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Rugby

18th Feb 2017

Irish players appear on the best team of the Six Nations based on baffling algorithms and such

We'll take their word for it

Sean McMahon

We’re not too sure about the mathematics but we’ll take their word for it.

It’s been a difficult week so far.

After two very entertaining weekends of Six Nations action, the current two week break is beginning to get a little tiresome and we cannot wait for the tournament to resume a week from now.

The only real positive is that perhaps it offers a time for reflection, a real chance to look back on the opening two rounds in a more detailed way.

Well the geniuses over at The Rugby Net have come up with a formula for identifying the best players in each position and have subsequently come up with a top XV of the opening two rounds.

Of course, there are many best XV’s out there which are either based on opinion or through limited player and team stats.

This methodology goes even further and one of the unique aspects of it is “positional parity” whereby for example, the achievements of an out-half who could kick the majority of points is put at the same level of lets say a tighthead prop who destroys his opposite number in the scrum.

There is a detailed breakdown of their methodology here but we will give you what you want and that is who they believe are the players of the Six Nations thus far, in each position.

Loosehead

Joe Marler (England)

Hooker 

Ken Owens (Wales)

Tighthead 

Dan Cole (England)

Second Row 

Joe Launchbury (England)

Courtney Lawes (England)

Blindside Flanker 

CJ Stander (Ireland)

Openside Flanker 

Kevin Gourdon (France)

Number Eight

Louis Picamoles (France)

Scrum Half 

Conor Murray (Ireland)

Out Half 

Paddy Jackson (Ireland)

Wing 

Keith Earls (Ireland)

Inside Centre 

Owen Farrell (England)

Outside Centre 

Jonathan Davies (Wales)

Wing 

Liam Williams (Wales)

Full Back 

Stuart Hogg (Scotland)

So there you go.

What do you make of that XV?

We don’t know about you but we may make a few changes to our fantasy teams for next week…

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