Six Nations
Six Nations: Team of the Tournament
Tom Hamilton
March 22, 2015
© Getty Images
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As the dust settles on the most remarkable of finishes to a Six Nations tournament, ESPNscrum's Tom Hamilton attempts to pick the best XV of the championship.

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)- On any other day Stuart Hogg would have been a shoe-in but Halfpenny's eagle-eye brilliance sees him take this spot.

14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland) - Until the final day, it was not a brilliant tournament for wingers. Yoann Huget did well but Bowe just edges ahead of him.

Jonathan Joseph is tackled by Peter O'Mahoney, Ireland v England, Six Nations, Aviva Stadium, March 1, 2015
It was a great tournament for the England centre © Getty Images
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13. Jonathan Joseph (England) - Italy's Luca Morisi thrilled us on occasion as did the Scottish centres but Joseph had a sensational first tournament. He finished with four tries and has established himself as a key cog in the England wheel.

12. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) - Jamie Roberts carried well but Henshaw was brilliant. He scored the match-winning try against England and showed there is life after the D'Arcy-O'Driscoll partnership.

11. Liam Williams (Wales) - The fullback-come-winger was brilliant for Wales and turned his potential into raw ability.

10. George Ford (England) - It is harsh on Jonathan Sexton but as this was Ford's first Six Nations he deserves this spot. He had an old head on young shoulders and guided England brilliantly.

9. Conor Murray (Ireland) - Our player of the tournament, the box kicking extraordinaire. The Irish scrum-half arguably stands alongside Aaron Smith as one of the two finest scrum-halves in world rugby and he played an essential role in their charge to the championship.

1. Joe Marler (England) - Mako Vunipola and Alex Corbisiero are both Lions but it is the Harlequins skipper who is the incumbent No.1 for England heading into the World Cup.

2.Guilhem Guirado (France) - His out of the back offload to Maxime Mermoz for his try at Twickenham was one of the moments of the tournament and while France will be licking their wounds after a bruising Six Nations, Guirado was a huge positive for them.

3. Dan Cole (England) - Mike Ross is perhaps unlucky here but Cole's return gave England a welcome boost.

Alun Wyn Jones is brought down by Finn Russell, Scotland v Wales, Six Nations, Murrayfield Stadium, February 15, 2015
The Welsh lock was a towering presence © Getty Images
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4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) - A titanic presence in European rugby. The Welsh lock is one of the finest second-rows of his generation and his work ethic is never anything short of exceptional.

5. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)- Old Father Time eventually catches up with everyone but O'Connell is defying his aching bones to keep on leading Ireland from the front. A superb lock who is showing no signs of slowing down.

6. Sean O'Brien (Ireland) - He played largely at openside but we have to shoehorn him in here. O'Brien had a brilliant tournament. Thierry Dusautoir is unlucky here but the Irishman edges ahead.

7. Sam Warburton (Wales) - He started all five matches and looked back to his rampaging, breakdown dominating best.

8. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)- It could have been Taulupe Faletau, Billy Vunipola or Sergio Parisse, but Heaslip just edges them. Broken vertebrae were not enough to prevent him from pulling off the championship-clinching tackle on Hogg.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.

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