Rugby: Eddie Butler's Team of the Tournament

We have crossed the halfway point of the Six Nations. The action has been interesting, even exciting, but it has not been progressive. For two-thirds of the countries involved, no harm is done by it not being so. For the majority, the annual championship is completely self-contained. Only for France and England do current performances serve as a reference point for the next World Cup. Both, then, have grounds for concern. Neither team seem to have a cruise control to carry them through the periods when they are not rampant. France are either scoring 40 points against Ireland or leaking 30. The imbalance between England’s supply of ball and use of it is still startling. Nothing, however, is more startling than the collapse of Wales. It appears only too official now that their grand slam of 2005 was an aberration. The wonderful rugby rush was not a controlled pouring of concrete, upon which all sorts of beautiful structures might thereafter be built, but the final burp of a dying volcano. After the last molten flow came nothing but sulphurous fumes from a pressurized underworld.

The players who illuminated the Six Nations last year have almost all been dulled by injury or by the political excesses of the Welsh game, to such an extent that the only Welshman to be found in our Six Nations Crossroads XV is Stephen Jones. While he was on the field, Wales looked full of industry and poise; when he went they quickly lost all sense of direction. It wasn’t all the fault of Gavin Henson, by any means, but Jones is the one player Wales cannot afford to lose. Most other outside-halfs are playing to limited instructions. Dan Parks, Ramiro Pez and Ronan O’Gara are kicking a lot. The other two, by way of contrast, have a less conservative brief. Charlie Hodgson is playing well, but little is happening outside him, while Frederic Michalak swings on his very own clap-cringe pendulum.

It is tempting to include Yannick Jauzion in the team on the grounds that, without him, the midfield has been barren. This was going to be the year of the centre, but Brian O’Driscoll at 80-per-cent capacity is still stealing the show at 13. And as for 12, the allimportant second five-eighth slot, well, the all-go whirl that is Mirco Bergamasco is about the only thing to emerge. Aaron Mauger of the All Blacks he is not. There is another Italian in the team, a tribute to the passion they have brought to the championship. And he has been selected ahead of a strong cast of contenders. Dwayne Peel has been neat and tidy. Peter Stringer played very well against Wales. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde nearly got the nod for his one kick alone towards Thomas Lievremont against Italy, and a case could be made for Mike Blair as the most important player in the entire Scottish revival. In, though, at scrumhalf goes Paul Griffen, as Italian by name as his sideburns are by design, but a real fizzing spirit on the field. The legs of a dachshund, the bite of a German Shepherd.

In a season of limited midfield penetration it is not surprising that the full-backs have been muted. Geordan Murphy finds himself relying on a growing reputation for solidity in defense. Josh Lewsey and Gareth Thomas have run a few angles in attack, but while England’s No 15 has lost a few balls in contact, the Wales captain has simply lost contact. Thomas Castaignede, not quite the baby face he once was, could yet be the catalyst that transforms France. No one has such an instinctive awareness of time and timing as little Thomas. If his legs keep running he will light up not just the Six Nations of 2006, but also the World Cup of 2007. On the right wing goes Shane Horgan, although a note should be made of the form of Aurelien Rougerie, who seems to respond as well as any to Castaignede’s promptings. Also of Chris Paterson, both furious and icecool against England. And Mark Jones, back after twin knee reconstructions. Horgan may never have been the speediest but at long last he is receiving credit for the consummate skills that coexist with his giant bones. He should be a donkey, but is anything but. On the left wing, Sean Lamont. Christophe Dominici would have won the romance vote, but a winger who can score from a driving maul has his own, albeit less subtle, charm.

It was tempting to go for national units in the forwards, but it has been resisted in all rows bar the back. Here, a special case applies. Simon Taylor is not quite back to his dynamic best in attack - or under the high ball, for that matter - but other No 8s seem distracted. Michael Owen is currently unable to play his free-passing game. Martin Corry is entangled as much with Lawrence Dallaglio as with any opponent, and Sergio Parisse has missed the odd tackle. Thomas Lievremont and Denis Leamy have been going about their business, but only quietly and efficiently, which allows Taylor to join his own wing-forwards in the team. Allister Hogg and Jason White have been in thundering form. The back row is special to the Scots and this one is up there with the best.

France have a soft spot for the hard-hat area of the scrummage, and they nearly monopolize the front row, thanks to the ageless Rafael Ibanez at hooker, and loosehead prop Olivier Milloud. France’s scrum has been remobilized. They may be taking a bit of time getting into their stride, but France in the spring may yet be best avoided. Such is not an option for Matt Stevens, unless his shoulder injury persists. England have to go to Paris next for what we tend to call an uncompromising fixture. Savage, more like. There were questions about selecting him ahead of Julian White on the tight head, but in England’s first two games Stevens was both mobile and solid, if you get the drift. That leaves the second row. Steve Borthwick has been athletic in all of England’s games. Paul O’Connell was massive in Ireland’s first two games. He wasn’t missed against Wales, which says something either about Donncha O’Callaghan, who replaced him - or about Wales. Might this teambeat the All Blacks? Probably not. Might it be molded into a progressive force? Er, don’t know. The Six Nations still has tribal value, but for the good of the minority, if not everyone really, in the last two rounds it might just help were a touch of quality