    Had to put a few Saes players in there just keep the Saes fans happy.
  • Wayne  •  St Albans, England  •  3 months ago
    Face it guys. On current form England won't win. I'd even go as far as saying that with players coming back in to the Welsh pack that Wales will be even better than they have been. The problem here is that it's at Twickers. That's the big bonus for England. If this had been at the Millennium then it wouldn't be a contest. England new set up haven't really faced a challenge yet. Next Saturdays game will tell you a lot about what they have done so far and what they need to do. Looking forward to it immensely!!
  • chris  •  3 months ago
    and as for england.... well they are doing what we done for years patch up a team..... but where are the big names now..........I am welsh but am proud of your english management for what you have done.. root out the greedy suckers................ ok you might lose this year ......... but your building a squad. I have to say though.......how come that idiot Johnson never imposed himself on his players like when he was captain........WHY?
  • chris  •  3 months ago
    methinks the refs are being kind to wales. But i will say this........ if we cant beat the english then hell we never will. This isnt a team we are talking about. england is struggling for a team.
    We have a rotating squad now how do you get your head round that.how lucky are we welsh to have this and we should thank the lord that the alter is in twikers......cos were gonna have it ........ and have it all hehe
  • Ray S  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
    I think you might find that Flood takes a lot longer than JW, Sexton takes an eternity
  • Jones  •  Manchester, England  •  3 months ago
    We will see how good Farrell is in the Welsh match. The Scotish and Italian midfield have nothing on whats coming up for England. Roberts and Davis and then Fofana and Rougerie, if he still looks good after that then he will have a future, he's still young.
  • G  •  Coventry, England  •  3 months ago
    farrel better than robberts, someone is on drugs. as a center he has contributed little in attack and kicked goals. Robberts is back to his best, one of the best centers in the world.
  • TERRY  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
    Owen Farrell never this young man has not met the three main teams yet ,he will not last long in defense against the main teams and his place kicking will be questioned when he is seeing stars .
    • Stuart 3 months ago
      well seeing as this is "team of the week", and this week he did't play against one of those "main teams" that comment isn't really relevant is it genius?
    • Planet 3 months ago
      to stuart 'the genius'....Terry is merely stating facts, farrell will be flattened by the better teams, you moron!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • TERRY 3 months ago
      thank you Planet, i just love these English know f==k alls , HEY STUART YOU
      A RSE HOLE
  • lean machine  •  3 months ago
    Only 9 welshmen, what match as he been watching.
  • craig  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
    Wales don't like playing at Twickenham 1 win in 24 years says that, so any Welsh fans who think it will be easy keep thinking that, great to see Tuilagi back he should start along side Farrell he offers a more attacking option, Farrell's defence isn't a problem its his attack that needs work on, Scotland showed how to play against Wales in the first half and it was only when they went down to 14 Wales run away with it, also Scotland had a perfectly good try disallowed and missed several other chances, if England can create those oppertunities i think they can win the game.
    • D 3 months ago
      you are absolutely dreaming. no chance.
    • adrian 3 months ago
      No chance-how do you get that?????

      Wales are in (slightly) better form & are a more settled team, and are quite rightly favorites-but no chance of a England victory. Mmmm i disagree.

      Sorry its sport & like Craig says you havent won in 24 years, the next visit will be your best chance but dont mark it off as a dead rubber.
    • D 3 months ago
      24 years without a win at twickenham - this is meaningless! Wales are in much better form (slightly?? their backs are on fire! their forwards most of which are growing into world class performers in their positions, lydiate, warburton, faletau). the game might be tight for 50 minutes or so but when form breaks down wales will run lines through the english and points will be scored. seriously guys get a clue.
  • MICHAEL OWENS  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
    up with the gods in the millenium stadium.rubbing shoulders with the kilted ones,such
    excitement.How many points is a Welsh crowd in full song worth?.... more points than
    a sassanach can drink pints, maybe ? .
  • HOWARD  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
    8 Welsh players, not surprising really!!!
  • HEFIN HUGHES  •  Birmingham, England  •  3 months ago
    Big up Farrell ha! C'mon, Jamie Roberts or Farrell? England cant score and haven't played a side that can yet either
  • Planet  •  3 months ago
    How did 3 english players make the team?
  • TIM  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
    I know these things are meant to provike discussion but how they come up with Farrell for Roberts and Hook at full back after half a game is just laughable.

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Rugby has to fight for its voice in the football-obsessed world of British sport, but thankfully there are enough fans of the oval ball to warrant a weekly look at issues affecting the game. Oval Talk cannot promise the same level of scurrilous tittle-tattle and unfounded rumour that emerges daily from football columns, but - casting off its Barbour and adopting the refreshing candour of an Aussie commentator – it can bring you the kind of debate that would have had old farts at HQ spluttering into their Fullers.

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