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ESPN's Six Nations Team of the Tournament
ESPN Staff
March 21, 2016

It's that time of year where we get to reflect on the Six Nations just gone and pick our team of the tournament.

Our reporters have been at every game in this year's tournament and they have picked their own individual XVs -- you can see their rationale below.

It all means that this is ESPN's Team of the 2016 Six Nations:

© ESPN

TRISTAN BARCLAY

Tristan's XV: Stuart Hogg (Sco), Jack Nowell (Eng), Michele Campagnaro (Ita), Jamie Roberts (Wal), George North (Wal), Dan Biggar (Wal), Greig Laidlaw (Sco); Jack McGrath (Ire), Guilhem Guirado (Fra), WP Nel (Sco), Maro Itoje (Eng), Alun Wyn Jones (Wal), Chris Robshaw (Eng), John Hardie (Sco), Billy Vunipola (Eng)

Guilhem Guirado is the only Frenchman to earn a place after several valiant performances in defeat. Maro Itoje gets the nod at lock for the sheer impact of his game against Wales. Dan Biggar is the best of a bad bunch at 10, although Owen Farrell would probably have the shirt had he not been a starting 12 for England. Token Italian Michele Campagnaro is picked over the Jonathans -- Davies and Joseph -- while Stuart Hogg's all-round game edges out Liam Williams' performances under the high ball for Wales.

ROB BARTLETT

Rob's XV: Stuart Hogg (Sco), George North (Wal), Jamie Roberts (Wal), Owen Farrell (Eng), Andrew Trimble (Ire), Dan Biggar (Wal), Conor Murray (Ire); Jack McGrath (Ire), Guilhem Guirado (Fra), WP Nel (Sco), Jonny Gray (Sco), George Kruis (Eng), Chris Robshaw (Eng), CJ Stander (Ire), Billy Vunipola (Eng)

WP Nel has been brilliant for Scotland and his performances throughout the championship have rightly seen him linked with a place on the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour. Conor Murray is an exceptionally bright talent at scrum-half and his work rate throughout has been exceptional. Chris Robshaw gets a nod at flanker: his turnaround from failed World Cup captain to one of England's lynchpins has been nothing short of spectacular.

TOM HAMILTON

Tom's XV: Stuart Hogg (Sco), Anthony Watson (Eng), Duncan Taylor (Sco), Jamie Roberts (Wal), George North (Wal), Owen Farrell (Eng), Greig Laidlaw (Sco); Rob Evans (Wal), Guilhem Guirado (Fra), WP Nel (Sco), Maro Itoje (Eng), George Kruis (Eng), Billy Vunipola (Eng), John Hardie (Sco), Taulupe Faletau (Wal)

It has been a tournament to forget for France and Italy with just Les Bleus hooker and captain Guilhem Guirado finding a place in the team of the championship. The other 14 spots are taken by players from the Home Nations with WP Nel anchoring the scrum at tight-head, the England duo of George Kruis and Maro Itoje in the locks and -- in my team at least -- a shoe-horning of both Billy Vunipola and Taulupe Faletau into the back-row.

Greig Laidlaw and Owen Farrell would provide a two-sided kicking option at half-back while Jamie Roberts has had a superb tournament at inside centre. Tommy Seymour is unlucky to miss out on a spot in the back three but Anthony Watson's impressive aerial skills just see him pip the Scotland winger for a place in the side.

MARTYN THOMAS

Martyn's XV: Stuart Hogg (Sco), Tommy Seymour (Sco), Duncan Taylor (Sco), Owen Farrell (Eng), George North (Wal), Jonny Sexton (Ire), Gareth Davies (Wal); Rob Evans (Wal), Dylan Hartley (Eng), WP Nel (Sco), Maro Itoje (Eng), George Kruis (Eng), Chris Robshaw (Eng), John Hardie (Sco), Billy Vunipola (Eng)

The form of Dylan Hartley, Chris Robshaw and Owen Farrell has embodied England's rapid turnaround under Eddie Jones. Hartley edges out Guilhem Guirado for the No.2 jersey in my team, while Farrell's calm influence on England's attack sees him keep out Jamie Roberts, who has been phenomenal in attack and defence for Wales.

Ahead of the tournament you would have got long odds on a Farrell-Duncan Taylor midfield axis in any team of the tournament, but the latter gets better with every international start and contributed heavily to Scotland's win over France.

© ESPN Staff

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