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Rugby

23rd Mar 2015

Jeremy Guscott must have used a dartboard to pick his Six Nations Team of the Tournament

Jez cares not for front rows and their dark arts

Patrick McCarry

Backline looks decent but many, many contentious calls up front.

As a player, Jeremy Guscott only wandered near a pack if he was dropping into the pocket for a drop goal attempt.

The former Bath and England player must not have been paying too much attention to the forwards in this year’s Six Nations as there are a couple of odd calls in his team of the tournament.

Starting with Guscott’s backline, there are no real issues. Perhaps Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray have cause for complaint but English half-backs had good tournaments so we will leave that be.

In the front row, Scott Baldwin of Wales is named hooker. Grand. Guscott, though, selects Cian Healy and Nicolas Mas, of France, as his props. Between the two men, they started three games and played a total of 213 minutes.

The likes of Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Martin Castrogiovanni, Jack McGrath, Samson Lee and Mike Ross will all feel certain levels of aggrieved.

The second row is solid but Guscott has selected Sergio Parisse over Toby Faletau as Number 8. He picks Sean O’Brien, who played openside all tournament, at blindside.

Guscott has come to the fore in this Six Nations with a series of odd selection calls. At least, one could argue, he is being consistent.

GUSCOTT TEAM

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